Today was last day in Kyoto for this trip. Time sure flies when you are having fun! Basically only meeting with friends and acquintances left for this trip. Last days in Japan will go flying meeting with new and old faces.
Anyway for today I had decided to keep doing the stamp collecting of various temples and shrines. Kyoto is famous for those so seemed fairly appropriate. Also would give me taste of what the Shikoku pilgrimage would be like!
There's bazillion(so to speak) temples in the eastern part of Kyoto so I figured I would start at temple that's fairly famous and move toward north as I go. Sounds like a plan so off we go!
Start was unusually late though. I had been bit careless last night with phone charger so it wasn't actually charged up so needed bit more juice charged up. Without paper map I really need that phone for just navigating! And I woke up bit later than usual. But eventually I got myself out and heading toward Kyoto station and then turning left I arrived at the Rengeonin sanjusangendo. What a name! Who came up with that name? Bit shorter ones please! Anyway this is bit unimpressive temple from the OUTSIDE but inside(alas no pictures were allowed) there's this temple consisting of 1001 statues of Kannon in her 1000 arm incarnation(though statues only have 42 arms. Plus lots of heads). Also lots of other Buddhist gods and deities.
Quite an interesting walk. And those 1000 statues(plus one hell of a big one) aren't moulded mass produced. There's slight differences in each and so far over 500 different artists have been recognized having worked on those(some did more than 1, some might not have been identified yet).
Pictures inside were forbidden but outside was fair game.
One thing about Buddhism and Shintoism is that they both exist happily together. Next to this Buddhist temple was also Shintoist shrine. Actually before Meiji goverment basically forcibly separated the two they used to do their ceremonies in same places...
Japanese don't have trouble accepting new things as such provided they don't try to replace old. That's where Christianity failed big time while Buddhism was accepted in a stride I think.
After quite interesting lesson to Buddhism I moved onward to north.
On route were these quite pretty trees. Kyoto is big city but it still has some green touches. I really love this city. Much more pleasant for me than Tokyo.
This one looked like good place to visit. Don't think it was temple or shrine as such though. Instead looks like it was mausoleum. There seemed to be some sort of service going on by group so didn't feel like taking much pictures. With my luck they were some relatives of people buried there and would take offend of me taking pictures. Not wanting that didn't take pictures of the most interesting places there. Ah well. I try to avoid causing hindrance in religious places. Not my religion but no reason to not try to be respectful.
Do like the statues temples have though.
Maps like these are always nice to find. Get your current bearing and get new goals to look for.
BTW this mausoleum was the building I had seen while going to Kiyomizudera on sunday if you remembered. I was going to get the stamp from Kiyomizudera since it was on route so went to that mystery building on route.
Kiyomizudera was quite crowded!
There was this shrine next to this temple(again). VERY crowded narrow street. At first I was bit puzzled why this street is so crowded(especially by women). Then I saw "love stone" and that this is shrine for god of good happy marriages. Okay that explains the popularity I think!
Bit blurry picture. Sorry. There's bunch of prayers hanging on some bells. Wind makes quite nice sound there as the bells make quiet sound.
This is what I had actually skipped on last trip so since I was here again why not. That's small waterfall and drinking that water is supposed to make your wish true. Usually when you are in temple you just wash your hands and mouth but this time you don't just wash your mouth but drink water. (I hoped for success in the Shikoku pilgrimage. Seemed appropriate enough wish!). Line was very, very long but luckily was proceeding smoothly. Being quite cold water was very tasty at this heat. But to drink a lot of it you would need to get it a lot. Water flows so fast that when you put the cup there(which are btw cleaned by ultraviolet rays since people drink from cup straight up. Most pour water to hand and drink from that. Me included) most of water actually flies back off the cup leaving only little bit to bottom(first batch was enough to wash my hands. Second one was from where I drank).
Moving on. The LEAST active looking temple I have ever seen. Looked like deserted! Shohoji(temple of correct path/way). Grass hasn't been cut in ages. Wonder if this ISN'T abandoned temple? Does have web page though. Didn't see anybody there so obviously no stamp there. Obviously not tourist attraction either. If it's in use it's clearly by locals.
