Naritasan Shinsho-ji Temple
One of the Kanto region's oldest temples was founded in the AD 900s to hold a statue of the Buddhist deity Fudo Myoo that was, according to legend, carved by Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism. That statue alone—still visible in the vast main hall—marks Naritasan out as special to many Japanese, but it also has two impressive pagodas and a spacious wooded park to explore. The oldest extant building was constructed in 1655; other structures have been rebuilt numerous times since then. From JR Narita or Keisei Narita train station, you can reach the temple via Naritasan Omotesando, an 800-meter-long (½-mile) avenue lined with souvenir stores and an eclectic mix of restaurants, some of which serve unagi (freshwater eel), a local specialty.
