Kiyomizu Temple, World Cultural Heritage, in Kyoto

Kiyomizu temple is located on the foot of Otowa Mountain in Kyoto city.  It was registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
Kiyomizu means "pure water" and this temple was named after the waterfall from the mountain. The temple's precinct is very large, and it is good to have one hour to walk around.  

The temple is on the mountain, let's go up and up...

You will see the 3 storied pagoda on the right side.

Temple bell.

One of the famous place in this temple is the Mail Hall.  It is also called Kiyomizu stage, and the view from the stage is great.  Kiyomizu Stage was built from 12-meter high Japanese Zelkova pillars and they were assembled without using a single nail. The floor was installed using more than 400 cypress boards.  In Japan, when we make a big decision to take a chance, we say, "Try as if you are jumping from Kiyomizu stage!"

At the left side of the main hall, there are 2 iron canes and clogs.  It is said that Benkei, who was one of the strongest samurais in Japan, had them. The bigger cane weight 90kg! Try to lift them.  

Next, go down to the Otowa waterfall. There are 3 lines of waterfall, and each has meaning, Love, Intelligence, and Health from the left.  Choose one of them and sip one time, then it is said that you will have the divine favour of chosen waterfall.  If you drink more than one sip, or drink three of them, the divine favour will be gone. This is the lesson for not being greedy in Buddhism.

 

In the precincts, you will see many guardian deities of children. 

Kiyomizu Temple opens at 6:00 in the morning, but closing time varies depending on the season. The admission fee is JPY300 for an adult. The temple has special night-time illuminations some time.  You can check the visitors guide and the opening hours here.

http://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/lang/01.html

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Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka in Gion

In Gion area, a little to the north part of Kiyomizu Temple, there are Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka, the paths in very traditional Japanese style.  Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka literally mean "Two year slopes" and "Three year slopes."  (It is said that Two year and Three year were referred to the Imperial years when they were constructed. (The years are actually 807 and 808 in the Christian era.)  

 








On these two lovely streets, you can see Japanese old houses, traditional shops, and Japanese sweets cafes and restaurants. 

Sometimes you can see girls wearing kimono and walking through.

















An Umbrella Shop.

 

A folding fans Shop.

 

Good ambience, isn't it?

 
Find fancy goods here, and take to your country!











Experience Japan!

 

 

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Rock Garden at Ryoanji Temple

The most popular temple by foreign tourists in Kyoto is Golden Pavilion. And the most popular garden by foreign tourists in Kyoto is the rock garden in Ryoanji Temple.

Ryoanji temple was originally a country house of the Tokudaiji Clan, it was acquired in 1450 by Katsumoto Hosokawa for use as a Zen training temple.  This temple was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

Going through the main gate, you can see the Kyoyochi Pond, which was made in the late twelfth century.  Until recent years many mandarin ducks were to be seen on the pond. Lotus flowers are beautiful. 

When you enter the temple, check first how the rock garden is and how many rocks you can see. The model garden is just before the actual rock garden. The number of rocks is 15.

The rectangular Zen garden is made from only 15 rocks and white gravels.

Then, let's count the number of rocks in practice.

How many could you see? In fact, it is impossible to see all 15 rocks at the same time in this garden. In the old time Japan, the number 15 means "perfect." And it is said that this garden expresses "imperfectness of the world" even though this story is just one of many interpretations of the garden.  The constructor of this garden is unknown, and its interpretation is entrusted the person who appreciates this garden.

On the back side of the garden, there is a "Tsukubai," which is the stone wash-basin for the tea room.  It has a unique inscription, "I learn only to be contented." This means, he who learns only to be contented in spiritually rich, while the one who does not learn to be contented in spiritually poor even if he is materially wealthy. This is Zen spirit. 

The temple is open 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m. from Mar to Nov, and 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. from Dec to Feb.  Admission fee is JPY500 for adult and JPY300 for children under 15.  

http://www.ryoanji.jp/index.html

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1001 Buddhist statues, Sanjusangendo

"33" is in Japanese Sanjusan.  Sanjusangendo is called so because this temple is a hall with thirty-three spaces between columns.  The official name of Sanjusangendo is Rengeoin temple, and the structure is registered as a National Treasure by the Japanese government.  The original temple which was built in 1164 was lost in fire, but it was reconstructed in 1266. 

