1. Kyoto

  Kyoto (lit. the capital of the capital) was the capital of Japan from 794 (in the reign of Emperor Kammu) to 1868 (Emperor Meiji or Mutsuhito).  The current population is about 1,463,456 (Kyoto City Census, Feb.1, 2005); 2,645,208 (Kyoto Prefecture Census, Feb.1, 2005).  In spite of numerous wars and fires for more than 1,200 years, Kyoto still keep infinite cultural heritages of Japan.  Due to its historic value, Kyoto was not chosen as a target of U.S. air raids, which severely damaged many major Japanese cities including Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.  However, Kyoto also has an aspect of the modern city now.

  The following description is quoted from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Website:

  Built in A.D. 794 on the model of the capitals of ancient China, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan from its foundation until the middle of the 19th century.  As the centre of Japanese culture for more than 1,000 years, Kyoto illustrates the development of Japanese wooden architecture, particularly religious architecture, and the art of Japanese gardens, which has influenced landscape gardening the world over.

  For further information of Kyoto's World Cultural Heritage,
    Go to: World Cultural Heritage: Kyoto.
    Go to: World Heritage Cultural Property: Ancient Kyoto.
    Go to: World Heritage Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
  
  

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2. The Kyoto Protocol 1997

  Kyoto has recently become known as the center city of the world-wide environmental issues, especially against the Global Warming.
  Dear American friends, please help to persuade the American government to ratify the treaty even if it might slightly slow down the growth of the American industry which is producing as much as about 40% of the entire world pollution now.  Without America's ratification, we cannot stop the horrible Global Warming which would deadly damage the biogeocenosis and the terrain of the world in the near future:

  The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on 16 February 2005.  To mark this date, some Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, as well as institutions and organizations, have planned events and other activities.  In order to assist those who wish to attend or promote their activities, the UNFCCC secretariat has compiled a list of known events and activities.  Japan held a commemorative symposium and global video conference on 16 February 2005 to celebrate the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol.  These events took place in the historic city of Kyoto where the Protocol was originally adopted in 1997. (quoted from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website)

  Go to: the Kyoto Protocol Information and More.
  
  

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3. Tamuramaro Sakanoue and Aterui related to Kiyomizu Temple

  Please refer to the notes about Kiyomizu Temple below.

  To get more information of Tamuramaro Sakanoue and Aterui,
    1. go to the "Aterui the Great Hero of Emishi" page.
    2. go to the "About" page.
    3. go to the "Mizusawa" page.
    4. go to the "Hiraizumi" page.
    5. go to the "Hirakata, Osaka" page.

  
  

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4. References to Kyoto in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake
  
  According to Louis O. Mink's A "Finnegans Wake" Gazetteer (1978), there are some references to Kyoto in Finnegans Wake:
  
  KYOTO (KIOTO).  City, West central Honshu, Jap; for more than 1000 years the residence of the Imperial family; capital of Japan from 794 to 1868.
  
534.02  Kyow!  Tak.
550.28  kiotowing  (Mink 374)
  

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Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera

Enchin (延鎮), a monk of Nara-Koshima-dera, had an inspired dream, "Go to find a spring along the Kizu River (木津川)," and reached a waterfall (a spring) in the Otowa Hills (音羽山; now Higashiyama: 東山). He built his hermitage and a small shrine of "Senjyu-Kannon" (千手観音; the 1000-handed image of the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy [Skt. Avalokitesvara; Ch. Kuwan Yin, Kwan Yin] here in A.D. 778. Two years later (A.D.880) Tamuramaro Sakanoue (坂上田村麻呂, 758-811), the legendary Korean-Japanese general, came hunting a deer for his pregnant wife Takako. Feeling thirsty, he climbed up the hill and found the miraculous spring "Shimizu" or "Kiyomizu" (清水; pure water or spring water) which mysteriously keeps off the drinkers' starvation. There he met Enchin, who preached the wanton destruction of life. Sakanoue felt ashamed of hunting deer, held a funeral for the deer and left there. He told his experience to his wife: both soon became devout believers in "Senjyu-Kannon" and contributed a Buddhist hall for the statue. Thus Sakanoue and Enchin worked together to build this temple: it was named "Kiyomizu-dera" Temple (清水寺) after this historical fact in 798, in the middle of the series of the battles between the Chotei troops led by Sakanoue and the Emishi people led by Aterui in Hitakami-no-kuni (now southern Iwate). Sakanoue won the war. More precisely, however, Aterui (阿弖流為) and More (母礼), tired of the ceaseless wars, surrendered to Sakanoue, because they believed that Sakanoue was a respectable warrior. But they were sent to Kawachi-no-kuni (now Hirakata, Osaka) and beheaded in spite of Sakanoue's desperate appeal for sparing their lives. Since then, most Japanese people including many local people of Iwate, had greatly underestimated Aterui and More: They even had thought that Aterui was an evil man who kidnapped many young women to sell them in some other places as many legends disguising the truth told while Sakanoue was believed to be the legendary protector of the Japanese history. In the late twentieth century, however, historians finally began to attempt to reveal the hidden aspect of the Japanese history: most of the recent Japanese history textbooks, authorized by the Ministry of Education, take notice of Aterui and More, who fought for defending their native country. Such movement encouraged Kiyomizu Temple to build a monument in honor of Aterui and More in the south part of the temple in 1994, the 1,200th anniversary of the transfer of the capital. Many of the present buildings were reconstructed between 1631 and 1633 by order of the third Tokugawa Shogun Iemitsu. Otowa-san Kiyomizu Temple now belongs to the Kita-Hosso-shu sect (or the Kiyomizu-dera sect) since 1965, when they became independent of Kofuku-ji Temple, Nara, the Hokuden-Hosso-shu sect.

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Shimizu-zaka"; the old temple town of Kiyomizu Temple.

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(Wednesday 16 February) Hotoku-ji Temple along Shimizu-zaka. I took this picture, though I do not know why..

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Nio-mon" Gate (lit. the Deva Gate; Red Gate) and ,"Sai-mon" (West Gate), Kiyomizu Temple

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Nio-mon" Gate (Red Gate), Kiyomizu Temple. It was reconstructed in the late fifteenth century and finished restoration in 2003. It holds two statues of Nio made in the Kamakura Period (1192-1333); "Naraen-Kongo-rikishi" opening his mouth(right) and "Misshaku-Kongo-rikishi" closing his mouth (left).

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Sai-mon" ("West Gate" in the Momoyama-bunka style), Kiyomizu Temple. It was reconstructed in 1633. It enshrines "Jikokuten" (Skt. Dhrtarastra; the Guardian of the East) in the east (right) side of the gate and "Zochoten" Skt. Virudhaka; the Guardian of the South) in the south (left).

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Kaisan-do" or "Tamura-do" (the Founder's Hall), Kiyomizu Temple. It was reconstructed between 1611-1633. It enshrines the statues of Tamuramaro Sakanoue and his wife Takako. Sakanoue's grave is located in "Tamura-no-Mori" in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto.

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Todoroki-mon" (Central Gate), Kiyomizu Temple. It was reconstructed between 1631-1633.;It enshrines "Jikokuten" (Skt. Dhrtarastra; the Guardian of the East) in the east (right) side of the gate and "Komokuten" (Skt. Virupaksa; the Guardian of the West) in the west (left) side.

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Hon-do" (Main Hall) of Kiyomizu Temple. It enshrines "Senjyu-Kannon" (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy [Skt. Avalokitesvara; Ch. Kuwan Yin, Kwan Yin] with a thousand hands) as the main icon with "Jizo-Bosatsu" (Skt. Ksitigarbha-Bodhisattva) and "Bishamonten" (Skt. Vaisravans; The God of Treasure and Protector of the North) in the sides. It was reconstructed in 1633. Courtesy of Kiyomizu Temple

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Hon-do" (Main Hall) of Kiyomizu Temple. It is also a real Noh stage, in the Heian Palace style. The famous Japanese proverb, "Kiyomizu no Butai kara Tobioriru" (lit. Jump off from the stage of Kiyomizu) means "Cross the Rubicon," "Take a chance," "Make a leap in the dark," etc.

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Hon-do" (Main Hall) of Kiyomizu Temple. Recently Kiyomizu Temple, who has been researching in the famous proverb, exposed an interesting record of jumping down from the stage: 234 people actually jumped off between 1694-1864: it means 1.6 persons did per year on average in the Edo Period. The ratio of men and women was 7:3 respectively. The youngest was a 12-year-old boy, the oldest was 80; the 20s and 30s occupied about 73%. The hall is about 13 meters high. The survival rate was 85.4%, although all of the 6 jumpers over 60s died. Most of the jumpers came from Kyoto, but some made a long journey from Fukushima, Niigata, Yamaguchi and Ehime separately. Many jumpers came to work it out according to the proverb, because there was a popular belief that your wish would be fulfilled if you really do it at the risk of your life. People of Monzen-cho, the temple town, got up a petition to the temple to make the fence on the edge of the stage several times. Finally in 1872, the Meiji government issued orders forbidding the jump from the Kiyomizu stage. The popularity of the Kiyomizu jump died down at last.

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Otowa-no-Taki" (The Otowa Waterfall), Kiyomizu Temple. It symbolizes the history of this temple: It was also called the "Ogon-no-Mizu" (the Golden Water) or the "Enmei-sui" (the Water of Longevity).

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(Wednesday 16 February) The inscription of "Aterui to More no-hi" (阿弖流為母礼之碑; the Monument in honor of Aterui and More who fought with Tamuramaro Sakanoue for their native land, Hitakami-no-kuni [now southern Iwate]). It was built in 1994, the 1,200th anniversary of the transfer of the capital.

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Aterui to More Kensho-hi" (the Monument in honor of Aterui and More who fought with Tamuramaro Sakanoue for their native land, Hitakami-no-kuni (now southern Iwate).

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Aterui to More Kensho-hi" (the Monument in honor of Aterui and More who fought with Tamuramaro Sakanoue for their native land, Hitakami-no-kuni (now southern Iwate).

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(Wednesday 16 February) The "shidare-zakura" (a drooping cherry tree; Prunus pendula) donated by Mizusawa City, Iwate, the birthplace of Aterui and More.

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(Wednesday 16 February) "Sai-mon" (the West Gate) with the foreground of the pond, Kiyomizu Temple

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(Wednesday 16 February) A shot near Kiyomizu Temple

Heian-jingu Shrine

Heian-jingu Shrine (平安神宮) is the magnificent late 19th century replica (5/8 scale) of the Imperial Palace of the Heian Period (794-1192) enshrining the fiftieth Emperor Kanmu (737-806;reign 781-806) and the one-hundred-twenty-first Emperor Komei (1831-1866; reign 1847-1866; supposedly poisoned by some anti-Tokugawa Shogunate group soon after the installation of the last Shogun Yoshinobu). It was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of transfer of the capital from Heijo-kyo (now Nara City) and Nagaoka-kyo (the southern suburb of Kyoto) to here in Kyoto. Known as the main setting for the "Jidai Matsuri" (Festival of the Ages) held on every 22 October. Participants wear historical costumes of all the major period of Japanese history. The procession leaves Kyoto Gyoen (the former Imperial Palace) at noon and reaches here in Heian-jingu around 14:30.

