Toshodaiji Temple was established by a Chinese monk called Ganjin and is the headquarters of the Risshu Buddhist sect in Nara Prefecture.

Ganjin was invited to Japan by Shomu Emperor but he failed his sea trip five times and suffered from many troubles like losing his eyes. 12 years later, he finally arrived in Japan.

After staying at Todaiji Temple in Nara for five years, in the third year of the Tenpyo-hoji period (759), he was offered the former residence of Nitabe Shinno. He had Toshodaiji built as a training place to study Buddhist commandments.

Later his image was sculpted as a atatue and has been preserved in Miei-do. The statue is the oldest figure of its type and is a National Treasure.

At Toshodaiji, there are many valuable Buddhist buildings such as Golden Building, the only Tenpyo one existing now, and the ruin of Heijo-kyu. In 1989, the temple was designated as a World Heritage site and as one of the cultural assets of Nara, the old capital.

Ryumon Waterfall is located near Ryumonji Temple in Kokonoe, Kusu County, Oita Prefecture. It is 20m tall and 40m wide.

The water of Ryumon Waterfall falls in two stages with a basin in the middle. In summer, many people come to play in the water and slide down the fall on the smooth rocks.

In the Kamakura period, the Chinese monk Rankei Doryu was officially invited to Japan and visited here. He felt that the waterfall was similar to Ryumon Waterfall in Kanan and named it Ryumon. Moreover, he founded a temple and named it Mt Kichijo Ryumonji Temple.

According to legend, a huge snake lives in the waterfall and during thunderstorm appears and winds itself around the Niomon gateway of Taiheiji Temple.
Nearby are the Ryumon Hot Springs.

The symmetry of the waterfall is especially beautiful and the area is a well-known site for viewing fall scenery. Ryumon Waterfall is a popular playground for children as well as a beauty spot.

Manpukuji Temple is located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture. It is a Chinese-style temple, built in 1661 by the monk Ingen who came to Japan from Fujian, China, at the invitation of Emperor Go-Mizunoo and Tokugawa Ietsuna, who both revered him.

The balcony, which has a swastika ('manji-kuzushi') design, and the arched 'kikabe tenjo' ceiling are just some of the unique features of Manpukuji.

Manpukuji represents one of the three Japanese Zen sects (Rinzai, Soutou and Obaku). Ingen, along with Mokuan and Sokuhi, are the chief abbots of the Obaku Sect.

Another major characteristic of Manpukuji is that the temple itself has not changed since it was first built. The 23 buildings, the corridor, the frames on the windows and doors and many other articles have been designated as Important Cultural Property of Japan.

The Obaku monks have made significant contributions to Japanese society, including constructing the first public library, pioneering rice fields in Chiba Prefecture, and guiding construction of the arch-shaped Kintaikyo bridge in Iwakuni. There are 22 enshrined statues of Buddha of the Obaku Zen sects today. These foreign-style statues differed significantly from Japanese-style ones, but came to influence and alter the image of Buddha in Japan.