Kasuga Shrine (Nara)

– Kasuga Taisha – 春日大社 – Nara（奈良） – August 9, 2018 I think many people come to Nara for Todai-ji and stay for the deer. Because of this, the deer are often associated with the famous temple, but the actual reason they’re considered sacred is because the deer are believed to be the messengers of the gods enshrined at Kasuga Shrine and that inhabit the area. The shrine is on the east side of the park. A long, upward sloping path leads up to the shrine from the park. Once there, you can enjoy the striking, red architecture and the…

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Ninna-ji

– Ninna-ji – 仁和寺 – Kyoto（京都） – August 8, 2018 Ninna-ji is one of the several great World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. Some of its stunning features include its Niomon front gate, five storied pagoda, and late-blooming Omuro cherry blossoms. It is the head temple of the Omuro school of the Shingon Sect of Buddhism. During the Heian period, Emperor Koko had its construction started in 886 and it was completed in 888AD. The oldest buildings were all built in the 1600s. These include the Niomon front gate, Chumon inner gate, the main hall, the Kannon Hall, and its pagoda.…

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Ryoan-ji

– Ryoan-ji – 龍安寺 – Kyoto（京都） – August 8, 2018 Ryoan-ji is a Zen temple and home to one of the world’s most famous rock gardens. Originally a villa belonging to the Fujiwara clan in the Heian Period, it was converted into a Buddhist temple in 1450 and the pond, which still exists today, was also installed. The rock garden itself is a mystery. No one knows when it was made, who made it, or what its purpose was. It’s 25 by 10 meters large with 15 differently sized stones arranged in five groups on top of moss islands surrounded…

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Kinkaku-ji (Second visit)

Kinkaku-ji 金閣寺 Kyoto (京都) August 8, 2018 About Kinkaku-ji This is the temple that everyone thinks of when they think of temples in Kyoto. The gold one on the lake. It really is one of the top tourist destinations in Kyoto. One thing that makes this zen temple unique is that its upper floors are covered with gold leaf. This extravagant temple was made to be the retirement home of the third shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. In addition to the temple, the sprawling garden is also wonderful to visit and includes other buildings such as a tea…

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Kiyomizuera: Fudondou

– Kiyomizudera Fudondou – 清水寺不動堂 – Kyoto（京都） – August 7, 2018 Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) is a sprawling temple in the Higashiyama part of Kyoto. The Hondo, or Main Hall, is famous for it’s stage that hangs over the hill below. Near the Hondo are several other shrines and temples. This is the goshuin for Fudondou located near Otowa Waterfall. The stage attached to the Hondo is about 43 feet above the hill and is built without nails using traditional methods. Down the stairs from it is Otowa Waterfall and Fudondou. Hundreds of people line up to drink from its…

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Kiyomizudera: Amida-ji

– Kiyomizudera Amida-ji – 清水寺阿弥陀寺 – Kyoto（京都） – August 7, 2018 Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) is a sprawling temple in the Higashiyama part of Kyoto. The Hondo, or Main Hall, is famous for it’s stage that hangs over the hill below. Near the Hondo are several other shrines and temples. This is the goshuin for Amida-ji, a temple for the Amida Buddha The stage attached to the Hondo is about 43 feet above the hill and is built without nails using traditional methods. Down the stairs from it is Otowa Waterfall. Hundreds of people line up to drink from its…

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Kiyomizudera: Okuno-in

– Kiyomizudera Okuno-in – 清水寺奥之院 – Kyoto（京都） – August 7, 2018 Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) is a sprawling temple in the Higashiyama part of Kyoto. The Hondo, or Main Hall, is famous for it’s stage that hangs over the hill below. Near the Hondo are several other shrines and temples. This is the goshuin for Okuno-in, a small temple just past the main hall. The stage attached to the Hondo is about 43 feet above the hill and is built without nails using traditional methods. Okuno-in, while a lovely building on its own, is probably the best place to take…

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Kiyomizudera: Hondo

– Kiyomizudera Hondo – 清水寺本堂 – Kyoto（京都） – August 7, 2018 Kiyomizudera (Pure Water Temple) is a sprawling temple in the Higashiyama part of Kyoto. The Hondo, or Main Hall, is famous for it’s stage that hangs over the hill below. This is the goshuin for the Kiyomizudera Hondo. The stage attached to the Hondo is about 43 feet above the hill and is built without nails using traditional methods. The surrounding sakura and maple trees make it especially stunning in the spring and fall. However, the view of Kyoto in the distance is wonderful at any time of year.…

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Fushimi Inari Shrine (Oku)

– Fushimi Inari Shrine (Oku) – 伏見稲荷大社奥社 – Kyoto（京都） – August 7, 2018 Fushimi Inari Shrine is a large shrine in the Fushimi ward of southern Kyoto that’s famous for it’s long, red torii gate lined paths up Mt Inari. It is the head shrine of all the inari shrines across Japan dedicated to Inari, the shinto god of rice. There are over 30,000 in Japan, making it the most numerous of all the kinds of shrines. In addition to its famous red torii, you can also find statues of foxes throughout the premises. Foxes are believed to be the…

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Fushimi Inari Taisha

– Fushimi Inari Shrine – 伏見稲荷大社 –Kyoto（京都） – August 7, 2018 Fushimi Inari Shrine is a large shrine in the Fushimi ward of southern Kyoto that’s famous for it’s long, red torii gate lined paths up Mt Inari. It is the head shrine of all the inari shrines across Japan dedicated to Inari, the shinto god of rice. There are over 30,000 in Japan, making it the most numerous of all the kinds of shrines. In addition to its famous red torii, you can also find statues of foxes throughout the premises. Foxes are believed to be the messengers for…

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