The World’s Sacred Places

Sacred Places

Discover a curated guide to significant sacred places, pilgrimage traditions, architecture, documented history and practical visitor information across cultures and faith traditions.

CuratedSource-awareMulti-faithVisitor-ready where known

Sacred Place City / locality

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Place Type Religious Tradition Tradition / Denomination Sacred Association Country State / Province / Region District / Subregion Architecture Heritage Facilities Entry / Visitor Access

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28 Sacred Places

Browse Sacred Places selected for Templestan’s public collection.

Tsurugaoka Hachimangu

Yukinoshita, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan Shinto

Kamakura’s principal shrine, historically tied to the Minamoto clan, samurai rule and Hachiman worship.

Hachiman

Urakami Cathedral

Motoomachi, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan Christianity

Nagasaki cathedral rebuilt after the atomic bombing, a powerful Catholic site of memory, faith and peace.

Virgin Mary|Urakami Catholic community

Yakushi-ji

Nishinokyo, Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan Buddhism

UNESCO-listed Nara temple dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, with major early Buddhist art and pagodas.

Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha)

Zenko-ji

Nagano, Nagano Prefecture, Japan Buddhism

Ancient Nagano pilgrimage temple open to all sects, centered on a revered hidden Amida image.

Ikko Sanzon Amida Nyorai