> > > The grounds were absolutely beautiful but, of course, it was on top of a huge hill again. What do the Japanese have against building on the ground, where it's easy to get to.
> >
> > I don't know which is the correct answer, but some that spring to mind:
> > 1) In Japan there's a shortage of flat fertile low-lying land for growing food. So when there is some, you don't waste it by sticking temples on it.
> > 2) Tsunamis?
> > 3) A more strategically important location? OK, maybe not so important for temples, but then again I believe political rivalry came into temple-building as much as anything else.
>
> 4) Since we're talking temples, I assume we're dealing with old buildings. I imagine they were built in less peaceful times than ours, where a temple should (a) have a remote location and/or (b) be able to defend itself, hence the strategy issue. The latter would be especially important if japanese temples were used like medieval churches as a place of refuge for the locals.
>

5) Hills have always been important to holy sites of almost any religion. Closer to the sky, and thus closer to whatever deity, I guess.

> > Brunnen-"and pictures! Where are the pictures?"G
>
> jul"there must be pictures!"ian

Nyper"Yes, pictures! And Engrish! And... and... weird commercials!"old