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(Thursday 17 February) "O-Torii" (the Great Red Gate, built in 1929), Heian-jingu Shrine

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(Thursday 17 February) "Oten-mon" (the Gate of the Gods, built in 1894), Heian-jingu Shrine

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(Thursday 17 February) "Daigoku-den" or "Gaihai-den "(the Great Hall for Visitors, built in 1894), Heian-jingu Shrine

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(Thursday 17 February) The "Chozu-sha" (Hand-Washing Point for Worship) of Heian-jingu Shrine. It is a very common custom all over the country to purify your hands or your mouths before worship: Every Japanese shrine or temple installs the hand-washing point inside the gate. Another "Tesui-sha" is located west outside of Oten-mon Gate.

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(Thursday 17 February) "Naihai-den"(the Inner Hall for Visitors, built in 1979), Heian-jingu Shrine

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(Thursday 17 February) "Ukon-no-Tachibana" (the Mandarin Orange on the right; Citrus Tachibana), Heian-jingu Shrine. On the left side from "Daigoku-den," "Sakon-no-Sakura" (the Cherry Tree on the left) stands.

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(Thursday 17 February) "Byakko-ro" (the Tower of the White Tigar, built in 1894), Heian-jingu Shrine

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(Thursday 17 February) "Soryu-ro" (the Tower of the Azure Dragon, built in 1894), Heian-jingu Shrine

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(Thursday 17 February) "Kagura-den" (the Hall for Sacred Dances, built in 1940), Heian-jingu Shrine

Chishaku-in

Iobuttcho-san Negoro-ji Chishaku-in Temple (五百佛山 根来寺 智積院) is the head temple of Shingon-shu Chisan-ha (真言宗智山派) sect of Buddhism. The address is 964 Higashi-Kawara-cho, Higashi-oji Nana-jo-kudaru, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto (京都市東山区東大路七条下る東瓦町964). The origin of Chishaku-in Temple is related to the two temples, Dai-Hoden-in Temple (大法伝院) and Shoun-zen-ji Temple (祥雲禅寺). Dai-Hoden-in Temple was founded by a Shingon-sect monk Kakuban (覚鑁, 1095-1144) in Koya-san (高野山) [ which moved to Negoro-san (根来山) in 1140], Kishu (now Wakayama). "Chishaku-in" was the name of the Buddhist school built by Shinkenbo Chosei (真憲坊長盛) in Negoro-san. In the late sixteenth century, when the temple was verypowerful, it had 2,700 halls, 6,000 monks and 700,000 goku which is considered to have been as rich as a very powerful lord. However, the temple was antagonistic to Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the best man of power in 1585 and rapidly declined. After the Tomotomi family perished in 1615, Ieyasu Tokugawa donated the land of Hokoku-sha Shrine (豊國社), and the site of Shoun-zen-ji Temple, which was founded by Hideyoshi in order to pray for the repose of his beloved son Tsurumatsu (鶴松, 1589-1591)'s soul. Thus the new Chishaku-in Temple was constructed in this present site.

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(Wednesday 7 March) Negoro-san Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) A ume tree and "Kon-do" (金堂; Main Hall), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Kon-do" (Main Hall), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) A ume tree and "Kon-do" (Main Hall), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Bussoku-ishi" (仏足石; the foot print stone of the Great Buddha), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Myo-o-den" (明王殿; Hall of Fudo-myo-o [Skt. Acala; the God of Fire], built in 1947), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Entrance to the "Meisho-tei-en" (名勝庭園; the garden of scenic beauty), Chishaku-in Temple. The garden, one of the most famous in Kyoto, was laid out in the taste of Rikyu Senno (千利休, 1522-1591) in the early seventeenth century and was inspired by the landscape around Mt. Rozan (廬山; Lu Shan) in China.

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Dai-Sho-in" (大書院; the great drawing room) and "Meisho-teien" (the garden of scenic beauty), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Meisho-tei-en" (the garden of scenic beauty), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Interor of the "Dai-sho-in" (the great drawing room), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Meisho-tei-en" (the garden of scenic beauty), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Meisho-tei-en" (the garden of scenic beauty), Chishaku-in Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) A carp in the pond of "Meisho-tei-en" (the garden of scenic beauty), Chishaku-in Temple

Rokudo-Chinno-ji

This area is called "Rokudo-no-tsuji" (六道の辻; the Intersection of the Six Paths [Worlds]), where this world and that world meet. "Roku-do" (六道) means "the six paths (states) of existence as taught by Buddhism; "Jigoku" (地獄; Hell), "Gaki" (餓鬼; Skt. Preta; the Buddhist inferno of starvation), "Chikusho" (畜生; the World [Realm, Hell] of Beasts), "Shura," (修羅; the World of Asura [Wars]), "Ningen" (人間; this World of human beings) and "Ten" (天; Heaven). Legend tells that a mysterious poet/scholar Takamura Onono (小野 篁, AD 802-853) descended into Hell through the legendary well (still existing in this temple) every night to support the court of Emma-dai-o (閻魔大王; Skt. Yama; Pluto). As for further information of Takamura Onono, refer to the Kyoto Central page in which the picture of Takamura's grave is available in the section of "Graves of Lady Murasaki /Lord Takamura Ono[no]." Daichin-zan Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple (大椿山 六道珍皇寺) belongs to Rinzai-shu Kennin-ji-ha (臨済宗 建仁寺派) sect. It was reportedly founded during the Enryaku era (AD 782-806) by Keishun-sozu (慶俊 僧都), the chief priest of Daian-ji Temple (大安寺), Nara and teacher of Kukai (空海, AD 774-835). It was called "Otagi-dera" Temple (愛宕寺) in the early days. There are. however, various accounts about the origin of Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple, which formerly belonged to the Shingo-shu sect (真言宗). It went to ruin during wars, but was reconstructed by Ryoso Monkei (聞溪 良聰), the chief priest of Kennin-ji Temple (建仁寺) in the third year of Joji (貞治) or AD 1364. The main hall of the temple enshrines the Triad images of Yakushi Buddha (薬師三尊像) or Skt. Bhechadjaguru (the Physician of Souls), which was made by Shoun Nakanishi (中西 祥雲) in 1978. The address is Matsubara-dori Higashi-O-ji Nishi-hairu, Higashiyama Ward (京都市東山区松原通東大路西入).

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(Wednesday 7 March) Red temple gate of Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple or the site of Takamura Onono's residence called "Rokudo-no-Tsuji

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(Wednesday 7 March) A stone script of "Yo-kyoku Kumano" (謡曲 「熊野」;"Kumano" the Noh song ), in front of the gate to Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple. It says: "Otagi-no-tera mo Uchisuginu/ Rokudo-no-Tsuji tokaya/ Geni Osoroshi-ya, kono Michi wa/ Meido ni Kayo naru mono wo"(「愛宕の寺も打過ぎぬ。六道の辻とかや。げに怖ろしやこの道は、冥途に通ふなるものを」). It can be translated: "I have just passed by the temple of Otagi. This is called "Rokudo-no-Tsuji" (the Intersection of the Six Paths). How horrible this road is! It leads to Hell, as I heard."

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(Wednesday 7 March) Emma-do (Hall of Yama), Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Wood statues of Takamura Onono (left) and a famished [child] devil (Skt. Preta), the Emma-do Hall, Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Statues of Emma-dai-o (Yama; reportedly made by Takamura Onono, middle), Daihon-zenji (大本禅師; Zen Priest Daihon, left) and Kobo-daishi (Kukai, right), Emma-do Hall,Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Jizo-do" (Hall of Jizo; Skt. Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva), Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Statue of "Mizuko Jizo" (水子地蔵; Jizo for Miscarried Babies), Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Milestone for wandering souls of three worlds (probably this World, Hell and Heaven) with "Hondo" (main hall) in the background, Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) The well descending into Hell called "Takamura Meido-gayoi no Ido" (Takamura's well to descend into Hell), on the right side of the main hall (Hon-do), Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) The well descending into Hell called "Takamura Meido-gayoi no Ido" (Takamura's well to descend into Hell), on the right side of the main hall (Hon-do), Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Interior of the main hall, Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple. It enshrines the Triad images of Yakushi Buddha or Skt. Bhechadjaguru (the Physician of Souls) and a picture of Takamura Onono meeting a famished [child] devil.

Sanjyusangen-do

The official name of Sanjyusangen-do (三十三間堂) is Rengeo-in (蓮華王院) Temple. The address is 657 Sanjyusangendo Mawari-machi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto (京都市東山区三十三間堂廻リ町 657). It was established by the powerful warrior-politician Kiyomori Taira (平 清盛, 1118-1181) in the corner of the ex-Emperor Goshirakawa (後白河上皇)'s Inzei-cho (cloister government house) called Hojyu-ji-dono (法住寺殿) in 1164. The original temple was lost in fire 80 years after the foundation, but the building was reconstructed in 1164. That structure has remained unchanged for 700 years since then with four great renovations during that period. The long temple hall, which is about 120 meters long, is made in the Wayo (和様; Japanese) style architecture. As there are thirty-three spaces between the columns, this temple came to be called "Sanjyusangen-do" (a hall with thirty-three spaces between the columns). Other noteworthy objects in this temple are the roofed earthen fence and the South Gate. They are noted in connection with Regent Hideyoshi Toyotomi (関白 豊臣 秀吉, 1537-1598) and reflect the aesthetics of the sixteenth century. The principal images of Sanjyusangen-do Temple are the 1001 statues of the golden Buddhist deity, Jyuchimen-senjyu-sengen Kanzeon (十一面千手千眼観世音; the 11-faced 1000-handed 1000-eyed Merciful Goddess [Skt. Avalokitesvara]), which is often called by the simplified name, "Kannon" (観音). One thousand standing statues of Kannon and one gigantic seated statue, placed at the center of the standing statues, are housed in the temple hall. The statues are made of Japanese cypress (檜). Among the standing statues, 124 were made in the twelfth century when this temple were founded, and the remaining 876 were made in the thirteenth century when the temple was renovated after fire, taking about 16 years. The powerful and dynamic statues of the "Rai-jin" (雷神; Thunder God) and the "Fu-jin" (風神; Wind God) are placed at either side of the temple hall on raised pedestals of cloud shape. The images of these gods derived from people's fear of and gratitude for nature in the ancient times. People worshipped them as deities who controlled rain and wind, and brought about good harvests. These statues are representative masterpiece sculptures of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333). The twenty-eight images placed in a straight line in front of the 1001 Kannon statues are guardian deities which protect the Buddhist deity Kannon as well as pious Buddhists who believe in Kannon. Many of these deities, whose mythic images are expressed in a vivid manner, have their origin in ancient India where Buddhism was born influenced by ancient Hinduism. Technically these statues are made in an assembled construction method. Arms and heads were carved separately, then joined together, coated with lacquer, and finished by coloring. Among numerous national treasures in Kyoto, this temple hall is a must see!

