Enoshima Benzaiten – A mystical shrine on a beautiful island

Enoshima Benzaiten is the Japanese Buddhist goddess who has origins in the Hindu goddess Saraswati. Bumping into Indian gods in Japan is not that rare given the cultural export of Buddhism from India. In Hindu tradition Saraswati holds a musical instrument veena and so does the Japanese version Benzaiten, holding a biwa, a traditional Japanese lute. Enoshima is a beautiful island just an hour

Benzaiten Temple at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park

Benzaiten (弁才天, 弁財天) is a Japanese Buddhist goddess, who originated from the Hindu goddess Saraswati. The Shinobzu Pond at Ueno Park has a temple of Saraswati. Floating on the water of the pond, it is a Buddhist temple dedicated to Saraswati the goddess of the arts, knowledge and wisdom. Japanese of todays generation, pray to her

Beautiful Lotus flowers at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park

Tokyo has a couple of Lotus flowers spots with my favorite one being the Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park. The summer festival in Ueno Park is accompanied by beautiful lotus in the Shinobazu Pond which bloom late July to mid August. The Shinobazu Pond is a pond within Ueno Park, and a historically prominent Shitamachi