This morning I caught a shinkansen (bullet) train from Tokyo to Kyoto. I was met at the station by Mr. Doi my guide for the day. Kyoto is particularly crowded right now because it is cherry blossom season, so there were crowds everywhere. We first went to Nijo Castle. This castle was built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa shogun, Ieyasu. The ostentatious style of construction was intended as a demonstration of Ieyasu’s prestige and to signal the demise of the emperor’s power. The castle has an outer moat and an inner moat. Ninomaru Palace is a very impressive structure with beautiful painted screens and incredible carved wood panels. Unfortunately photography is not allowed inside. As a safeguard against treachery, Ieyasu had the interior fitted with “nightingale” floors and concealed chambers where bodyguards could keep watch. The palace is just one of the many buildings that make up the castle. Beautiful gardens surround the castle. I have included a photo of the front of the palace and a picture I took in the garden.
Next we visited Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. This Shinto shrine was built in 947 and the current main hall was constructed in 1607. There were almost no crowds here because there are no cherry trees on the grounds of this shrine; it is known for its plum trees which bloomed last month. Mr. Doi educated me on Shinto beliefs and we had a nice peaceful stroll around the shrine grounds. The picture below is the front gate of the shrine.
Rokuon-ji Temple and Kinkaku (or The Golden Pavilion) was our next stop. In the 1220’s it was the comfortable villa of Kintsune Saionji. Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga, abdicated the throne in 1394. After three years he began to build Kitayamaden and he made a special effort to make it a breath-taking site. He indulged in his peaceful life in this serene setting. After Yoshimitsu’s death, Kitayamaden was made into a Zen temple in accordance with his will. All of the buildings of those days came to ruin except Kinkaku. The garden, however, remains as it was in former days and can be enjoyed as it was hundreds of years ago. Below is a picture of Kinkaku – The Golden Pavilion.
Next we went to the Kyoto Handicraft Center and I did some shopping. I bought several items to help me remember my trip. After that we went to Heian Shrine. This impressive shrine complex was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto. The buildings are colorful replicas, reduced to two-thirds of the size of the Kyoto Gosho of the Heian period. The spacious garden has a large pond and many weeping cherry trees. It was very crowded. The main building is shown below.
Last we visited the Gion district. This district still has many original style buildings and is still home to geisha houses. It is a very pretty and traditional area. I have included a photo of some maiko (apprentice geisha) however Mr. Doi tells me that these are not the real thing, they are for the tourists.
There are a lot more pictures if you click on the Fellowship Photos link on the right. You do have to sign-up for a Snapfish ID but it is free.
Next we visited Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. This Shinto shrine was built in 947 and the current main hall was constructed in 1607. There were almost no crowds here because there are no cherry trees on the grounds of this shrine; it is known for its plum trees which bloomed last month. Mr. Doi educated me on Shinto beliefs and we had a nice peaceful stroll around the shrine grounds. The picture below is the front gate of the shrine.
Rokuon-ji Temple and Kinkaku (or The Golden Pavilion) was our next stop. In the 1220’s it was the comfortable villa of Kintsune Saionji. Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga, abdicated the throne in 1394. After three years he began to build Kitayamaden and he made a special effort to make it a breath-taking site. He indulged in his peaceful life in this serene setting. After Yoshimitsu’s death, Kitayamaden was made into a Zen temple in accordance with his will. All of the buildings of those days came to ruin except Kinkaku. The garden, however, remains as it was in former days and can be enjoyed as it was hundreds of years ago. Below is a picture of Kinkaku – The Golden Pavilion.
Next we went to the Kyoto Handicraft Center and I did some shopping. I bought several items to help me remember my trip. After that we went to Heian Shrine. This impressive shrine complex was built in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto. The buildings are colorful replicas, reduced to two-thirds of the size of the Kyoto Gosho of the Heian period. The spacious garden has a large pond and many weeping cherry trees. It was very crowded. The main building is shown below.
Last we visited the Gion district. This district still has many original style buildings and is still home to geisha houses. It is a very pretty and traditional area. I have included a photo of some maiko (apprentice geisha) however Mr. Doi tells me that these are not the real thing, they are for the tourists.
There are a lot more pictures if you click on the Fellowship Photos link on the right. You do have to sign-up for a Snapfish ID but it is free.
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