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(Saturday 24 February) The long temple hall, Sanjyusangen-do Temple

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(Saturday 24 February) The long temple hall, Sanjyusangen-do Temple

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(Saturday 24 February) The long temple hall, Sanjyusangen-do Temple

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(Saturday 24 February) The long temple hall, Sanjyusangen-do Temple

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(Saturday 24 February) Pond Garden and Todai-mon Gate (Great East Gate), Sanjyusangen-do Temple

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(Saturday 24 February) "Shakyo-hono-to" (Tower of Dedicatory Hand-written Sutras), Sanjyusangen-do Temple

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(Saturday 24 February) Todai-mon Gate (Great East Gate), Sanjyusangen-do Temple

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(Saturday 24 February) "Chozu-ya" (手水舎, washbasin), Sanjyusangen-do Temple

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(Saturday 24 February) "Sho-ro" (Belfry), Sanjyusangen-do Temple

Rokuhara-Mitsu-ji

Fudaraku-san Rokuharamitsu-ji Temple (補陀洛山 六波羅蜜寺) is located in Gojo-dori Yamato-oji-agaru Higashi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto (京都市東山区五条通大和大路上ル東). The name "Roku-Haramitsu" (六波羅蜜) indicates the six basic provisions of the Buddhist monk training: "Fuse (布施; almsgiving; charity), "Jikai" (持戒; Observance of the Buddhist commandments), "Nin-niku" (忍辱; forbearance; endurance), "Shojin" (精進; asceticism), "Zenjo" (禅定; Skt. Samadhi; meditative concentration) and "Chie" (智慧; Skt. prajna; the wisdom of Buddhism). *"Six" is a significant number in Buddhism: see the above explanation of Rokudo-Chinno-ji Temple. It was founded by St. Missho Kuya (光勝 空也 上人), reportedly the second prince of Emperor Daigo (醍醐天皇, AD 885-930;r. 897-930) in the 5th year of Tenryaku (天暦5年) or AD 951. After his death, his disciple High Priest Chushin (中信 上人) expanded the temple and prospered it as a branch temple of the Tendai-shu sect (天台宗). In the late Heian Period in the late twelfth century, the Heike clan including Tadamori (平 忠盛, 1096-1153), his first son Kiyomori (平 清盛, 1118-1181) and his first grand son Shigemori (平 重盛, 1138-1179) built more than 5,200 buildings in the temple precincts. However, the 2nd year of Jyuei (寿永2年) or AD 1183 when the Heike clan perished, most of the temple buildings burnt down in fire except the main hall. This area was repeatedly in the center of fire caused by wars in the following centuries. However, the tycoons, Yoritomo Minamoto (源 頼朝), Yoshiakira Ashikaga (足利 義詮; 2nd Ashikaga shogun), Hideyoshi Tomotomi (豊臣 秀吉) reconstructed this temple until the Tokugawa Shogunate (徳川幕府) gave as much as a stipend of 70 koku in rice (70石) as the ecclesiastical fee. The temple is also known as the 17th amulet-issuing office of the Western Japan Buddhist Pilgrimage (西国第17番札所霊場). The Hall of Benzai-ten (弁財天; Skt. Sarasvati; the goddess of fortune) known as "Rokuhara-Benzai-ten" (六波羅 弁財天) has also been worshipped by people for centuries.

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(Wednesday 7 March) Noticeboard introducing the temple treasures, Rokuhara-Mitsu-ji Temple. The poster of the statue of Kuya-shonin made in the Kamakura Period (left) and the poster of the seated statue of Kiyomori Taira made in the Kamakura Period (right). It is noted that the countenance of the Kiyomori statue is the one of a mild-mannered monk, very different from the arrogant one described in The Tale of the Taira Clan [The Heike] (『平家物語』, sometime between 1219-1243).

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Hon-do" (本堂; Main Hall), Rokuhara-Mitsu-ji Temple. It was constructed in the 2nd year of Joji (貞治2年) or 1363 and renovated in the 44th year of Showa (昭和44年) or AD 1969. On reconstruction, were discovered more than 8,000 small mud stupas containing numerous precious documents and Buddhist scriptures presumably written around the foundation year in the mid tenth century.

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(Wednesday 7 March) The entrance to the "Hon-do" (Main Hall), Rokuhara-Mitsu-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Hon-do" (Main Hall), viewed from the worshippers' point in front of the offertory box chest, Rokuhara-Mitsu-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) The memorial stone tower (stupa) of Kiyomori Taira (1118-1181), Rokuhara-Mitsu-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Statues of Jizo (the guardian deity of children; Skt. Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva), Rokuhara-Mitsu-ji Temple

Kennin-ji Temple

To-zan Kennin-ji Temple (東山 建仁寺) is located in Komatsu-cho, Yamato-oji Shijo-sagaru, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto (京都市東山区大和大路四条下る小松町). It is the head temple of the Rinzai-shu Kennin-ji sect of Zen Buddhism. It was founded in the 2nd year of Kennin (建仁2年) or AD 1202 by Eisai-zenji (栄西禅師, 1141-1215), known as the first man who brought tea plants to Japan from the Sung Dynasy China (宋) and by the 2nd Kamakura shogun Yoriie Minamoto (源 頼家;11821204; r.1202-1203). The Zen sect, dating back to the sixth-century China, seeks the realization of the ideal through a strict training system stressing on work and meditation. Today, there are three branches of Zen in Japan-- the Rinzai-shu (臨済宗), Soto-shu (曹洞宗) and the Obaku-shu (黄檗宗). Kennin-ji Temple, the first Zen temple of Japan, belongs to the Rinzai-shu sect, which was embodied in Bai-zhang-shan (百丈山), China's first Zen monastery, and the buildings were designed in accordance with the Song Dynasty style of architecture. In response to pressure from the Tendai-shu (天台宗) and the Shingon-shu (真言宗) sects, the predominant schools of Buddhism at the time, Kennin-ji Temple was forced to combine Tendai and Shingon teachings with the practice of Zen meditation. However, under the 11th abbot, the Chinese Zen master Lan-xi Dao-long (欄渓 道隆 [Jap. Rankei Doryu], 1213-1278), it was reorganized as a purely Rinzai Zen Temple.

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(Thursday 8 March) "Chokushi-mon" (勅使門; Gate for the Imperial Emvoy), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon" (三門), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple. "San-mon" literally means the three gates of deliverance: "Ku-mon" (空門; the gate of inanities), "Muso-mon" (無相門; the gate of nothingness) and "Musaku-mon" (無作門; the gate of nonperformance). People believe that they can be delivered from the three karmas only entering through the gate. On the top of the gate, are enshrined the statues of the Shakyamuni Buddha, two of the Buddha's ten high disciples, Kasyapa (迦葉) and Ananda (阿難), and wooden figures of the Sixteen Arhats (十六羅漢).

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hatto" (法堂), viewed through the "San-mon," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hatto" (Main Hall) built in the 2nd year of Meiwa (明和2年) or AD 1765, To-zan Kennin-ji Temple.

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hatto" (Main Hall) built in 1765, To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Interior of "Hatto," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple. It enshrines the statues of the Shakyamuni Buddha, two of the Buddha's ten high disciples, Kasyapa and Ananda.

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(Thursday 8 March) The painting on the ceiling of the "Hatto," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple. It was the "Twin Dragons" (双龍) by Junsaku Koizumi (小泉 淳作, April 2002) commemorating the 800th anniversary of the foundation of the temple. Dragons are believed to be protectors of the Buddhist teachings, and also considered to be gods of water, sending the nourishing rain of the teachings of Buddhism down onto followers. It measures 11.4 m by 15.7 m and its drawn with the finest quality ink on traditional thick Japanese paper.

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(Thursday 8 March) "Fujin-Raijin-zu" (風神雷神図; The Wind and Thunder Gods) by Sotatsu Tawaraya (俵屋 宗達, Edo Period), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A portrait of a monk, To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Karako-yugi-zu" (唐子遊戯図; Chinese Boys at Play, 1912) by Gessho Tamura (田村 月樵, 1846-1918), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Maru Sankaku Shikaku no Niwa" (○△□乃庭; the garden of circle, triangle and square), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Cho-on-tei" (潮音庭; the garden of the sound of waves), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) ?"Reisho-do" (霊照堂), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The dry garden "Daiyu-en" (大雄苑), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The dry garden "Daiyu-en," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The dry garden "Daiyu-en," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hojo" (方丈; the abbot chamber), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hojo" (the abbot chamber), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The teahouse "Toyo-bo" (東陽坊), To-zan Kennin-ji Temple. It was made by Toyobo Chosei (東陽坊 長盛), a high disciple of Rikyu Senno (千利休) in 1587 when Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉) held a great tea ceremony at Kitano. The structure is a typical example of Rikyu's style -- it has a small, window-less alcove, a place on the floor for the kiln, and small windows for ventilation. Outside is a bamboo fence in the Kennin-ji Style, that was developed by the monks of the temple. (Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.)

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(Thursday 8 March) The teahouse "Toyo-bo," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Interior of the teahouse "Toyo-bo," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Interior of the teahouse "Toyo-bo," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The teahouse "Toyo-bo," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The teahouse "Toyo-bo," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Outside of the teahouse "Toyo-bo," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Outside of the teahouse "Toyo-bo," To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The commemorative stone of tea ceremony, To-zan Kennin-ji Temple. The founder of the temple Eisai-zenji is also known as the first person who introduced the tradition of drinking tea from the Sung Dynasy China at the end of the eleventhe century.

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(Thursday 8 March) The commemorative stone of tea ceremony, viewed near the pond, To-zan Kennin-ji Temple

Nanzen-ji Temple

Nanzen-ji Temple (南禅寺), formally called ;Zuiryu-zan Taiheikokoku Nanzenzen-ji Temple (瑞竜山 太平興国南禅禅寺), is a Zen temple at the foot of Kyoto's "Higashiyama" (東山; lit. eastern hills). As the head temple of the Rinzai-shu (臨済宗) sect's Nanzen-ji school of Zen Buddhism, it is one of the most important Zen temples. Nanzen-ji Temple was first built as a villa for Emperor Kameyama in 1264. In 1291, the Ex-Emperor Kamayama donated his villa to Daiminkoku-shi, a high Zen Buddhist and founder of the temple. Its main building, the "Daihojo" Hall (or "Seiryo-den," moved from the Imperial Palace in 1611 ; built by Hideyoshi Toyotomi) is famous for a wonderful karesansui (rock garden) and beautifully-painted fusumas (Japanese sliding doors) by the Kano School. Several sub-temples and "Suiro-kaku" (水路閣) or "Sosui" (疎水), a water aqueduct, which is part of the Lake Biwa Canal dating from 1890, can be found in the vicinity of Nanzen-ji's buildings.

