zen meditation

One of the things you may think you should experience in Japan is Zen meditation.
Then, what is zen meditation?
According to the monk in a sub-temple of Tenryuji temple, who speaks English and gives you zen meditation in English,, "In a word, Zen meditation is a matter of balance and regulation"

"We regulate the body, we regulate the breath, and we regulate the mind. When body, breath, and mind have come into a state of harmonious balance and deep inner tranquility, we naturally awaken to our pure original spirit and realize the true value of our existence"

I joined Zen meditation there.
The monk told us to set our legs crossed. When we do so, my back stands straight. When my back is straight, he told me to try to breathe out slowly counting number, one... two....three...
Then breathe in slowly controlling our breath.
Soon, I could hear birds singing, the wind blowing. I tried not to think anything, Just listening to the natural sounds

Curiously, my mind was becoming peaceful and calm.

Someone says a zen garden reflects your state of mind. Facing the garden, after closing your eyes and trying to set your mind calmly, when you opened your eyes, the garden will be felt differently.

Why don't you try it?

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