Japan Ep.7 – Kyoto – Everybody Wants to See THIS [ 👀]

Kyoto

The last episode described the starting of our Kyoto adventure. We visited the Sento Palace gardens and learned that thousand words are needed to understand one picture in a Japanese garden.

From the Imperial Gardens we moved to the Shogun residence, the Nijo-ji Castle. We learned about the fortifications and admired the beautiful gardens.

We crossed the Teramichi Arcade buying just an ice cream and did a night tour of the Gion district; unfortunately we scored no Geisha picture

Our second day in Kyoto is focused on the magnificent Kiyomizu-Dera Temple. If you visit Kyoto, this is an absolute must see. It may be a little bit intimidating due to the visitors in excessive numbers, but it will leave you with a long-lasting impression.

Many foreign visitors choose to rent kimonos and visit the temple wearing this traditional Japanese outfit. Also groups of Japanese school kids are approaching visitors for exercising English and learning about the four corners of the world. Don’t be intimated.

The temple was founded in 780 AD but these buildings are much younger… from 1633 😉!

Here is Zuigudo Hall, a pitch black, narrow and convoluted corridor that leads to a large stone, barely glowing in the dark, that will grant you a wish if you touch it.

We reach now the main hall and its 13m high balcony. It was built with no nails!

After passing Kiyomizu-dera’s main hall we are at the Jishu Shrine, dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking.💖

From this terrace we could have had a spectacular view of the temple, but unfortunately since April 2017 the temple is covered for roof repairs that are supposed to be completed by 2020 😼.

This is Koyasu-no-To, in translation Easy Child-birth Pagoda.

Finally we get to the Otowa Falls, that gives the name to the temple. The water of each stream brings different benefits.

Ginkaku-Ji Temple, built in 1482, as the house of the art loving Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, was converted into a temple in 1490 after the owner’s death.

The dry sand garden as well as the moss garden are a superb illustration of the Higashiyama Culture which includes poetry, tea ceremony, garden design and floral arrangement.

The Philosopher’s Walk follows the canal under the shadow of an endless line of cherry trees. The name is related to the Kyoto University professor Nishida Kitarowho, who used it for meditation.

The Path represents a nice way to conclude the visit to the beautiful Ginkaku-Ji Temple.