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(Thursday 17 February) The anteport of Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 17 February) "San-mon" (三門; the Three Gates), completed in 1628, Nanzen-ji Temple. It is also called "Tenka-Ryu-mon" (天下竜門; the Superlative Gate of the Dragon). The present gate was reconstructed by Takatora Todo in 1628 for the repose of warriors who were killed during the Winter Siege (1514) and the Summer Siege (1515) at Osaka Castle when the Tokugawa clan finally subverted the Tomotomi family. "San-mon" literally means the three gates of deliverance: "Ku-mon" (空門; the gate of inanities), "Muso-mon" (無相門; the gate of nothingness) and "Mugan-mon" (無願門; the gate of non-prayers). People believe that they can be delivered from the three karmas only entering through the gate.

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon" (the Three Gates), Nanzen-ji Temple.

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon" (the Three Gates), Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon" (the Three Gates), Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The observatory of "San-mon" (the Three Gates), Nanzen-ji Temple. This gate is very famous for the setting for the kabuki play "Ro-mon Gosan no Kiri"(『楼門五三桐』; The Temple Gate and the Paulownia Crest 1778 by Namiki Gohei I; translated by Alan Cummings): Goemon Ishikawa, the real-life robber (1558?-1594), made a defiant gesture overlooking the city landscape from the top of the gate , "Zekkei kana, zekkei kana!" (絶景かな、絶景かな; What a grand sight! What a grand sight!). However, this story is doubtlessly fictional: the original gate was burnt down in 1447 and reconstructed in 1628; the real Ishikawa was arrested and boiled in caldron on the street in 1594.

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(Thursday 8 March) A scene from the observatory of "San-mon" (the Three Gates), Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A scene from the observatory of "San-mon" (the Three Gates), Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A scene from the observatory of "San-mon" (the Three Gates), Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hatto" (法堂; the Lecture Hall) and the visitors' worship place, Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 17 February) "Hatto" (法堂; the Lecture Hall) and the visitors' worship place, Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 17 February) Inside of the "Hatto" (法堂; the Lecture Hall) viewed through the grating of the visitors' worship place, Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A small waterfall in the garden of Nanzen-in Hall (南禅院), Nanzen-ji Temple. The garden, in the "Chisen-kaiyu-shiki" (池泉回遊式; the landscape garden with a pond and a spring in the go-round style), was designed by Muso-Kokushi (夢窓国師) in the late thirteenth century as the garden of the Imperial Villa for Emperor Kameyama (亀山天皇, 1249-1305; r.1259-1274).

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden of Nanzen-in Hall, Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden of Nanzen-in Hall, Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden of Nanzen-in Hall, Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hombo" (本坊), Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hojo-teien" (方丈庭園; the dry garden of Zen Buddhism) designed by Enshu Kobori (小堀 遠州, 1579-1647), Nanzen-ji Temple. It is called "Tora-no-ko-watashi" (虎の子渡し; A parent tiger and a child tiger swimming in the water). This garden style is called "Shakkei-shiki" (借景式; the style borrowing [utilizing] the outer landscape). The garden is very beautiful, making a harmony with the building (清涼殿; "Seiryo-den") and the outer landscape.

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hojo-teien" (the dry garden of Zen Buddhism) designed by Enshu Kobori (1579-1647), Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hojo-teien" (the dry garden of Zen Buddhism) designed by Enshu Kobori (1579-1647), Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Ramma" (欄間; transom) made by Jingoro Hidari (左 甚五郎, ?1594-1651), "Seiryo-den," Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Ramma" (transom) made by Jingoro Hidari (?1594-1651), "Seiryo-den," Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Another dry garden called "Noshin-tei" garden (如心庭), "Hombo," Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "O-suzuri-ishi" (大硯石; the Great Inkstone), the Roku-do-tei (六道庭), Nanzen-ji Temple. It was made of "Beni-shima" (紅縞; a marble from Ogaki City, Gifu) made by Ryokichi Yabashi (矢橋 亮吉) in 1906. "Roku-do" (六道) means "the six paths (states) of existence as taught by Buddhism; "Jigoku" (地獄; Hell), "Gaki" (餓鬼; Skt. Preta; the Buddhist inferno of starvation), "Chikusho" (畜生; the World [Realm, Hell] of Beasts), "Shura," (修羅; the World of Asura [Wars]), "Ningen" (人間; this World of human beings) and "Ten" (天; Heaven).

Suiro-kaku (Sosui)

In the greenery enclosed waterway ("Sosui" [疎水]; lit. "canal") of "Suirokaku" [水路閣] aqueduct, 2 tones of water run in every second. There is a vaulted bridge made of bricks partly covered by moss inside the precincts of Nanzen-ji temple. This aqueduct has a somber tone character, a bit more than a century old and it is the north branch of the canal, carrying water from the Lake Biwa. This aqueduct was built in 1888, two years before the completion of "Sosui," when there were some oppositions, finding its style incompatible with the temple buildings. However, as the value of the excellent works has been raising as the time has passed by. The aqueduct has become an antique, which now successfully creates the beautiful scenery harmony of the traditional Japanese Zen temple and the western-styled waterway. Kyoto has absorbed various cultures with ingenuity from time immemorial.

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(Thursday 17 February) Suirokaku Aqueduct, Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 17 February) Suirokaku Aqueduct, Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 17 February) The upper part of Suirokaku Aqueduct, Nanzen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 17 February)"Sosui" (the north branch of Lake Biwa Canal) paralleled with the scrapped railway between Kyoto and Shiga

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(Thursday 17 February) "Sosui" (the north branch of Lake Biwa Canal) : a western view (toward Heian-jingu Shrine).

Philosopher's Walk

"Tetsugaku-no-Michi" (哲学の道; the Philosopher's Walk in Kyoto) is a 1.6-kilometer path running along "Sosui" (疎水; the north branch of Lake Biwa Canal) from the southern end (Nyakuo-ji Bridge) near Nanzen-ji Temple to the northern end (Ginkaku-ji Bridge) near Ginkaku-ji Temple (the Silver Pavilion). It is known as the Japanese Philosopher's Walk because Kitaro Nishida (philosopher and professor of Kyoto Imperial University,1870-1945), used to stroll along the route for meditation. Also, Hajime Kawakami, a Marxist economist (1879-1946) liked to walk when he was a professor of Kyoto Imperial University. It is not a coincidence that both famous walkers were worked for Kyoto Imperial University, because the northern tip of the path is also close to the rear of the university. There are some different rumors for the origin of the name, but in my personal opinion, it was named by someone adoring the original Philosopher's Walk (Philosophenweg) in Heidelberg, Germany. (I am sure that both Nishida and Kawakami were familiar with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe who liked to walk along the original Philosopher's Walk!) As a person who has walked both the original German and Kyoto versions of the Philosopher's Walk, I can guarantee that both can provide you a good opportunity for meditation or contemplation with their beautiful landscapes in different ways. Cherry trees are planted along most of the 1.6-kilometer path, making it one of Kyoto's most popular spots for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in spring. The trees are usually in bloom from the beginning to mid April. In addition, several small attractive temples and a few tasteful coffee houses can be found along the path.

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(Thursday 8 March) "Tetsugaku-no-Michi" (the Philosopher's Walk) and "Sosui" (the north branch of the Lake Biwa Canal)

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(Thursday 8 March) "Tetsugaku-no-Michi" (the Philosopher's Walk) and "Sosui" (the north branch of the Lake Biwa Canal)

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(Thursday 8 March) "Tetsugaku-no-Michi" (the Philosopher's Walk) and "Sosui" (the north branch of the Lake Biwa Canal)

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(Thursday 8 March) "Tetsugaku-no-Michi" (the Philosopher's Walk) and "Sosui" (the north branch of the Lake Biwa Canal)

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(Thursday 8 March) "Tetsugaku-no-Michi" (the Philosopher's Walk) and "Sosui" (the north branch of the Lake Biwa Canal)

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(Thursday 8 March) "Tetsugaku-no-Michi" (the Philosopher's Walk) and "Sosui" (the north branch of the Lake Biwa Canal)

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(Thursday 8 March) "Tetsugaku-no-Michi" (the Philosopher's Walk) and "Sosui" (the north branch of the Lake Biwa Canal)

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(Thursday 8 March) "Tetsugaku-no-Michi" (the Philosopher's Walk) and "Sosui" (the north branch of the Lake Biwa Canal)

Ginkaku-ji Temple

To-zan Jisho-ji Temple (東山 慈照寺; literally the "Temple of Shining Grace at Higashiyama"), known as Ginkaku-ji Temple (銀閣寺) was established as "Higashiyama-den" (東山殿; the Higashimayma Villa) to spend his retired life in 1482 by the eighth Muromachi Shogun, Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, a grand son of Yoshimitsu, the founder of Kinkaku-ji Temple (the Golden Pavilion). This temple is widely called "Ginkaku-ji" (the Silver Pavilion), although no silver decoration is used for the building from the establishment. Now it is a Zen temple belonging to Rinzaishu-Shokoku-ji-ha sect of Buddhism. "Higashiyama-den" is the place where Higashiyama culture formed mainly Yoshimasa started, and is the start of modern life style of the Japanese. Even now the combination of Higashiyama culture and Zen culture can be seen here.

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(Friday 18 February) "So-mon" Gate, Ginkaku-ji Temple. "So-mon" means the main gate of a Zen temple.

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(Friday 18 February) "Hachiman-sama" shrine enshrines "Hachiman" (the Japanese God of Wars) by the side of "Ginkaku"

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(Friday 18 February) "Kogetsu-dai" (the selenotropic seat made of white sand), by the side of "Ginkaku"

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(Friday 18 February) "Togu-do"(the Buddhist Hall owned by Yoshimasa), Ginkaku-ji Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Sengetsu-sen" spring (lit. "Washing the Moon Spring), Ginkaku-ji Temple

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(Friday 18 February) A bamboo grove, Ginkaku-ji Temple

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(Friday 18 February) The garden of Ginkaku-ji Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Ginkaku" (the Silver Pavilion), Ginkaku-ji Temple. This was originally called "Kannon-den": the Hall of the Avalokitesvara [Ch. Kuan Yin]), after Shari-den of Rokuon-ji Temple (Kinkaku-ji) and Ruri-den of Saiho-ji Temple. It is two storied: the first floor, "Shinkuu-den" (the Hall of the Heart and the Sky) is built in Shoin-style, the traditional Japanese residential architecture style, and the second floor "Choon-kaku" (the Hall Resounding the Buddhist Sermons like the Waves) is in the Chinese temple style having the "Kato-mado" (lantern windows) in the panel wall and a Chinese sliding door. The golden bronze phoenix on the roof facing east constantly guards Ginkaku-ji Temple dedicated to "Kannon-Bosatsu" (the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva).

