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City
of Nara
City of Nara is located about 30 minutes of train ride from Kyoto. This
was the capital of Japan between AD 710 and AD 784, and it was called
the Heijou-Kyo. During that period, Japanese built the world largest di-cast
Buddha Statue in this city. The statue today is open to public as part
of Todai-Temple. The building the statue is sitting in, is 49m (about
150 ft) tall and is the world largest wooden structure that remains today.
There are a lot of other good spot to see in Nara, but I skipped most
of them since I did not have enough time.
- Five-Stories Tower
in Kofuku-Temple
- Saru-Sawa-Pond
Higashi-Yama
(Eastern-Mountains)
Higashi-Yama has 36 peaks, starting from Hi-ei-zan until Inagi-Yama. But
there are less than 36 peaks in reality; they took the title from an old
stories of China. Higashi-Yama is home to many old and famous temples
that can be visited by foot relatively easily. This time, I visited the
following temples and places.
- Tofuku-Temple,
famous for its fall forage. It is know as a hidden spot except in autumn.
- "Momiji's
Eigan-Doh". Momiji is one of best-loved fall forage with 5-pointed
leaves. Unfortunately, the peak was definitely over in this temple.
- San-nen-zaka (3
years slope), Ni-nen-zaka (2 years slope), Nene's street, Philosopher's
street.
- Ginkaku-Temple
(the silver one). Built by the 8th Muromachi Shogun. This temple is
the greatest example to see what is Japanese style.
- Famous and majestic
Kiyomizu-Temple. I visited during light-up at night.
Sagano
The name "Sagana" reminds me of an open field filled with
romantic stories which women love to visit. The ugly and dirty political
conflicts were norm in the life of Kyoto. This place is not that far from
Kyoto, but people who used to lived here were often forced to live in
this lonely place after these conflicts. This place is filled with these
people's sadness and longing feeling towards flamboyant life in Kyoto.
Walking through the bamboo forests of Sagano, one can enjoy the romantic
but sad stories of Sagano.
- Grand view of
Daihikaku. Almost like a secluded place just outside of Kyoto.
- Nison-Temple.
It is famous for its fall forage but it was completely over.
- Small but profound
Giou-Temple. This temple also appeared in "Tale of Heike".
- Walked through
Hirosawa-Pond and Oh-sawa-Pond.
Kinugasa/City
of Kyoto
Kinugasa is a mountain which became famous after Uta-Emperor covered the
mountain with silk clothes to enjoy snow covered scenery. There are many
famous temples and old second houses of court nobles.
- Rokuon-Temple.
Famous for Kinkaku, built by the 3rd Muromachi-Shogun.
- Ryoan-Temple,
famous for its stone-garden.
Headed to Center
of Kyoto from Kinugasa, and visited
- Kyoto's Imperial
Palace. Japanese emperors used to live here until Meiji-Revolution in
the middle of 19th Century.
- Rozan-Temple,
where the world oldest fictions were written.
- Hon-noh-Temple
and Shin-Kyogoku-Street in Shijou-Gawara area.
- New Kyoto Station.
A modern design somehow matches with old Kyoto.
- The head temple
of Shingon-Mikkyo Buddhism.
Looking at Kamo-River in sunset in the city of Kyoto. |
Town
of Uji
The town of Uji is located about 15 minutes of train ride from Kyoto.
Uji is famous for its glorious sight among Kyoto-nians. It is populated
with second houses of rich Kyoto powerful clans.
- Houou-doh in Byoudou-In
is used in a back of of 10-Yen-coin.
- Uji-gami-Shrine.
This is the oldest shrine structure left in Japan. A small shrine is
easy to miss unless it was registered as world heritage.
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How about sightseeing Kyoto using rickshaw? |
Bamboo forests are the symbol of Sagano. From Giou-Temple,
there was a trail through big bamboo forest. |
Walking through the Kyoto after dark. Many interesting
stuff were to be found in this old city. |
The big old tree where god lives inside. The rope is called Shime-Nawa
that protects the sacred places. |
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