Bishamon-do ( my favorites)

Bishamon-do is not well-known to foreign visitors. But it's located just one station away from JR Kyoto station.
In Autumn, the maple leaves show a beautiful scenery to the visitors.

Bishamon-do is dedicated to Bishamon-ten It is also called Tamon-ten, when it is set as one of the four guardian Deities protecting in each direction.
So when it is Tamon-ten, it plays a role as a guardian and when Bishamon-ten, it is  a deity of the wealth.

And it is said that it was too rich, and the money was too much to spend, So Bishamon-ten burned the money. One day, Bishamon-ten decided to give to people to save them( according to the monk.)
That's why Bishamon-ten is called a deity of the wealth.

This is also one of the five monseki-jiins, where a member of Imperial family or of high ranked court nobles became a monk
So the main hall used to be a residence of Emperor Kosei and was moved to here.

Another must-see things here are tricky pictures  When you walk in a room there, you will find many pictures depicted on the sliding doors.

At first, the dragon on the ceiling welcomes you. Please keep your eyes on the eyes of the dragon and walk slowly, and the eyes will follow you.

Then the next room, in the pictures, two men were sitting at the table. Please walk slowly from one corner to the other keeping your eyes on the table, and the length of the table will change.
In the other room, the carp in the wooden screen watches you. Please walk slowly with your eyes kept on the eyes of the carp, and the eyes will follow you too.

The garden welcomes you quietly.

The lucky charms with a centipede is available here. Centipede is said to be a messenger of Bishamon-ten.  If you attach the cham above a door or an entrance of your house, money or wealth may come.

Many maple trees wait for your visit.

 Bishamon-do
 admission : 500 yen
    location
    the nearest station JR Yamashina
                                 Yamashina  ( subway Tozai line )
 

Komyo-in ( my favorites)

Even in the crowded season when Kyoto attracts many visitors, Komyo-in temple doesn't change its posture.

This is one of the sub-temples in Tofukuji temple. It is also called the moss temple in the east.
The garden was designed by Shigemori Mirei, who is one of the greatest garden designers in modern time. The characteristics of his garden is "standing rocks"

The white sand represents the ocean, standing rocks shows droplets of the waves from the ocean.

The garden's name is " Hashin-no-niwa" the literal translation of which is the garden of the mind of waves.

This garden tells you that, without worldly desires, the moon ( your mind ) will be reflected on the water surface.

There are three sets of three stones which represent each Buddha, such as Buddha Amida, Buddha of medicine, and Sakyamuni.

The garden can be viewed from the tea house and shoin room as well as the main hall.

I was was there at the high season for Autumn leaves, The main temple, Tofukuji temple, which is very famous for its bridge from which you can view a beautiful Autumn leaves covering the valley, was so crowded with visitors. but here just a little out of the main precinct, you will find  quietness and want to stay longer here.

Komyo-in temple ( sub-temple of Tofukuji temple )
nearest stastion : Tofukuji (JR ) 
                             Tofukuji or Toba kaido ( Keihan line )
                             TOfukuji ( city bus ): 

kitchen knives

I was asked to take my guests  to some kitchen knife shops. The most famous shop is "Aritsugu" in Nishiki food market. But this time, I took them to really local shop owned by the expertise and artisan in that field.

Japanese kitchen knives has some kinds and we usually use one of them depending on what we will cut or cook. "Deba" is used to chop fish. "Nakiri" is used for cutting vegetables. "Santoku" is for general use. So the first knife to have is this.

Japanese kitchen knives consists of steel and stainless. Steel is sandwiched between stainless.

We visited Shigeharu, where the shop owner makes knives by himself., and Hayakawa which is located relatively near the main street Shijo. At these shops as well as Aritsugu, you can ask them to put your name on the purchased knives.

Along with knives, you should have whetstone to keep the knives in good condition. There are approximately three kinds of whetstone, depending on particle size.
The larger the number of particle is, the smaller one particle is. When the edge of the knife is nicked and very rusty, rough whetstone can fix it relatively quickly. Medium particle sized whetstone makes dull-edges  sharper. This process is most part of sharpening. Finishing whetstone eliminates tiny scratches caught during the sharpening process and finalizes the knife beautifully and keep the edge in good condition.

It is very interesting for me to know about this field.

Japanese kitchen knives has a good quality. If you are interested in cooking, why don't you drop in at such shops?

So quiet if you come here in the off-season

In Autumn, if you try to find a quiet place where you can enjoy beautiful Autumn color, it is a little difficult. Kyoto is such a good and popular season for sightseeing for the people from inside and outside of the country that many good sites are mostly dominated by sightseers.

But if you come choosing this season, you can surely have the scenery all  to yourself.

Actually when I visited here, I was the only one. I sat on Japanese veranda enjoying the time passing.

This temple was founded by the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, as a training and learning school. In 1667, the temple was moved here from the precinct of Sokokuji temple.