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(Friday 18 February) "Ginkaku" (the Silver Pavilion) with the foreground of the contrast of "Ginshadan" & "Koketsu-dai," Ginkaku-ji Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Ginkaku" (the Silver Pavilion) with the foreground of "Kinkyochi" (lit. "Brocade Mirror Pond"), Ginkaku-ji Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Ginkaku" (the Silver Pavilion) viewed from the "Tenbo-sho" (a spot with a wide prospect), Ginkaku-ji Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Ginkaku" (the Silver Pavilion) with the foreground of "Kinkyochi" (lit. "Brocade Mirror Pond"), Ginkaku-ji Temple

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(Friday 18 February) "Ginkaku" (the Silver Pavilion) viewed from the back side (south), Ginkaku-ji Temple

Chion-in Temple

Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) is the head temple of the Jodo-shu sect (浄土宗) of Buddhism which has seven thousand-odd temples and about six million followers in Japan. The founder Honen-shonin (法然 上人) was born in 1133 in now Okayama Prefecture. He decided to be a priest to achieve the will of his father who was murdered when Hone was 9 years old. He studied the doctrine of Buddhism at Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji Temple. After that, he took residence in Otani Higashiyama (太谷東山) to preach the nembutsu (a Buddhist invocation), founded the Jodo-shu sect in 1175 and died there in 1212.

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon" Gate (三門), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple. This is the largest wooden gate of Japan. It is 24 m high and 50 m wide. The statue of the Buddha is enshrined on the second floor of the gate. It was built by the 2nd Tokugawa shogun Hidetada (徳川秀忠) in 1621.

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon" Gate, Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon" Gate, Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon" Gate, Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Miei-do Hall (御影堂; the Main Hall), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple. The immense main hall contains the image of Honen (法然) the founder, and the focal point of faith in Honen. The door of the Miei-do Hall has a unique design, concealing the nails. It was built by the 3rd shogun Iemitsu (徳川 家光) in 1639.

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(Thursday 8 March) Interior of the Miei-do Hall, Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Chozu"(手水; the washbasin) and "Rei-to" (霊塔; the tower of the spirits), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Dai-Hojo" (大方丈; the Abbot's Great Chamber), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Bussoku-seki" (仏足石; the Stone of the Buddha's Footprints), near the "Dai-Hojo," Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hojo-teien" (方丈庭園; the abbot's garden), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple. This garden matches the nature of Higashiyama. It was designed by the Buddhist monk Gyokuen (玉淵) in 1641.

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hojo-teien" (the abbot's garden), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hojo-teien" (the abbot's garden), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The gate to the Gongen-do Hall (権現堂), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Gongen-do" Hall (権現堂), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple. It enshrines the first three Tokugawa shoguns, Ieyasu (徳川家康), Hidetada (徳川秀忠) and Iemitsu (徳川家光). The hall was named after Ieyasu's divine title "Tosho-dai-gongen" (東照大権現).

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(Thursday 8 March) Interior or "Gongen-do" Hall, Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Birds in the "Hojo-teien," Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The gate to the Santei Garden (山亭庭園), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Santei-teien" (山亭庭園; the Santei Garden), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A hall near the Santei Garden, Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The grave of Princess Sen (千姫, 1597-1666), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple. She was born in 1597 as the first princess of the 2nd shogun Hidetada Tokugawa and married Hideyori Toyotomi (豊臣秀頼, 1593-1615) at the age of seven. After the death of Hideyori in 1615, she went back to Edo and then remarried Tadatoki Honda (本多 忠刻). After her second husband's death in 1626, she become a Buddhist nun, assuming the religious name of "Tenjyuin" (天樹院). Another grave of her is in Kan-ei-ji Temple (寛永寺), Tokyo.

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(Thursday 8 March) "Nuregami-daimyojin" Shrine (濡神大明神) in the precinct of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Daishi-Gobyo" (大師御廟; Mausoleum of Honen the Great Teacher), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Daishi-Gobyo" (Mausoleum of Honen the Great Teacher), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Daishi-Gobyo" (Mausoleum of Honen the Great Teacher), Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The gate to Yuzen-en (友禅苑; Yuzen Garden) in the precinct of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A statue of the Kuan Yin (観音; Skt. Avalokitesvara) in Yuzen Garden in the precinct of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A statue of the Kuan Yin (Skt. Avalokitesvara) in Yuzen Garden in the precinct of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Yuzen Garden in the precinct of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Karoku-an" (華麗庵; a teahouse), Yuzen Garden in the precinct of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Karoku-an" (a teahouse), Yuzen Garden in the precinct of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The seated statue of Yuzensai Miyazaki (宮崎 友禅斎), Yuzen Garden in the precinct of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple. He was the founder of the Yuzen-zome (友禅染; the Yuzen dyeing process) during the Genroku era (元禄年間; 1688-1704). He reportedly lived here.

Shorei-in Monzeki

Shorei-in Monzeki Temple (青蓮院門跡), probably founded in the middle of the Heian Period, is located north of Chion-in Temple, although it belongs to the Tendai-shu sect (天台宗) of Buddhism. However, this temple is strongly related to the Jodo-shu sect (浄土宗) and the Jodo-shinshu sect (浄土真宗). Since the founder of the Jodo-shu sect Honen (法然) guided his disciple Shinran (親鸞; the founder of the Jodo-shin-shu sect) to enter the Buddhist priesthood here, no head priest of Hongwan-ji Temples had been officially recognized without entering the Buddhist priesthood here. The temple named after "Shoren-bo" (青連坊), one of the main lodging facilities for famous priests at the top of Mt. Hiei (比叡山) when Saicho (最澄), the founder of the Tendai-shu sect, started preaching at the mountain. Retired Emperor Toba (鳥羽上皇; 1103-1156;r. as ex-emperor 1129-1156) built the first temple lodging facility named "Shoren-in" for his 7th son under control of Gyogen (行玄), the 12th head priest of Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji Temple (比叡山延暦寺). The facility was used until the Muromachi Era (1392-1573). Until the Meiji Era, the head priests of Shoren-in had been exclusively from the Imperial family or from the family of the regent to the emperor: Thus it is called "--monzeki-jiin" (a temple whose chief priest is an Imperial Prince).

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(Thursday 8 March) "San-mon" Gate (山門), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Uegami-do" Hall (植髪堂; the hall enshrining the statue of Shinran with his own hair in his childhood), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Interior of the "Uegami-do" Hall, Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A small jizo hall on the left of the "Uegami-do" Hall, Shorei-in Monzeki Temple. Jizo is a guardian deity of children (Skt. Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva).

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(Thursday 8 March) "Shin-den" (宸殿; the Royal Hall), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The altar enshrining the sacred glass ball, Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Ko-gosho" (小御所; the little palace), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The altar enshrining the image of Fudo-myo-o (不動明王; Skt. Acala; the God of Fire), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Shijoko-do" Hall (熾盛光堂), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple. The hall enshrines the statue of the Shijoko Buddha. "Shijoko" (熾盛光) means the fire-like light effulged from the pores of the Acala [Fudo-myo-o]-incarnated Buddha's skin in order to save people around the world.

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(Thursday 8 March) "Ko-gosho" (the little palace), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden designed by Soami (祖阿弥の庭), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The garden designed by Yuhi Omori (大森 有斐の庭), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A stupa in the garden of Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Ko-gosho" (the little palace), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) A well covered with a bamboo lid, Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The bamboo grove behind Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Shin-den" (the royal hall), Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The belfry, Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Statue of Shinran in childhood, Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Statue of Shinran in childhood, Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The moss garden of Shorei-in Monzeki Temple

Eikan-do/Zenrin-ji

Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple (聖衆来迎山 禅林寺) known as Eikan-do (永観堂), 48 Eikan-cho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, was founded by Shinsho-sozu (真紹僧都) in AD 863 as Zenrin-ji Temple (禅林寺). It is the head temple of the Jodo-shu Nishiyama-Zenrinji-ha sect (浄土宗西山禅林寺派). In the late Heian Period when Eikan-risshi (永観 律師) became the chief priest, Zenrin-ji Temple developed greatly. Eikan intoned the Nembutsu (the Buddhist prayers) as many as 60,000 times a day, and made great efforts to save poor people. Eikan was respected by many people and this temple gradually came to be called "Eikan-do." In the Kamakura Period, the Abbot Johen (静遍僧都), was a famous high priest of the Jodo-shu sect. He thought the Nembutsu was enough to gain salbation. So he invited Shoku (証空, 1177-1242), the highest disciple of Honen (法然, 1133-1212), the founder of the Jodo-shu sect, to nominate him as the next chief priest. Eikan-do Zenrin-ji Temple was greatly damaged by war fire of the Onin War (応仁の乱, 1467-1477). It took many years to be reconstructed. Today, this temple is known as one of the main temples of the Jodo-shu sect throughout Japan.

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(Thursday 8 March) "So-mon" Gate (総門; the Main Gate), Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Entrance to the "Shaka-do Hall (釈迦堂; the hall for the Buddha) or "Hojo" (方丈; the Abbot's Hall), Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple. It was built during the Muromachi Period (1392-1573).

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(Thursday 8 March) The "Hojo-ike" Pond (放生池), Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Kara-mon" (唐門; the Chinese-style Gate) or "Chokushi-mon" Gate (勅使門; the Gate for the Imperial Emvoys), Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Inner garden of Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Garyu-ro" (臥龍廊; the lying-dragon-shaped wooden corridor), Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Suikinkutsu" (水琴窟), Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple. The "suikinkutsu" is a Japanese garden ornament which is also an automatic musical instrument. A "suikinkutsu" consists of an upside down buried pot with a hole at the top. Water drips through the hole at the top onto a small pool of water inside of the pot, creating a pleasant splashing sound that rings inside of the pot similar to a bell or a Japanese harp called "koto." The sound is a very mysterious sound healing your mind. It is usually built next to a traditional Japanese stone basin called "chozu-bachi," part of a tsukubai for washing hands before the Japanese tea ceremony.

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(Thursday 8 March) Amida-do Hall (阿弥陀堂; Hall of the Amitabha) or the "Hon-do" Hall, Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple. It enshrines the image of "Mikaeri-Amida" (みかえり阿弥陀; the Looking-back Amitabha).

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(Thursday 8 March) "Taho-to" Pagoda (多宝塔), Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple. This is a two-story pagoda with the upper part circular, and the lower square. It enshrines two tathagatas (如来), the Great Buddha (釈迦如来) and the tathagata of the treasure tower (多宝如来).

