The Far East is a wondrous place. Over the past two years, I’ve spent a lot time there on business. When I’m not burning the midnight oil at work, I try to steal some time off on the weekends to go hiking. I recently stopped in Japan on the advice of a friend and visited Narita’s Shinshō-ji temple.

Modern Japan is pretty industrialized by now, so it’s hard to find locations that confirm the romantic silk paintings that most of us associate with old Japan. Shinshō-ji, however, is a bona fide and beautiful vestige of the past.

The temple is located about 20 minutes by train from the airport,so if you are between flights and have a few hours to spare, store your luggage at the airport and check out this place. It is the poster child of pastoral Japan: a small village with traditional stores and houses, beautiful gardens, and breathtaking architecture.

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