This garden has a lot of maple trees and in Autumn, the view from inside of the room is beautiful.

Behind the trees, there is a pond with bamboo trees next to it.

Enko-ji temple : 

Nagashi so-men, fine noodles streaming in a narrow runnel

When you saw the title of this article, probably you wonder what I am talking about. In summer, it is very hot and humid here in Japan. This is good for enjoying hot summer.

Noodles are running in this runnel. ( half-cut bamboo is basically used ) You put your chopsticks into the water and stop streaming noodles, and then pick them up.
Please dip them into a somen soup.

It is cold and good under the humid weather.

In northern Kyoto, the place called Kifune is very popular for Kawadoko or the floors over the river, among Japanese people. Kifune is located in the north. And the temperature is a little lower than in the center of the city.

Usually you can enjoy the typical Kyoto cuisine on the floor. But it cost a little high.

The restaurant, Hirobun, offers this Nagashi Somen noodles in reasonable place.

This is the one of the way to enjoy this hot summer in Kyoto

access : Please use Keifuku line from Demachi Yanagi for Kifune and Kurama
            the nearest station : Kifune
           From there, take a bus or walk.

To have Nagashi -soen, you may have to wait .
I recommend you to go a little earlier like 11 AM

quiet place, Ikkyu-ji temple

I think the most famous monk in Japan is "Ikkyu"-san, who is known even to young children. Actually he is a son of Emperor Gokomatsu. but what made him so famous is so called Tonchi (wit ) dialogue. Those dialogues are depicted in animation films.

One famous dialogue between Shogun Yoshimitsu and Ikkyu is this.
One day, Shogun Yoshimitsu asked Ikkyu to sort out the tiger painted in folding screen because the tiger comes out of it and acts up every night.
Then Ikkyu-san answered, "OK, I will punish it so please have it out of the screen."

If you are interested in him, please click this URL
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E4%B8%80%E4%BC%91%E3%81%95%E3%82%93&safe=off&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=3evlUbPTI-S0iQe60IHIBw&sqi=2&ved=0CF8QsAQ&biw=1304&bih=659

Ikkyu-ji temple was located a little away from the city Because of it, this temple is very quiet.

This is the path to the entrance.

Nobody was there, just walking along this path made my mind quiet.

This stones represent the imaginary mountain called Horai-san mountain where hermits are said to be making an elixir of life. 

These rocks represent Buddha in the center and two bodhisattvas .

Ikkyu-ji temple

the nearest station,  Shin-tanabe of Kintetsu line.

and take a taxi for 5min.

admission 500 yen

A quiet place- one of my favorites

The most of Japanese gardens are miniatures of the national landscape. Rocks symbolize a mountain or land, and ponds and sand represent the ocean or the sea.

But the world of Koetsu-ji temple is life-sized garden because this is a garden related to tea ceremony. Here is said to have been a residence of Honami Koetsu, who was born in the family of sword appraiser To be a sword appraiser, he had to have a wide range of knowledge in art and craft. After he was ordered to live there, the place changed to be something like an art village because many artisans moved there after Koetsu.

Koetsu was a very talented man in various fields, especially tea ceremony, In this temple, seven tea houses were built in Taisho era thanks to the donations by so-called zaibatsu (in Japanese )
Please enjoy the world of tea

More than anything, this quietness  and greenery makes a specific atmosphere here.
Just sitting here and viewing three mountains of Takagamine from here will be the best way of enjoying this temple.

Koetsu ji temple

Ninja Restaurant

The theme of the restaurant is, of course, NINJA!
The way of the staff talking is something similar to what we think Ninja. A girl is standing in front of the restaurant,

When we approach, she shows us to the inside. In the restaurant、it is relatively dark and makes us feel as if we were NINJAs. . All the staffs wear the costume of Ninja.

Each table is separated and devided into small rooms.
When you almost finish your meals, a Ninja, or what is like Ninja(?) comes and shows what they call Ninpo ( fighting art of the ninja!) or what we think a magic show(?)

Anyway, you can enjoy the atmosphere! I think it good for the group with kids

 a shriken （nijna's a throwing‐knife )on top of the icecream

the entrance of the restaurant

Sea bream Ocha-zuke

This is one set of Ocha-zune with sea bream.
We can enjoy in three ways. At first, immerse pieces of Tai ( sea bream ) in the source. Enjoy the piece itself. Then put the piece on the rice, and eat. Thirdly, put the rest of sea bream on the rice and pour the tea to make Ochazuke.

These are pickles for Ocazuke. With these, you can enjoy Ochazuke further.

2000 yen for lunch at the restaurant in Arashiyama.

GizoBosastsu ( a Buddhist saint )

Among Botasu, probably Gizo-Bosatsu (bodhisattva ) is most loved by the people, called Gizo-san.

It is said that Gizo Bosatsu can go any of  6 worlds in Buddhism and salvage suffering people from there.

