Oct 18 - Heian Shrine, Japan, Oct 18, 2017, PJ M

Giant Torii as seen from Heian Shrine

Heian Shrine and Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts

Outbound to Gufu + Tokyo Japan, Day 15 of 19, October 18, 2017
By: PJ M

We joined our tour guide Geiko-san on the bus for our last tour of Kyoto to see the Heian Jingu Shrine and the museum of traditional crafts.

Heian Jingu Shrine

After disembarking from the bus one last time, we walked under a huge Torii gate (above) in front of Heian Jingu Shrine and through the shrine entrance gate. The entrance gate was guarded by fierce giants on each side.  It is customary to purify oneself prior to entering the shrine.

Purification

Heian Shrine - Outer building

This shrine was built in 1895 to commemorate over 1100 years since Kyoto was made the ancient capital  of Japan (since 794 AD). It is an exact replica at 5/8 scale of the old Chodoin (State Hall of the Imperial Palace).

Just in front of the Shrine proper, on each side, were two large trees, a citron tree signifying Eternity and a cherry tree signifying Loyalty.

Citron tree signifying eternity

We were just in time to see a procession of priests and a ceremony (for a flower arranging competition, we were told). There were some prosperous businessmen receiving blessings, with music and prayers. No photos permitted for the ceremony itself.

Priests welcoming the participants

We then walked through the gardens, and the day was sunny and beautiful, so this was a different garden experience for us. We saw the stepping stones made famous by Marlon Brando in the movie Sayonara and were warned that it is too dangerous to walk over them (one man from Geiko-san's tour many years ago had slipped and fallen in).

Risky behavior

Ducks and carp, a soft shell turtle and a gray heron all joined us in the garden.

Trying to feed the carp rice crackers (ducks were faster than the carp)

Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts 

We then went across the street to the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts.

We all walked through marveling at the intricate work done with gold and silver, bamboo, ceramics, and textiles. Here's just one example of fine workmanship on display in the museum. There were no photos permitted in the museum itself, this was on display at the entrance.

This is where we said goodbye to Geiko-san and we all went off on separate adventures.

Ray and I took the bus to Kiyomizudera area to walk through the shopping streets. We had lunch and enjoyed browsing the area. We both enjoyed looking at the antiques and beautiful ceramics in Asahido, a wonderful ceramics and pottery shop. We then walked back down the hill through a beautiful Higashiyama Preservation District with narrow streets, lots of steps, old buildings and a five story pagoda.

Higashiyama District - one of 4 in Kyoto

Yasaka Pagoda, off a side alley

Dinner was at Nihon-ryori Sakuragawa, which serves kaiseki cuisine, a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner,  analogous to Western haute cuisine.  Many courses, each a little work of art. Excellent!

Preparing the persimmon dish

The persimmon dish (and a little sake)

A wonderful day!
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In Friendship and Peace

Oct 17 - Kyoto Tour, Japan, Oct 17, 2017, Ray M

Temples, mountains & mist

Arashiyama (Bamboo Grove and Tenryuji), Gion & Nishiki Market

Outbound to Gufu + Tokyo Japan, Day 14 of 19, October 17, 2017

By: Ray M

Tenryu-ji Temple

Off we went today at 9 a.m. sharp to the far west side of Kyoto to the Arashiyama area to see Several sights including Tenryu-ji Temple (‘-ji’ means ‘Temple’ so this is a bit redundant!). Geiko M is our guide this week in Kyoto.
It was cool, rain had just stopped, and sky was still cloud covered. The temple is nestled next to the mountains, partially obscured by the clouds - just right for appreciating the Temple and gardens.

The Togetsukyo (Moon Crossing) bridge was the first point of interest. It is 490 feet across the Oi River and is very popular with Japanese tourists.

Togetsukyo Bridge

Our path took us by a very small park populated by stone Buddhas. Donors sponsor them and have their names engraved.

Buddha Memorials

The Temple was crowded even in the morning, we didn’t go inside but did enjoy the gardens.

The Japanese Maples were starting to show fall colors.

Bamboo Forest

Our path took us up the lower slope of the mountain into bamboo. Lots of bamboo. Maybe 4” in diameter. The bamboo grows fast, reaches full size in about 5 years. It was fairly dark under the leaf canopy.

Us in the middle of it.

An interesting marker along the path: “May Peace Prevail on Earth” - in 4 languages (Japanese, Spanish, French and English). It resonated with all of us.

A number of visitors were getting rides on rickshaws - a Japanese invention, exported to China.

Lunch at Randen Arashiyama Station

Our lunch was in the upstairs dining area of the Randen Arashiyama Station. Buffet, lots of interesting and tasty Japanese food to try.
(Picture #8 - Andy’s first picture. No caption)
At the ground-level of the station, there was the “Kimono Forest” - 600 clear tubes with kimono fabric.

Pond of Dragon, in the Kimono Forest

Nishiki Market

Back to downtown to the Nishiki Market, Kyoto’s oldest. — dating from its start as a fish market in 1616! This is a massive covered market - 1640 ft long, mostly food and edibles but lots more too.

Geiko-san answering all our questions

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Almost anything you want - even an AK-47 !?!

A gun store - I didn't ask about what you have to do to get a permit for one of these.

Gion Area

Our last stop for the day was in Gion District - Kyoto’s most famous geisha and entertainment area.

One of the streets in Gion Preservation Area

A kimono rental shop. Kimonos are so expensive that most just rent them.

Kimono rental shop

We stopped at a small Shinto shrine along a Gion side-street.  There is a brass cow, polished smooth from people rubbing its head. This is said to give improved understanding/wisdom.

Rub My Head for Increased Intelligence

In Friendship and Peace

Tags/Labels: Japan, Kyoto-Nara Tour, Outbound

Oct 16 - Kyoto Tour, Japan, Oct 16, 2017, Monika O

Outbound to Gufu + Tokyo Japan, Day 13 of 19, October 16, 2017

Todaiji, Kasuga Shrine & Nara Deer Park

By: Monika O

Tōdai-Ji Temple
Today we visited the Tōdai-Ji Temple. This temple houses the largest Statue of Buddha in Japan. It was founded in 728 for the repose of the spirit of Crown Prince Motoi, son of Emperor Shōmu and completed in 749. Since then it has been destroyed and reconstructed several times. The Buddha is made of gilded bronze, unlike the giant Buddha statue we saw in Gifu which is wood sheathed in gold leaf.

Note the size of Buddah's Nostril

One of the temple’s massive cedar columns has a hole in its base that is said to be the same size as one of the nostrils on the giant Buddha, and if you crawl through it, it will lead to enlightenment in your next life. Lynn did it!

We arrived there amid a light rain and enjoyed interacting with the many (more than 1000) very tame deer in residence.

Wet, wild deer - ready for rice crackers

Kasuga Taisha Shrine
A short bus ride later took us to Kasuga Taisha Shinto shrine which is famous for its lanterns, which have been donated by worshipers. Hundreds of bronze lanterns can be found hanging from the buildings. The lanterns are only lit twice a year during two Lantern Festivals, one in early February and one in mid August. It was fascinating to see the hundreds of stone lanterns lining the approaches to the Shinto shrine. Worshipers make donations to have the lantern lit and their wished granted.

We returned to the bus amid a quite heavy rain and returned to Kyoto.

In Friendship and Peace

Tags/Labels: Japan, Kyoto-Nara Tour, Outbound