#sacredspaces

Photo credit: Jonathan Chua.

Hotsumisakiji, the 24th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, is a must-visit gem for travelers, photographers, and anyone drawn to Japan's unique spiritual and natural beauty. Nestled on the southern tip of the Muroto Peninsula in Kochi Prefecture, this historic temple overlooks the stunning Muroto Cape and the vast Pacific Ocean. Its picturesque setting, rich history, and serene ambiance make it a perfect spot to explore and capture.

A Journey of Beauty and Reflection

For pilgrims on the Shikoku route, reaching Hotsumisakiji is both a challenge and a reward. The previous temple, Yakuoji, is over 70 kilometers away, a trek that typically takes 2-5 days on foot. Along the way, hikers are treated to awe-inspiring views of lush mountains to the right and the expansive ocean to the left. This path offers not just physical endurance but also moments of introspection and connection with nature.

Historical Significance

Hotsumisakiji's story is deeply intertwined with Kukai, the legendary Buddhist monk who inspired the Shikoku Pilgrimage. At the age of 19, Kukai trained and chanted mantras in nearby caves, later building the temple in 807 at the behest of Emperor Saga. The main deity, Kokūzō Bosatsu, was carved by Kukai himself, adding a layer of reverence to the temple's sacred aura. Over the centuries, the temple relocated from a mountaintop to its current coastal position during the 11th century's Kantoku Period, blending history with nature's tranquility.

Capturing the Essence of Hotsumisakiji

While the temple grounds are relatively compact, their charm lies in their simplicity. Highlights include:

Bell Tower: A quintessential feature of Japanese temples, perfect for detail shots.

Small Pagoda: Adds depth to your compositions.

Musical Stone: Hidden behind the main hall, this fascinating stone produces melodic sounds when smaller stones are tapped against it.

Statues and Scenic Views: From serene Bodhisattva statues to the rocky cape and endless ocean vistas, your lens will find no shortage of inspiration.

For panoramic views, don't miss the nearby Muroto Cape Lighthouse—a short walk from the temple. This iconic spot offers dramatic backdrops of the cape and ocean, ideal for drone photography and wide-angle shots.

Tips for Visitors and Photographers

Visit during early mornings or late afternoons for softer lighting and fewer crowds.

Use a wide-angle lens to capture the sweeping landscapes, and a macro lens for intricate temple details.

Respect the sacred atmosphere—keep noise levels low and avoid intrusive setups.

Share Your Experience

Don't forget to share your captures and experiences online! My Linktree connects you to all my social media profiles and platforms where I showcase Japan's iconic landmarks. Visit my Wirestock portfolio or Redbubble store to explore more unique shots and designs. Whether you're a traveler, a photography enthusiast, or just a lover of Japan's beauty, Hotsumisakiji is sure to leave a lasting impression.

There are some spaces that do more than shelter people , they stir something deeper. They invite silence, reflection, and wonder before a single word is spoken. This breathtaking interior is one of those places.

At first glance, the eye is drawn upward, where sweeping arches and a brilliant blue circular window create the feeling of standing beneath a painted sky. The ceiling seems almost celestial, filled with color, pattern, and light that transforms the entire room into something dreamlike. Gold accents warm the scene, while the stained glass and intricate ornamentation give every surface a sense of purpose and story.

What makes this space so powerful is its harmony. The rich woodwork grounds the room with tradition and strength, while the chandeliers scatter soft light like stars suspended in midair. The crimson aisle adds warmth and direction, guiding the eye inward toward the heart of the sanctuary. Every detail feels intentional. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is empty.

In an age when so much of life feels hurried and disposable, spaces like this remind us of the beauty of craftsmanship and care. This is architecture designed not just to impress, but to elevate. It asks visitors to slow down, to look closely, and to feel the presence of history in every carved panel, every painted arch, every glowing pane of glass.

There is also something deeply human about this kind of beauty. It reflects a desire shared across generations: to create places that reach beyond the ordinary. Whether experienced as a site of worship, culture, heritage, or art, a room like this becomes more than a building. It becomes an experience , one that connects light with meaning, and design with devotion.

This image captures more than an interior. It captures atmosphere. Reverence. Imagination. It shows how architecture can speak without sound and how beauty can still stop us in our tracks.