There used to be a man called Onono- Takamori, who could go to and come from  another world. One day, when he was in another world, he saw a man who was walking in the hell with the edge of his clothes burning. The man was trying to salvage the suffering people there in spite of the burning clothes. That was Gizo.

I heard another story.
When babies or young children died and went to the border of another world, they miss their parents and cry and cry.
At that time, Gizo comes and take them, by holding their hands, to the heaven. 
When you walk along Teramachi street from Sanjo to Oike street, you will find a small temple called "Yata dera" temple.

 Can you see a bell in front of you? In Kyoto, there are two bells. One is the one for welcoming the departed soul to come home during Obon period in Buddhism
It is in Rokudo-chinko-ji temple..
 The people go to what is called "Rokudo-san" to ring the bell to tell their family in the heaven that they are ready to welcome them in Obon.
( Obon period is mid of August )

The other one is here. That is for sending the soul to the heaven. 

This is a charm with a shape of Gizo- san. How cute! People write their wish on its back. Some people go back home with it, and others leave it in this temple.
Somehow, when I was here, I felt my heart eased. 
This temple is very small but I am sure you will like it.

Why don't you come to see this cute Gizo-san?

Quiet place - one of my favorites

Even the temple near here is so crowded, this place still keeps quietness. 

That is why I like this temple. The entrance road to the gate is really easing.

I can't show you how the place is impressive with the picture. 

Ho-nen-in temple. When you are walking along Philosopher's path from Ginkakuji temple, you will find a small wooden sign which says "Honen-in" A few minute walk from here brings you to this quiet place.

The great monk, Ho-nen, who started Jodo-shu sect used to chant a prayer to the Budda, He was always chanting a prayer here. saying " Namiamu dabutsu"which is said to take you to the paradise in the heaven after your death.

When you walk in through the rusty gate, you will see two mound of sand. This expresses water.

Just walking between the two, you will be purified by the water.

 Except the special occasion, we can't enter the inside of the hall. But just walking around in the precinct is enough to satisfy and ease you.

Why don't you drop in at this temple on the way from Ginkakuji temple to Nanzenji temple?

Time 6AM to 4PM

Wagashi making

Have you ever seen the beauty of Japanese wagashi or Japanese confection? It is just a sweet thing but it has something more than that. It is mainly made from beans and sugar. However you can see something with which you can feel a season, such as cool stream in summer, an orange persimmon in fall and so on. It requires a special skill to make.
You can take a look of this traditional skill and experience it. Some wagashi shops give a service of candy making class.

To make a real wagashi requires a very delicate work. Making a flower shape, making each petal, and making gradation changing from one color to another are difficult for us but much fun.

After the class we enjoy maccha tea ( tea for tea ceremony) and wagashi made in this shop.( not your making ). And then we take a look at the professional technique.
Of course you can take what you made and enjoy it later.

If you have a little time to have this experience, why don't you try it?

Byodoin temple

In some Japanese gardens, we can find something to be delicately devised. Let's think about the garden in Byodoin temple. As I talked before, the people in those days were eager to realize the pure land in Paradise here in Uji. That is why you can see phoenix hall in the west. When you see the hall from across the pond, the face of Amida Buddha can be seen just through the round window of the hall. When you stand in the hall, look up the corner of the ceiling. The wavy light there is something like the one in the heaven. Yes. But how does it waver like that ?
Look at the left corner of the pond! It is just behind the edge of the hall. Did you notice that there is a little fountain at this point of the pond? Water springs little by little, which ruffles the water surface. The water surface reflects the sun light and it gives an irregular pattern of shimmering light to the ceiling and the wall. In the old days, they felt as if they were in pure land in Paradise when they saw it.

To tell the truth, when I stood in the hall, the hall itself was actually very old and I couldn't feel I was in pure land. But the time when it was built, the color of the building was so vivid and colorful that it was totally different from what it is today.

Amida Buddha is said to come with an orchestra so that the dead won't have a fear at the moment of the death and take them to the heaven. The Amida Buddha is right in the center of the hall.

Thinking of the people and the hall in the old days, it makes me a little romantic.

Now Byodoin temple is under repair. The repair is scheduled to be completed in March, 2014

Monkey Park

If you have enough time during your stay in Kyoto, if you want to visit anywhere else after visiting temples and shrines, and if you like animals, how about visiting Monkey Park?

I didn't know Japanese Monkeys ( I don't know whether it is the proper way to call them) were special for visitors from abroad. However, the monkeys are to be seen in Asia, aren't they?

You can see and feed wild monkeys there.
After walking up the hill for a while, you will find some monkeys playing, sitting, walking here and there. If you want, you can get their food in the hut, and feed them from the inside of the hut. Inside?? Yes, from the inside! From the outside, the monkeys get food from you. At first it seems a reverse way, but it is actually safer. So feeding them outside is, of course, prohibited.

Anyway, feeding is a lot of fun.
Why don't you visit this Park ? Oh, one thing I have to say!! Please wear sneakers! The reason?
You can know when you get there!!