Similar to the towns developed around castles, there are towns in Japan developed around the large temples or shrines. Called monzen-machi “temple towns", they developed during the Edo Period, when pilgrimage became popular in Japan and were originally created to cater for pilgrims: restaurants, inns, local product stores.

A very good place to experience a traditional monzen-machi is close to Tokyo, in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, where the street between the train stations and the Naritasan Temple preserves the charm of the old temple town…

Temple town street, Narita

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Summer tourist attractions in Osaka Bay, Tempozan Harbor Village