We are enjoying being a bit away from the popular tourist sites. We spent the day on Tsushima Island which is closer to South Korea than mainland Japan.  

Banshoin Temple

We visited Banshoin, a Buddhist Temple founded in 1615 by So Yoshinari, the 20th generation head of the So clan, to serve as the family temple (bodaiji) for the lords who ruled the Tsushima Domain. It is a nationally designated historic site, and its gate and Nio statues are known as the oldest structures on Tsushima.

So clan cemetery

The So Clan Cemetery on the hillside behind the temple is designated as a National Historic Site and is known as one of the “Three Great Cemeteries of Japan.” It is reached via the Hyakugangi, a flight of 132 stone steps leading up to it. The stone staircase is lined on both sides with moss-covered stone lanterns, and the cemetery, surrounded by greenery, was very atmospheric.

Tsushima museum

The modern Tsushima Museum, which opened in 2022, is in an attractive modern building which has won awards such as the Architectural Institute of Japan Prize. With a mix of artefacts and digital displays the museum offers an overview of the island’s history from the Jomon period (10,000–300 BCE) to contemporary times.

The Leopard cat

The emblem of the island is the rare native leopard cat. The Tsushima leopard cat is considered to be a subspecies of the Bengal leopard cat. In Japan, it is found exclusively on the island of Tsushima in Nagasaki Prefecture, and it attracts global attention as a scientifically significant animal.

Of course we had to pose for a photo with the mascot.