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(Thursday 8 March) "Taho-to" Pagoda, Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The landscape viewed from the "Taho-to" Pagoda, Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Gasen-do" Hall (画仙堂), Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Gasen-do" Hall (画仙堂), Shojyuraigo-san Zenrin-ji Temple

Honen-in Temple

Zenki-san Honen-in Bambukyo-ji Temple (善気山 法然院 萬無教寺), known as Honen-in Temple (法然院) at the foot of Daimon-ji Hill (大文字山). Across the Honenin Bridge over the Biwako-sosui from the "Tetsugaku-no-michi" (Philosophical Walk) and go up the hill. Definitely it belongs to the Jodo-shu sect of Buddhism. This is the place once called "Higashiyama Yoshimizu" (東山吉水) where Honen (法然; or Enko-daishi; 円光大師, 1133-1212) began to preach the Jodo-shu sect of Buddhism only by repetition of the sacred name of Amitabha.

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(Thursday 8 March) Signpost of Honen-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The thatched "San-mon" Gate (山門) to Honen-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The "Suna-mori" (砂盛り; flat sand pile) and the thatched "San-mon" Gate, viewed from the inside of Honen-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) The thatched "San-mon" Gate, viewed from the inside of Honen-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Two "Suna-mori" (flat sand pile), Honen-in Temple: the figures indicate "water."

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(Thursday 8 March) The stone bridge to the main hall, Honen-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) "Hon-do" (Main Hall), Honen-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Garden of Honen-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Garden of Honen-in Temple

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(Thursday 8 March) Stone stupa of Honen-in Temple

Hokoku-jinjya

There are five Hokoku-jinjya Shrines (豊国神社) over Japan (Osaka-jo Cstle Park, Osaka, Nagahama City, Shiga, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa and Nakamura Ward, Nagoya and here in Kyoto). However, this is the principal Hokoku-jinjya Shrine because of its location on the foot of Amida-ga-mine (阿弥陀ヶ峰) where Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉, 1536-1598) lies in peace: This shrine was built as the guardian shrine for Hoko-ji Temple (方広寺) after Hideyoshi's death in 1599. Hideyoshi gained the first class deity from Emperor Goyozei (後陽成天皇) and entitled Hokoku-daimyojin (豊国大明神). However, after the destruction of Toyotomi family in 1615, the Tokugawa Shogunate Government disestablished Hideyoshi's deity and demolished the temple and the shrine buildings as well as land belonging to them. In the time of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, when Emperor Meiji (明治天皇) visited Osaka, he denounced the reestablishment of Hokoku-jinjya Shrine because he came to think that Hideyoshi was a great retainer who had rendered distinguished services for the royal family. In 1880 new shrine buildings were completed in the present site.

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(Saturday 24 February) Signpost of Kyoto Hokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 24 February) "Ishi-dorii" or the Shrine Gate to Kyoto Hokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 24 February) The huge stone wall of the Shrine Gate to Kyoto Hokoku-jinjya Shrine: You see how big the original Hoko-ji Temple was!

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(Saturday 24 February) "Hai-den" (Worshippers' Hall), Kyoto Hokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 24 February) "Hon-den" (Main Hall), Kyoto Hokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 24 February) The crest of Toyotomi family on the Japanese paper lantern, Kyoto Hokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Saturday 24 February) "Shoro" (Belfry) of the original Hoko-ji Temple (next to Kyoto Hokoku-jinjya Shrine)

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(Saturday 24 February) The famous bell of Hoko-ji Temple. Hideyori Toyotomi asked the head priest of Tofuku-ji Temple to write an inscription for the bell at Hokoji Temple. However, the inscribed words somehow angered the powerful Tokugawa family so the temple was destroyed by Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川 家康; 1st Shogun of the Edo Period, 1603-1868).

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(Saturday 24 February) Among numerous you will see numerous Chinese characters: Kokka Annei... Kunshinhoraku" (国家安康... 君臣豊楽; literally "May this nation can maintain the public peace... so that masters and retainers live richly and happily"). However, the Tokugawa Shogunate government maliciously contorted these Chinese characters. As they claimed, it can be interpreted, "If Ieyasu's body can be gently lacerated, people would live happily and richly with the Toyotomi family." If you have a standard leveled Chinese literacy, you will soon notice how badly distorted their malicious interpretation was. Anyway, it became a "good" cause of the two final battles of Osaka between 1614 and 1615 and the Shongunate succeeded to subvert the Toyotomi family who was once their master.

Hokoku-byo

Hokoku-byo (豊国廟; Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum) is located 300 m east of Higashiyama-Shichi-jo (東山七条) or behind Kyoto Women's University (京都女子大学). After Hideyoshi 's death on August 18, 1598 (慶長3年), he was buried here in the middle of Amida-ga-mine (阿弥陀ヶ峰) following his will. It has 565 stone steps.

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

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(Saturday 17 March) Hokoku-byo (Hideyoshi Toyotomi's Mausoleum)

Koda-ji Temple

Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) is located in 526 Shima-Kawara-machi Kodaiji, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto (京都市東山区高台寺下河原町526番地). It is formerly called Kodaijusho-zen-ji Temple (高台寿聖禅寺). It belongs to the Rinzai-shu Kennin-ji-ha sect (臨済宗建仁寺派). It was founded in 1606 by Nene Toyotomi (豊臣 ねね; formerly called "Kita-no-Mandokoro"; 北政所) or by her nun's name Kodaiin (高台院) after his husband Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉; the chief adviser to the Emperor or the prime minister, 1537-1598)'s death. the foundation was greatly supported by Ieyasu Tokugawa (徳川 家康). Lady Kodaiin lived here until her death at the age of 76 in 1624. After that, it welcomed Zen Priest Joeki Sanko (三江 紹益 禅師, 1572-1650) from Kennin-ji Temple in 1624 and he became the first abbot (founder) of the temple. Kodai-ji Temple was ravaged by a series of fire after 1789. However, many of the original buildings are still survived. Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.

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(Wednesday 7 March) Chokushi-mon Gate (勅使門; the Gate for the Imperial Envoys) or the main gate, Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Kaisan-do Hall (Founder's Hall), Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple. It enshrines the founder Zen Priest Joeki Sanko (三江 紹益 禅師, 1572-1650).

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(Wednesday 7 March) Kaisan-do Hall (Founder's Hall), Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) Otama-ya (Mausoleum), Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple. It enshrines Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉, 1537-1598) and his wife Kita-no-Mandokoro (北の政所).

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(Wednesday 7 March) Teahouse Iho-an (遺芳庵; the Cottage of Lingering Fragrance), Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple. This teahouse was the tea ceremony room for Shoeki Haiya (灰屋 紹益), a wealthy merchant, and Yoshino-dayu (吉野太夫), a renowned beauty and dancer who later became Shoeki's wife. Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.

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(Wednesday 7 March) Teahouse Kasa-tei (傘亭), Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple. It was designed by Rikyu Senno (千利休, , 1522-1591), the founder of the art of the Japanese ceremonial tea-making. The Kasa-tei formerly known as the Ankan-kutsu (安閑窟), derives its name from its unique ceiling construction, in which bamboo and logs are interwoven in a radiating pattern remarkably similar to a Japanese traditional umbrella. It is connected to the Shigure-tei (see the pic below) by an outside corridor. Quoted and edited from the Official Pamphlet.

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(Wednesday 7 March) Teahouse Shigure-tei (時雨亭), Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple. It was also designed by Rikyu Senno (千利休).

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(Wednesday 7 March) Teahouse Shigure-tei (時雨亭), Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple. It was also designed by Rikyu Senno (千利休).

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(Wednesday 7 March) The bamboo grove, Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple

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(Wednesday 7 March) The bamboo grove, Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple

Maruyama Park

Maruyama Park (丸山公園) is located between Yasaka-jinjya Shrine and Chion-in Temple. It is very famous for cherry blossoms viewing.

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(Wednesday 7 March) Maruyama Park

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(Wednesday 7 March) Maruyama Park

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(Wednesday 7 March) Maruyama Park

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(Wednesday 7 March) Statues of Ryoma Sakamoto (坂本 龍馬, 1836-1867) & Shintaro Nakaoka (中岡慎太郎, 1836-1867), Maruyama Park

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(Wednesday 7 March) Statues of Ryoma Sakamoto (1836-1867) & Shintaro Nakaoka (1836-1867), Maruyama Park

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(Wednesday 7 March) Maruyama Park

Hikokuro Takayama

Statue of Hikokuro Takayama (高山彦九郎像). Hikokuro Masayuki Takayama (高山 彦九郎 正之, 1747-1793) was from Joshu (上州; part of the present Gunma Prefecture). He visited Kyoto five times throughout his life. Known as an enthusiastic Imperialist, Takayama never failed to worship the Imperial family and their palace in this way here at the edge of Sanjo-o-hashi Bridge (三条大橋), the entrance to the capital at that time. Later in the closing days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Royalists respected Takayama very much.

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(Friday 14 March) Inscription of Statue of Hikokuro Takayama looking at the direction of Kyoto Imperial Palace on the side of Sanjo-Keihan Station

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(Friday 14 March) Statue of Hikokuro Takayama looking at the direction of Kyoto Imperial Palace on the side of Sanjo-Keihan Station

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(Friday 14 March) Statue of Hikokuro Takayama looking at the direction of Kyoto Imperial Palace on the side of Sanjo-Keihan Station

Gokoku-jinjya

Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine (京都霊山護国神社), Seikan-ji-Ryosen-cho, Hiagasiyama Ward is one of the 52 Gokoku-jinjya shrines over Japan. "Gokoku" means defense of the fatherland. Thus, each Gokoku-jinjya shrine enshrines souls of local patriots. This shrine was founded in the first year of Meiji in 1868. It enshrines many patriots, including those who died in Kyoto and its environs during the battle of the Meiji Restoration.

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Ichi-no-Torii" (the First Shrine Gate), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Signpost of "Ishin-no-Michi" (維新の道; the Road to the Meiji Restoration in 1867), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Hon-do" (Main Hall), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Stone steps to "Yamgaguchi-han Shokon-sha" (山口藩招魂社; the Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of the war dead from the Yamaguchi clan), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Yamgaguchi-han Shokon-sha" (the Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of the war dead from the Yamaguchi clan), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Grave of Takayoshi Kido (木戸 孝允; Kogoro Katsura: 桂 小五郎, 1833-1877), "Yamgaguchi-han Shokon-sha," Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine. He played an important role for the Meiji Restoration and was nominated several important posts in the Meiji Government. He was even created prince (公爵) and the second court rank (正二位).

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(Wednesday 7 March) Grave of Kido's wife Ikumatsu (幾松) next to her husband's, "Yamgaguchi-han Shokon-sha," Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine. She was created the junior grade of the fourth court rank (従四位).

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(Wednesday 7 March) Poster of Ryoma Sakamoto (1835-1867), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine. Born in Tosa (土佐; now Kochi), he learned from Kaishu Katsu (勝 海舟) and organized the trading company called "Kaien-tai" (海援隊) in Nagasaki. He proposed the Saccho-rengo (薩長連合; the alliance between the Satsuma [Kagoshima] clan and the Choshu [Yamaguchi] clan) with Takamori Saigo (西郷 隆盛) and Takayoshi Kido (木戸 孝允), etc. which greatly contributed to the Restoration of the Imperial Rule (大政奉還). However, he and his friend Shintaro Nakaoka (中岡 慎太郎) were assassinated by some unidentified group at the hotel Omi-ya (近江屋), Kyoto in 1867. He is probably the most popular figure enshrined in this shrine.

