Honko-Ji

Amagasaki is just a few kilometers from my home in Koshien. There is not much there for tourists, mostly shops, but there is one well-hidden secret. Honko-Ji. This walled street dates from around 1420, when the temple was built. The houses around the Honko-Ji temple are all at least three hundred years old. People still live in these houses. Although you cannot go in the houses, the residents always leave their front gates open so that you are free to walk into their gardens and view them. It only takes about half an hour to look around, but entry is free and it is a great way to get a feel for everyday life in Japan during the Edo Period.