Fushimi-Momoyama Castle (伏見桃山城) is on a hilltop in southeastern Kyōto, and not easily accessed, so very few Japanese or inbound tourists go there. It makes a good hike for the same reason. The #castle is a reproduction of the intended retirement residence of the national unifier Toyotomi Hideyoshi, but it was near the end of the turbulent Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600), to which the castle contributed the Momoyama part of its name. Although I am mostly interested in the relatively peaceful palaeolithic to Heian periods, this castle is nevertheless elegant, as befits a predecessor of the Shōguns.
Q: Someone asked if I saw a reproduction of Hideyoshi’s gold-leafed tearoom.
A: Visitors aren't allowed in. There never seem to be staff there. The place has an unfortunate history!
Q: The Meiji Emperor's mausoleum is very close by. Why was this location chosen?
The original site was taken for the tomb of Emperor Meiji! The castle is now nearby.
Kajū-ji or Kanshū-ji (勸修寺) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Kyōto founded in 900 by Emperor Daigo. It is near Daigo-ji and was built where the Emperor's wife lived as a tribute to her. The Imperial family traditionally provided the head priests.
I go there mainly for the garden and pond, which are also historic. Wisteria blossoms are over, and now there are yellow, purple, and white irises in the pond along with pink and white water lilies. I've also noticed big herons nesting in the treetops, but they are too far for a mobile phone to capture a clear picture. By the pond I did startle a young egret, to my regret 😅 .
The worst type of #tourist in #Japan are the westerners who complain about #Chinese tourists (quite often, actually #Taiwanese, #Korean or #SEAsian but they don't know or care to tell the difference) and don't realize that it's actually them who are the most annoying.
I see way more bad or stupid behavior, especially in #Kyoto, from western tourists than Asian tourists.
For hours I hiked around Kurodani (黒谷) in Kyōto, literally "Black Valley," which is actually a large hill. From Japanese sources I found that the Pure Land (浄土宗) Buddhist saint Hōnen (法然上人) came down from Kurodani on Mt. Hiei in 1175 to build a hut on the hill, which became the major temple Konkaikōmyōji (金戒光明寺). The other temple I visited was Shinshōgokuraku-ji (真正極楽寺) or Shinnyo-dō (真如堂) nearby. Both worship Amitābha (阿弥陀} Buddha, although Shinnyo-dō belongs to the Tendai sect and was founded in 984 during the Heian Period. After the recent rain there was bright green early spring foliage and various flowers to enjoy along with interesting Buddhist statues and architecture.
Imamiya Jinja was founded in 994 to protect Kyoto from pestilence. Most of its current buildings are rebuilds dating to the Meiji period (1868-1912). This set of film photographs was taken there around New Year’s some years ago - a flea market was held on the premises at the time.
Documented 100th different #presentation topic, this time the format and content completely unlike anything before, drawing from my familiarity with Kyōto #Buddhist temples (first photo), Shintō shrines, and festivals reenacting the Heian Period of over a thousand years ago. The slideshow is at at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/379221428
The pechakucha (third photo) rapid-fire presentations were also a social event in Nishinomiya, between Ōsaka and Kōbe, involving Kōnan University students, teachers, and other English users. The editor of our book A Passion for Japan gave me a cameo in his presentation by discussing my chapter (last photo).
The temple Manpukuji (黄檗山万福寺) near Uji south of Kyōto City was recommended by a friend from Vienna, which was perfect because I like to be surprised instead of investigating a place in advance. I kept thinking it was like the Chinese Buddhist temples I've only seen in places like Chinatowns in Yokohama and Kōbe as well as Hawaii, Singapore, Thailand, and Hong Kong before the reversion. Also, photos were allowed anywhere, so I guessed that it was a Zen temple. At the end of exploring the large temple precincts, I saw a sign that explained that indeed it was based on a Chan Buddhist temple in Fuzhou, and has many designated cultural properties, having remained intact since 1661.
Recently, a popular Japanese travel Web site interviewed foreign visitors to Kyoto and asked them about their favorite tourist spots. Here’s their top five, plus another five from us at Unseen Japan.
The large temple complex Ninna-ji (仁和寺) in Kyōto was founded by Emperor Uda in 888 in the early Heian Period, and for most of its history its head priest was an Imperial family member. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has its own school of Shingon Buddhism and brand of sakura cherry trees (see photos). The stone Buddhas are off by the east entrance and missed by most visitors. The violet azaleas go well with the white cherry blossoms.
ICYMI: Tourism is increasingly interfering with residential and business life in Japan. In the latest development, Kyoto’s Gion neighborhood says it’ll charge people if they ignore clearly posted warnings on private streets.
To give riders a better view of autumn leaves, the driver of this train on the Kurama Line switches off the lights so passengers can better view this "Maple Tunnel" outside #Kyoto. (Another reason to love #Japan's rail culture.)
So here's my obligatory Japan tour photo of the Kinkaju-ji/Rokuon-ji golden pavillion temple of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (3rd Shogunate) in Kyoto from 1397.
If you've never heard of it, that's real gold leaf layered all over the temple. It has 3 floors, each architected in a different style.
I'm accepting a challenge to give an unusual presentation on April 19th at Kōnan University in Nishinomiya on “Kyōto Temples, Shrines, and Festivals.” Pechakucha presentations allow only 20 seconds to describe each of 20 slides, so this slideshow consists of my photos of beautiful sites in Kyōto, which those planning to visit can search for.
Kyōto Buddhist temples, Shintō shrines, and great festivals like the Gion Matsuri hark back to the Heian Period (794-1185). Festivals and community events in Kyōto reenact that period, with elaborate costumes that can be seen in the last several slides. Temples and shrines are organized by season from spring to changing leaves in autumn, or winter snow. Many photos are of strolling gardens attached to religious sites that visitors often miss.
As Japan wrestles with problems created by overtourism, Kyoto's Gion neighborhood decides to start leveling fines. Learn what's leading the neighborhood to take this drastic step in our latest.
a straight line
all the way to Kyōto...
umbrella-hatted blossom viewers
京迄は一筋道ぞ花見笠
-Issa, 1822.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.
'Vernal Equinox Day' has been a national holiday since 1948.
Originally the spring equinox was taken up by a Shintō festival called 'Shunki kōrei-sai' (春季皇霊祭), created in 1878 and centered around imperial ancestor worship. In 1948 this was repackaged as a day for admiring nature and all living things.