 The structure has remained unchanged for 700 years.


 

In front of the temple hall, there is Natural Springs for Worshippers.  This is called night sobbing springs because the flow of the spring sounds like a person sobbing.  On the other hand, it is said that visiting this spring helps to stop babies crying at night. 

You can also see Japanese style garden.

The hall of the temple is about 120 meter long.  The gallery on the western side of the hall is famous for the annual Toshiya Festival, held on January 15th.  Archers shoot arrows the length of the hall.  It seems so difficult to hit the target!

But the main part of this temple is the inside of the hall.   This temple houses 1001 statues of the 1000-armed Kannon (Buddhist deity).  The largest seated Kannon is National Treasure, and is flanked on either side by 500 smaller Kannon images, nearly lined up in rows.  It is said that there is one statue whose face is just like you, and if you find the statue, you have a good luck! So try to find one alike you here. 

You cannot eat, use a cell phone, or even take photos inside the hall. So please click here to take a look at the statues.

http://sanjusangendo.jp/

Opens 8:00~16:30 in summer time and 9:00~15:30 from Nov16 ~ Mar31

Admission fee is JPY600 for adults

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Japanese ryokan, Ohanabo

If you travel Japan, try staying at a ryokan, which is traditional Japanese style accommodation with tatami-mat rooms and futons instead of beds. 

In Kyoto, we stayed at a small but neat ryokan, Ohanabo.  This ryokan is just 7 minutes walk away from Kyoto station. 

Entrance. Take your shoes off here and check in the ryokan.

Lounge at the 2nd floor.  You can hang out here before dinner time, after bath time, or anytime. Wear yukata (Japanese robe) and relax.

We arrived at the ryokan in the morning before check in time, so we checked our bags here first.  The landlady was so kind to show us how to look around Kyoto city and asked us to time to go back.  You might be asked the time to come back for your dinner preparation or for you to notify the curfew. (Some ryokans have the curfew.)

By the way, you can see Higashi Honganji temple across the street of this ryokan. 

Here is the candle shop near the ryokan, it is about 3 minute walk away.  The Shop name is Tanjirenshodo.  This shop is the only shop which sells Japanese traditional candles in Kyoto.  The candles are mainly used for temples in Kyoto, but they are too cute to be used only for temples. 

The candles made here are all handmade and natural made.  The flame is not so light, but warm flame, and not much soot is out from.  Also, the shape of the candle is to hold the wax not to drip out from it.  The candle price is from JPY420, Sundays  and holidays are closed. 

So beautiful, aren't they?

When we came back to the ryokan after Kyoto sightseeing and ate outside (we chose not to eat at the inn this time), the futons are set up already in our room.  Usually, ryokan has the personal maids for each room and take care of you during stay.  And the next entertainment is taking bath.  Go to the big bath room and enjoy Japanese style bathing. 

In the morning, Japanese style breakfast is waiting for you.

At this ryokan, all staff are so kind to help you with their best hospitality from your arrival till you leaving.  Some ryokans are small but warm, some are huge and have lots of entertainments, some have hot springs, and some have private baths.  Find your favorite ryokan in Japan.

Ryokan Ohanabo

Check in 16:00 and check out 10:00.

http://www.ohanabo.com/index.html

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Golden Pavilion, Kinkakuji

The most popular temple by tourists visiting Kyoto is Golden Pavilion.  It is a Shariden, a Buddhist hall containing relics of Buddha.  The pavilion is the part of a temple that is formally named Rokuonji-temple. 

This Rokuonji Temple is inscribed on the World Heritage List as a Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto. 

Through the first gate, there is the approach covered by green nature toward the temple.  Here is the temple bell.  You can ring the bell if you want.. though you have to pay JPY300.  Ring the bell is greeting to the Buddha.