Der Kölner Dom: ergreifend. Eine Unmenge von Steinen, eingesperrt, gepeinigt, in ein monströses Korsett der Formen, Linien, Säulen gezwängt. Ein Stalagmit, der durch seine dichte Kraft und Größe in Erstaunen versetzt. Ein aufgetürmter Dschungel von Gesimsen, Bögen, Ornamenten. Eine Masse, die uns lähmt, niederdrückt, auf die Knie zwingt." - Ryszard Kapuściński, Polnischer Reporter, 1984 - Aus Köln.

Beloved Awakened Family,

This is a calling for all of us to come together to see and feel the love of humanity for the highest of the collective. We are preparing to walk through the December gateways and portal activation's. There is going to be a big shift coming for all those that are ready to find it. We want you to know how loved you are; it is your time now to step into your light.

We are reminding you to open your hearts wider than you have ever opened them before and be prepared to be energetically engaged within the moment; learn how to show up for your highest calling. It is time to let go of all the things you feel that you need to do and open to receive. It is time to allow yourself your sovereign freedom, remember that you are whole, you are complete, you are awakened, and you are an infinite being of light.

It is time to step into the moment as an infinite being of light. We are asking you all to feel into your hearts on a permanent basis as it is time for the next waves of "Way" showers to step forward into this new era. We invite you to let go of all of the identities, let go of all of the personas, and open to the consciousness flow of New Earth. New Earth is unfolding in each moment the more that you are able to become aware of a new way of being, a new way of living, and in a new way of perceiving. Each one of you hold a very important role within the New Earth energetic templates that are anchoring. Each one that holds New Earth within them and who awakens to the consciousness that is living through them increases the acceleration of New Earth embodiment for the human collective.

We encourage you to take a moment to think about what New Earth is and what each role is within a New Earth system; a New Earth experience, New Earth perfection, and how this is achieved? How do you see yourself being New Earth within your conversations, within your energetic engagements, and within the imprints that you are leaving behind? This is something that we want each one of you to feel through, as well as, the energetic frequency of this transmission that you are receiving in this moment, right now. New Earth is an energetic realization of freedom from the illusions that many have been leaving their lives within. You are all able to be the New Earth experience as you free yourself from the illusions of your thoughts and open to the natural ebbs and flows of consciousness that are unfolding and working through you in each moment.

Many of you are focused on the winter solstice, December 21st window. This is going to be an energetic awakening for many of you, although we caution you to understand that this event is occurring within you and not outside of you. It is important to let go of all exterior fulfillment's as you realize the awakening that is occurring within you. These are the actions that are healing

the universe outside of you. Yes, there is a galactic alignment that is occurring at this time that is outside of you, however for you to have the true freedom of this alignment, you must awaken to the galactic alignment that is occurring within you. To understand this, it is important to let go of all that is not you and then you will feel the consciousness that is awakening within you is the same consciousness that is awakening outside of you. To deeper your understanding of this, if you were to imagine your divine line as the galactic core with your divine line receiving and activating the portal activation's within your own universal system. Then modelling that out into the world, this would have a far greater impact then sitting in silence and opening to the exterior activation's within the universe. Once you activate within you, you are able to synchronize with what is occurring outside of you as one source.

As you step into your God Creator light you realize the importance of creating the understandings within you first as opposed to outside first. This recognition is direct communication of cosmic source intelligence that will assist you in activating your internal core intelligence which is your Source/Soul frequency resonance. Now if each one of you are able to activate your internal core intelligence on the solstice window it will create a very high level of change for your reality. You will enter into a deeper sense of knowing than you have ever experienced before. There will be an awareness growing inside of you within each moment of this unfolding and you will feel that you are not separate from everything that is occurring as you are everything that is occurring. As you hold this higher embodiment you start to feel and know that New Earth is not a philosophy or an idea, it is an energetic awakening of what consciousness that is within you: the opening for consciousness to work deeply through you and for you to be in tune with what is occurring within and throughout you.

There is not going to be a feeling of separation any longer. There will be a feeling of belonging within the moment as all is full, all is complete, and all is unfolding perfectly. This is what you can achieve by finding your inner compass during these times; the awareness that nothing can affect you, except for you.

Now we want to shift the focus for a moment as we ask you all to let go of 2020 and all of the stories that you have created during this year and to feel a new horizon dawning as we move into a higher awareness and perception of that higher awareness. It is going to be a beautiful experience for the awakened. As you understand and embody this you will experience it in all areas of your life. There are no other stories except for the divine plan which works through

you.