Quite long stairways there as well. Good exercise!
Another case of shrine and temple living next to next happily.
Kept moving north toward Kodaiji.
Actually jumped back a bit when I saw that one. That is HUGE Kannon statue. Considered going to see it but after Kodaiji never really had a chance. Path went too stray. Should have went there first.
Kodaiji is quite big place to explore and I got myself ticket to Entokuinen and related museum. Seems this temple was built by a women long long time ago.
You first had several buildings to walk through. Very interesting though as usual no photographs inside allowed(gardens fair game, inside not. Not quite sure why so? Wanting to keep photos of internet least people decide not to come since they have seen? Photographing(flash in particularly) could damage the items inside? Something else?). Then there was this garden outside.
This was just amazing looking stone garden. Pictures don't really make full justice since that white stone rubble is hard to catch to pictures but sheesh. Just great!
Walking these temples is quite refreshing. If Shikoku temples would be even near as good it would be great but I hear they are bit more modest(these ones were built basically for nobility. Shikoku ones for common folk. Logical enough Shikoku ones are more modest) so not expecting gardens like these there.
Walking inside bamboo forest on temple trip. Lovely.
With Kodaiji done I got myself vanilla/green tea ice cream. Very good actually. And eaten in a hurry since it was soft ice cream so basically melted to your mouth.
You could wish for...well basically good things by rubbing these two statues.
The Entokuteien had quite a beautiful garden. Glad I bought the more expensive ticket that had access to this as well.
I also visited the museum which was quite small one room place with various items related to Kodaiji. Old hand written letters were quite interesting for somebody studying Japanese. Couldn't really read. Too complex style for me to read! And old Japanese to boot.
Moving north I came across Yasaka shrine that I had visited on the first trip to Kyoto.
Could still remember quite well this statue.
Pushing onward I then proceeded toward Chionji.
Again impressive stairs and one big entrance gate!
Temples in Kyoto seem to often have beautifull gardens along them.
That picture does not give justice to the SIZE of that bell. It's HUGE. Gargantuan! Not sure I could even reach that wooden block to make sound of it. Wish I could hear that one.
The red letters indicate place to get the seal so I was following these when possible. Had now arrived to Shorenji.
Outside not much to look at. But inside was unusual temple in that it felt more like noble's home rather than temple.
Garden in as well. First you explore the maze of 4 buildings(I got lost couple times running into dead ends. Hopefully I saw it all) and then you go through the garden after which you get to the exit gate.
I just loved this garden. If I had own private house in Finland would like to try to get something along this line. Would be bloody expensive and hard to upkeep though.
This was bit smaller gong and you could freely play it out! So obviously I had to try it!
Didn't push it with full strength to avoid unnecessary nuisance to others though.
Was by now running short of time since stamp places generally close around 16:30-17:00. I rushed as hard as I could toward Nanzenji which was about last temple I could even in theory to reach in time.
Alas I was still bit late. Seems it closes on 16:45. I was there about 16:50. However I braved myself and asked if I at least could get the stamp. Couldn't get to explore insides but at least I got the stamp. Next chance would be 2018 at best. Better this than nothing I suppose. Just wish I had been able to get in time but all these big temple areas took quite a bit time. Didn't even eat during this 8 hour walk!
Nice little channel going on.
With this I was tired, hungry, DEFINITELY in need of a shower and felt that enough exploring for today. Many temples etc would be closed anyway leaving at most looking outside left. So I headed toward home which was good long walk away anyway. Stopping in for a shower and rest I later proceeded to do laundry before calling it a day.
While waiting for the 50 minute laundry program had good time to go get something to eat from konbini literally on opposite side of road. Chicken cutlet curry.
Tomorrow I'll be heading back toward Tokyo for last segment of a trip. Just meetings and settling in to new hotel booked up. Not too exciting to write about I expect.
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