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(Wednesday 7 March) Graves of Ryoma Sakamoto (1835-1867) and Shintaro Nakaoka (1838-1867), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Graves of Ryoma Sakamoto (1835-1867) and Shintaro Nakaoka (1838-1867), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Grave of Ryoma Sakamoto (1835-1867) with numerous offerings from his worshippers, Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Small statues of Ryoma Sakamoto and Shintaro Nakaoka with the inscription about their life on the right side of their graves, Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Small statues of Ryoma Sakamoto and Shintaro Nakaoka on the right side of their graves, Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Signpost of the "Mito-han Shokon-sha" (水戸藩招魂社; the Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of the war dead from the Mito clan), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Mito-han Shokon-sha" (the Shinto shrine dedicated to the spirits of the war dead from the Mito clan), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Inscription of the list of the subscribers, Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) Quoted from Dr. Radha Binod Pal (1886-1967; Indian jurist; professor/president of University of Calcutta, India), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine: "When time shall have softened passion and prejudice, when reason shall have stripped the mask from misrepresentation. then justice, holding evenly her scales, will require much of past censure and praise to change places. Dr. Pal came to Japan in 1946 to be the judge representative from India for the "Kyokuto Kokusai Gunji Saiban" (極東国際軍事裁判; the International Military Tribunal for the Far East). Although Dr. Pal was supposed to be on the Allied Powers, he was the only judge who was based on the truths of the international law and the historical facts and that strongly insisted that the tribunal was a mere unfair vengeance toward Japan by the victorious countries. He was the only judge who acquitted all the accused of all the charges. After the tribunal, he became the chief of the international law committee of the United Nations and often visited Japan to encourage Japanese people. This monument was built on the 50th anniversary of the independence of India in November 1997.

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(Wednesday 7 March) Monument of Dr. Radha Binod Pal (1886-1967; professor/president of University of Calcutta, India), Kyoto Ryozan Gokoku-jinjya Shrine

KN Museum

Kyoto National Museum (京都国立博物館) is located near Sanjyusangen-do: The address is 527 Chaya-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto (京都市東山区茶屋町 527). It was founded in 1897.

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(Saturday 24 February) Front Gate of Kyoto National Museum

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(Wednesday 7 March) The original building of Kyoto National Museum; Now it opens to public on special exhibitions.

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(Wednesday 7 March) "The Thinker," by Francis-Auguste-Rene Rodin (1840-1917 ) in front of the museum bulding

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(Wednesday 7 March) Two Thirteen Storied Stone Stupas, Uma-machi, (馬町十三重石塔 二基) made in 1295, Kyoto National Museum. These were reportedly made for the repose of Yoshitsune Minamoto (源 義経, 1159-1189)'s retainers, Sato brothers, Tsugunobu & Tadanobu (佐藤 継信, 1195-1185 & 忠信, 1161-1186)'s souls. They were transferred here from Uma-machi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. Sato brothers came from now Iizaka-cho, Fukushima City (福島市飯坂町) and first served for Hidehira Fujiwara (藤原 秀衡). When Yoshitsune went to his brother Yoritomo Minamoto (源 頼朝)'s assistance in 1180, they joined him. Tsugunobu was killed in Battle of Yashima (屋島の戦い), now Takamatsu City (高松市), Kagawa on March 22, 1185 when he covered Yoshitsune with his own body from the arrow shot by the famous intrepid leader Moritsune Taira (平 教経) according to Azuma Kagami (『吾妻鏡』). On November 3, 1186 in Kyoto, Tadanobu committed suicide during the battle with Tokimasa Hojo (北条時政)'s army after he managed to let Yoshitsune and his retainers go.

Kyoto Pref. Library

The origin of Kyoto Prefectural Library (京都府立図書館) can date back to June 1873 when Kyoto Prefecture opened "Shusho-in" (lit. the Hall of Collecting Books) in Sanjo-Takakura-nishi, Kyoto. It was the second oldest public library of Japan next to "Shoseki-kan" (lit. Book House), Tokyo. In June 1898 Kyoto Prefectural Library opened at Kyoto Gyoen (the former Kyoto Imperial Palace). In April 1909 Kyoto Prefectural Library (Kyoto Branch) opened here in Okazaki. It was a three-storied building made of bricks with the four-storied stack: it also functioned as an art museum. They opened several branches and introduced book mobiles little by little. The present building was completed in 2000.

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(Thursday 17 February) Kyoto Prefectural Library (in front of the Red Gate of Heian-jingu Shrine), 9 Okazaki-Senshoji, Sakyo-ward, Kyoto

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(Thursday 17 February) Statue of 16-year-old Sontoku [Takanori] Ninomiya (二宮 尊徳; also known as his childhood name Kinjiro [金次郎]), built by the Union of Booksellers in Kyoto in November 1940 as the memorial of the 2,600th year of the Imperial reign. Sontoku Ninomiya (1787-1856) was an agronomist and philosopher and government administrator. He is known as a peasant sage or the national icon of diligence. Especially in the early twentieth century, many local schools and libraries all over Japan erected the statues of the young Kinjiro Ninomiya for encouraging people to study and work hard.

Yasaka-no-to

Reio-zan Hokan-zen-ji Temple (霊応山 法観禅寺), known as "Yasaka-no-to" (八坂の塔), belongs to Rinzai-shu Kennin-ji-ha (臨済宗 建仁寺派) sect of Buddhism. Reportedly it was founded by Shotoku-taishi (聖徳太子) in AD 592. the address is 388 Yasakakami-machi Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto (京都市東山区清水八坂上町388). It is famous for the five-storied stupa, which was reconstructed by Yoshinori Ashikaga (足利義教) in 1440.

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(Wednesday 7 March) Reio-zan Hokan-zen-ji Temple, viewed from Hokanji-saka (法観寺坂)

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(Wednesday 7 March) A lady in kimono with the background of Reio-zan Hokan-zen-ji Temple, viewed from Hokanji-saka

Yasaka-jinjya

Yasaka-jinjya Shrine (八坂神社), located north of the Gion district, was founded in A.D.656, about 150 years before the transfer of the capital. It enshrines "Susano-Ono-Mikoto," Kushiinada-Hime-no-Mikoto," and "Yahashira-no-Miko-gami." "Susano-Ono-Mikoto" slew "Yamata-no-Orochi" (the legendary Japanese dragon with eight heads; the symbol of all the evils) and saved "Yahashira-no-Miko-gami" (the legendary beautiful princess) in captivity according to the Japanese myth. He brought fortune on the whole earth. Following the development of the capital, Yasaka-jinjya shrine has been revered by many people: Even now there were some 3,000 branch shrines in various parts of Japan. This shrine had long called "Gion-sha" and "Kanshin-in"; after the separation policy of Shintoism from Buddhism in the year of the Meiji Restoration (1868), it has been renamed "Yasaka-jinjya" Shrine (lit. "Shrine of the Eight Hills," which refers to the original geography of its site). Also called "Gion-san" by Geisha and the Maiko girls. A festival to please the Yasaka-jinjya gods takes place on July 17 every year, when three Shinto palanquins carrying the divine spirits of the Yasaka-Jinja gods are ceremoniously transported to a sacred resting place about one kilometer away. It is called "Gion Matsuri" (the Gion Festival).

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Ishi-dorii" (the South Stone Shrine Gate), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Nanro-mon" (the South Tower Gate) of Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Nanro-mon" (the South Tower Gate) viewed from the inside, Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Mai-dono" (舞殿; the Dance Hall), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Wednesday 7 March) "Hon-den" (Main Hall), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Thursday 17 February) "Seiro-mon" (the West Tower Gate), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Friday 18 February) "Seiro-mon" (the West Tower Gate), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Friday 18 February) "Ebisu-sha" (the Ebisu Hall, built in 1646; the North-Faced Ebisu Hall), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine. This "Ebisu-sha" Hall, usually called "Ebessan," has been enshrined since the Heian Period (794-1292). Originally Nishinomiya-jinjya Shrine, Hyogo, worships "Hiruko-no-Mikoto" (one of the Japanese Seven Gods of Fortune; the Japanese God of the Sea; God of the Increasing Business); famous for the yell "Shobai-hanjo de sasa motte-koi!" ("Bring us the bamboo leaves that give prosperity!"). The "Gion Ebessan" is favored by the Geisha and the Maiko girls

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(Friday 18 February) "Nanro-mon" (the South Tower Gate), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Friday 18 February) "Mai-dono" (the Dance Hall) with the Japanese lanterns brightly lighted , Yasaka-jinjya Shrine. These lanterns were donated by numerous traditional restaurants called "Ochaya-san," etc. in Gion.

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(Friday 18 February) "Mai-dono" (the Dance Hall), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Friday 18 February) "Mai-dono" (the Dance Hall), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

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(Friday 18 February) "Hon-den" (Main Hall), Yasaka-jinjya Shrine

Chugen-ji Temple

Chugen-ji Temple (中源寺) belongs to the Jodo-Shin-shu (浄土真宗) sect of Buddhism. In 1228, when River Kamo was overflowing, Tamekane Seta (勢多 為兼; formerly, "Bo-Kamo-gawa-shi Seta-no-Hangan Tamekane" [防鴨河使勢多判官為兼]) could keep it from flooding thanks to a divine message of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. He enshrined a seated Ksitigarbha image at this place and named it "Ameyami Jizo" (Rain Stopping Ksitigarbha). This is said to be the origin of this temple. Some scholars say that this temple became known as "Ameyami Jizo" (雨止地蔵) because people took shelter from rain under it; later "ameyami" turned to "meyami" (目疾; eye diseases). People began to call this temple "Meyami Jizo" (目疾地蔵) due to the belief that it was miraculous in its effects in healing eye diseases. The seated Amitabha Buddha image in the Main Hall is said to date back to the Muromachi Period. The wooden statue of seated thousand-armed Avalokitesvara is designated as important cultural property.

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(Thursday 17 February) The Main Gate of Chugen-ji Temple along Shijo-dori Street, Gion

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(Thursday 17 February) Chugen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 17 February) "Senjyu-Kannon-Bosatsu" (the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy [Skt. Avalokitesvara; Ch. Kuwan Yin, Kwan Yin] with a thousand hands), Chugen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 17 February) "Amida-zazo" (the seated Amitabha Buddha image) in "Amida-do" (the Amitabha Hall), Chugen-ji Temple

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(Thursday 17 February) Two strings of a thousand folded-paper cranes, etc, (hoping recovery from the eye diseases), Chugen-ji Temple. In Japan, there is a popular belief that making a string of a thousand folded-paper cranes would make his/her wish fulfilled.

