Kakuo-zan Nittai-ji Temple.

Standing out as a symbol of international diplomacy, Nagoya’s Kakuo-zan Nittai-ji is the only non-sectarian Buddhist temple in Japan, with its leadership rotating among different sects every three years. Built in 1904 to honor Japan-Thailand relations, the temple was founded to house sacred relics of the historical Buddha, gifted by King Chulalongkorn of Siam. These relics rest inside the striking, 15-meter-tall Gandhara-style granite Hoan Pagoda. The sprawling grounds blend various eras, featuring a modern concrete main hall housing a Thai-gifted gilt-bronze Buddha statue alongside a soaring five-story pagoda. Visiting on the 21st of the month transforms the quiet atmosphere, as a lively temple market fills the approach with stalls, local food, and neighborhood energy.