 

When you pay the admission fee at the ticket booth, the good luck paper charm is given instead of ticket. Do not lose this and take to your home!  Through the main gate, we could see the golden pavilion.  Let's admire the reflection of the temple on the pond.

Originally built in the Kamaukura period as an aristocrat's country estate, and taken possession of in 1397 by retired shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who turned it into a supremely refined and elegant country villa called Kitayam-dono, Rokuonji's birth as a Buddhist temple occurred in 1422, when, following Yoshimitsu's death, it was converted into a Zen temple. The pavilion was actually burned in 1950 by a young monk, and the reproduction was completed in 1955, and re-covering by gold foil was completed 1987.  The total cost at that time was about $7 million! (JPY740,000,000)

 

Gold foil on lacquer covers the upper two level of Kinkaku, and shining phoenix stands on top of the shingled roof. The first level is built in the style of 11th century imperial aristocracy, the second level is the style of warrior aristocracy, and the top level is in the Chinese Zen style.  

The temple site is large and you can also admire the garden and buildings.

 

The Sekka-tei Tea house.

The hall dedicated to Fudo Myoo.

http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/sites/shrines/w_heritage/13/

The admission fee for this temple is JPY400 (for adult).

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River Terrace Dining by the Kamo River

The most famous river in Kyoto is the Kamo River.  The riverbanks are popular walking spots for residents and tourists.  

At the corner of the Donguri Bridge and the Kamo River, there is an Italian Restaurant, "Scorpione Kichiu."

Since Kyoto is located in a basin, it is very hot in summer and very cold in winter.  So people in the Edo period contrived how to feel the cool air in summer.  It is the river terrace dining.  We can see it in the old picture retracing around 1700.

Quoted from http://www.kyoto-yuka.com/history/index.html

And still now, the view of the Kamo River has not been changed.  In summer, restaurants open balconies looking out to the river.

The foods are good, too. 

Assorted appetizers.

Main dish, we ate fried white fish today.

Listening to the sound of the river streams, the delicious dishes get more delicious.  River Terrace Dining by the Kamo River is called in Japanese "Noryoyuka," means cooling floor because the river is running just under the floor of the eating place. 

Maybe it is good to eat at the lunch time in May and June, and eat at the dinner time in July and August because it probably gets too hot in the daytime in Kyoto in the summer. There are many restaurants around the river, please find your favorite one.

SCORPIONE KICHIU Restaurant

http://www.kiwa-group.co.jp/restaurant/i100283.html

Lunch time: A course - JPY2,500, B course - JPY4,800

Dinner time: A course - JPY4,800, B course - JPY6,800, C course - JPY8,800

Tax included, No tip needed.

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Power spot, Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine is located on the east end of Shijo-dori in Kyoto city.  This is the main shrine for Gion festival held in every July. 

As you can see, the shrine is very colorful.

Yasaka Shrine respects three main gods, Susanoo-no-mikoto, Kushiinadahime-no-mikoto, and Yahashira-no-mikogami, and also many other gods.  Espeically, Susanoo-no-mikoto is a great god in Japanese mythology, known for his defeat of a huge sneak with eight heads.

It is said that the Shrine was constructed in 656.  With the development of the capital in Japan, the worship for the shrine was widely spread. Today, about 3,000 satellite shrines exist in all over Japan.

In this shrine, you can pray for the god of marriage.   Here is the branch shrine for the God, Ookuninushino-mikoto.  It is said that this god is the son or grandson of the main god of the Yasaka Shrine.  The reason why he is the god of marriage is that he was so popular with women and he got married 6 times and had 181 children according to the legend!  You can see him in this photo, he is with a rabbit. (He also has a legend which he saved a rabbit and cured the injury.)  Let's pray for your good marriage here.

And here is the main sanctuary of a shrine.  

Many people come for the first shrine visit of the New Year.

I liked the architecture, too. 

Yasaka Shrine is known as the terrific power spot in Kyoto.  Why don't you visit Yasaka Shrine if you want strong power from God?

http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/yasaka/english/index.html

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