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(Thursday 17 February) "Meyami Jizo" (Ksitigarbha-bodhisattva for Eye Diseases), Chugen-ji Temple

Gion

Gion (祇園) is Kyoto's most famous geisha area. To experience the traditional Gion, stroll along Hanami-koji Street, lined by beautiful old buildings, teahouses and restaurants In the evenings, you may be able to find a maiko-san, a geisha apprentice. (I could not find any maiko-san that day! I will be back!)

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(Wednesday 7 March) Hanami-koji Street (花見小路)

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(Wednesday 7 March) Hanami-koji Street

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(Wednesday 7 March) Ad for "Miyako-odori" (Kyoto Dance Festival between April 1-30), Hanami-koji Street

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(Thursday 17 February) Off Hanami-koji Street

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(Thursday 17 February) Off Hanami-koji Street

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(Thursday 17 February) Off Hanami-koji Street

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(Saturday 15 March) Hanami-koji Street

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(Saturday 15 March) Hanami-koji Street

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(Saturday 15 March) Minami-za (南座) Kabuki Theatre, Shijo-Ohashi-Higashi-dume (by the riverbank of the Kamo River near Shijo Station on Keihan Line). This theatre, the only surviving kabuki theatre of the original seven Kyoto theatres after the abolition of the Kita-gawa Theatre in 1893, is reconstructed in 1991. The original building is supposed to be the oldest kabuki theatre built in the early seventeenth century (some time between 1615-1623) when Katsushige Itakura, "Kyoto Shoshidai"(the governor of Kyoto) issued the license to permit to build seven theatres in "Shijo-ga-wara" (the Shijo Riverbank of the Kamo-gawa River), Kyoto. The origins of kabuki can be traced back to 1603 when a group of women led by the legendary actress Izumo-no-Okuni began performing dance and comedy on "Shijo-ga-wara" (very close to this theatre). However, women's performances were gradually caused disruptive behavior among the audience during the Edo Period (1603-1868). Thus, the Tokugawa authorities prohibited the women's performances in public and the kabuki plays have been traditionally performed by middle-aged men who were less suggestive and less sexy. Even now, women's parts are played by the onnagata, (normally) the middle-aged male actors in women's kimonos who have perfected the art of behavior more than real women. Since the mid-Edo Period, however, the center of the kabuki plays moved over to Edo (now Tokyo) where much more people were expected to come to see. The name "ka-bu-ki" is made up of three kanji [Chinese] characters, ka meaning a "song," bu meaning a "dance" and ki meaning an "action." Over the years, the performance has developed combining stylized movements and language, elaborate costume and setting as well as top class acting to make kabuki one of the most sophisticated art forms in Japan. However, unlike the western theatre, where the audience go to see a play expecting a good solid story, the appeal of kabuki lies in the unanticipated. The "plot" would be often discursive and it is highly likely that a number of historical tales will have been blended together. But, the action and tension will be gripping the audience.

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(Thursday 17 February) Minami-za (南座) Kabuki Theatre, Shijo-Ohashi-Higashi-dume (by the riverbank of the Kamo River near Shijo Station on Keihan Line)

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(Wednesday 7 March) Miyoshi-ya (みよしや), a traditional Japanese dumpling shop, Shijo-dori Street

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(Wednesday 7 March) Miyoshi-ya (traditional Japanese dumpling shop), Shijo-dori Street

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(Wednesday 7 March) Miyoshi-ya (traditional Japanese dumpling shop), Shijo-dori Street

Okuni of Izumo

Statue of Okuni of Izumo (出雲阿国像) by the Shijo-O-hashi Bridge near Minami-za (南座) Kabuki Theatre. Izumo-no-Okuni (?-later than 1613) was said to have been a "miko" (巫女; sibyl) of the Izumo-taisha Shrine (出雲大社). On the bank of Shijo-gawara (四条河原) of the Kamo-gawa River (鴨川), she began to perform a "Nembutsu-odori" (念仏踊) which attracted many people and later developed it to what you call "Kabuki-odori" (歌舞伎踊). Now she is known as the founder of Okuni-Kabuki (阿国歌舞伎; The Okuni Kabuki) and "Kabuki-shibai" (歌舞伎芝居; the Kabuki play).

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(Saturday 15 March) Inscription of Statue of Okuni of Izumo

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(Saturday 15 March) Statue of Okuni of Izumo

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(Saturday 15 March) Statue of Okuni of Izumo

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(Saturday 15 March) Statue of Okuni of Izumo

Imobo-Hiranoya

Imobo-Hiranoya-Honke (いもぼう平野屋本家), backward of Maruyama Park. "Imobo" is one of the best-known traditional Kyoto dishes. It can date back to the late seventeenth century when they worked for the Imperial Palace. It is a soup made of "ebi-imo" (the traditional Kyoto potato looked like a lobster) and "bo-dara" (dried cod) from Hokkaido.

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(Thursday 8 March) Imobo-Hiranoya-Honke, backward of Maruyama Park

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(Thursday 8 March) Imobo-Hiranoya-Honke, backward of Maruyama Park

Shinoda-ya

Shinoda-ya (篠田屋), a Japanese diner located at 111 Ohashi-machi, Sanjo-Kawabata-higashi-hairu (東山区三条川端東入る大橋町111) near Sanjo-Keihan Station (三条京阪駅). This is not a kind of restaurant for a special day but a restaurant for frequenting in daily lives for Kyoto locals.

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(Friday 14 March) Shinoda-ya

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(Friday 14 March) Menu of Shinoda-ya on the wall

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(Friday 14 March) "Sara-mori" (皿盛; lit. "Dishing-dish," 600 yen), Shinoda-ya. It looks like a "Katsu-curry rice" (カツカレー; curried rice with cutlets) but the taste is a little different with the original thick sauce. It is a wonderful surprise!

The Grill, HRK

Hyatt Regency Kyoto (ハイアット・リージェンシー京都内「ザ・グリル」), is one of the best hotels of Kyoto near Sanjyusangen-do Hall and Kyoto National Museum: The exact address is 644-2 Sanjyusangen-do-mawari, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City (京都市東山区三十三間堂廻り644-2). Their restaurant, "The Grill" is the Japanese-Western restaurant (洋食店) which is best known for the gorgeous hamburger, "The Grill Burger"

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(Friday 14 March) Hyatt Regency Kyoto

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(Friday 14 March) Hyatt Regency Kyoto

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(Friday 14 March) "The Grill Burger," The Grill, Hyatt Regency Kyoto: The most expensive hamburger of Japan as far as I know (more than 3,000 yen [about US$ 30] including drink and service charge)! The hamburger is too big for an average Japanese man to bite it like a normal one. So you need a knife and a fork to eat it. That is what I foolishly did. It is not what we call a hamburger anymore! Any part of the burger is very delicate as you will soon recognize that it is made of first-rate beef, spiced "bun," and fresh vegetables with an excellent chef's delicious sauce. However, you cannot taste everything at one bite! So I doubt if this is worth paying as much as $30. "Too much of a thing is as bad as too little."

Higashiyama Hanatouro

Since its start in 2003, Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro have been offering a good opportinity for tourists to have a comfortable walk in the night town of Kyoto, from Shorei-in Monzeki Temple (青蓮院門跡) to Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera Temple (音羽山 清水寺) along Jingu-michi Road (神宮道): the total distance is about 4.6 km (2.875 miles). The event is annually held for about ten days in March, attracting more than one million visitors every year. Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路) 2009 was held between March 13 (Fri) and March 22 (Sun). "Hanatouro" literally means the "flower lit-up streets." 2,400 beautifully decorated "andon" (行灯; paper-covered lamp stands) were used to light up the streets in 2009.

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(Friday 20 March) Shorei-in Monzeki Temple (青蓮院門跡) lighted up in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Shorei-in Monzeki Temple (青蓮院門跡) lighted up in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Shorei-in Monzeki Temple (青蓮院門跡) lighted up in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) A modern flower art in front of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Kyoto Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) An "Andon" (行灯; paper-covered lamp stand) in front of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) An "Andon" (行灯; paper-covered lamp stand) in front of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) An "Andon" (行灯; paper-covered lamp stand) in front of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) An "Andon" (行灯; paper-covered lamp stand) in front of Kacho-zan Chion-in Temple (華頂山 知恩院) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) A modern flower art in Maruyama Park (円山公園) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) A modern flower art in Maruyama Park (円山公園) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) "Take-akari-Yugen-no-kawa" (竹灯り・幽玄の川: 1,000-Bamboo-lights and the Mystic River) in Maruyama Park (円山公園) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) "Take-akari-Yugen-no-kawa" (竹灯り・幽玄の川: 1,000-Bamboo-lights and the Mystic River) in Maruyama Park (円山公園) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) "Take-akari-Yugen-no-kawa" (竹灯り・幽玄の川: 1,000-Bamboo-lights and the Mystic River) in Maruyama Park (円山公園) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Maruyama Park (円山公園) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) An "Andon" (行灯; paper-covered lamp stand) near Ryuchi-zan Daiun-in Temple (龍池山 大雲院)'s Gion-kaku Tower (祇園閣) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Ryuchi-zan Daiun-in Temple (龍池山 大雲院)'s Gion-kaku Tower (祇園閣) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Ryuchi-zan Daiun-in Temple (龍池山 大雲院)'s Gion-kaku Tower (祇園閣) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Stone steps to Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) A night view from Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) A night view from Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Reio-zan Hokan-zen-ji Temple (霊応山 法観禅寺), etc., viewed from Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Reio-zan Hokan-zen-ji Temple (霊応山 法観禅寺), etc., viewed from Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) A night view from Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

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(Friday 20 March) Kyoto Tower, viewed from Jyubu-zan Kodai-ji Temple (鷲峰山 高台寺) in the night of Kyoto Higashiyama Hanatouro (京都東山花灯路)

Kabocha-no-Tane

Japanese restaurant Kabocha-no-Tane (かぼちゃのたね) is located at Ryokaku Bld. 267 Gion-machi-Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City (京都市東山区祇園町北側267 了郭ビル). "Kabocha-no-Tane" literally means pumpkin seeds.

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(Tuesday 16 March) Kabocha-no-Tane, Ryokaku Bld. 267 Gion-machi-Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City

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(Tuesday 16 March) Kabocha-no-Tane, Ryokaku Bld. 267 Gion-machi-Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City

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(Tuesday 16 March) The first course of the 3,500-yen full-course meal (夜のおばん菜会席), Kabocha-no-Tane

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(Tuesday 16 March) The second course of the 3,500-yen full-course meal (夜のおばん菜会席), Kabocha-no-Tane

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(Tuesday 16 March) The third course of the 3,500-yen full-course meal (夜のおばん菜会席), Kabocha-no-Tane

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(Tuesday 16 March) The fourth course of the 3,500-yen full-course meal (夜のおばん菜会席), Kabocha-no-Tane. After this, some dessert and tea are served.

        

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