Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Kyoto–Day 6

So I hit the road for my first full day in Kyoto.

IMG_1950

As you can see the weather was fine and a rather hot 27 degrees C. I headed east from my hotel.

IMG_1951

I crossed the Kamo River.

IMG_1952

I walked along Shichijo-dori towards the Sanjusangen-do temple.

IMG_1954

IMG_1953[5]

I think I paid about 600 Yen to gain entry.

IMG_1955

IMG_1956

IMG_1957

Apparently it is the longest wood structure in the world. They used to have archery competition along the veranda.  Apparently they still do but only once a year as a ceremony to honour tradition.

IMG_1958IMG_1959

It is certainly an impressive structure from the outside.

IMG_1960IMG_1961IMG_1963IMG_1964IMG_1965IMG_1966IMG_1967IMG_1968

IMG_1969IMG_1970

After skirting the exterior I removed my shoes and went inside. Again, unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos but one side of the hall is filled with rows and rows of statues (and that would be hundreds) and one large statue in centre which is of the god ‘Kannon’. There are 1,000 smaller statues of Kannon with 124 made in the 12th century and 876 made in the 13th century.

There are also 28 statues in front of the 1001 Kannon statues that protect the Buddhist deity Kannon.

IMG_1971IMG_1972IMG_1973

I continued my journey east and ran across more temples.

IMG_1974IMG_1975

Interestingly, many of these were quite active with some even conducting services inside.

IMG_1976IMG_1977IMG_1978

I came across a crowd of people heading up the hill and since that was in the general direction I wanted to head I followed along.

IMG_1979

At the end of the road was the Kiyomizu temple.

IMG_1980IMG_1981

The first sight is the gate which you walk through and head towards the temple.

IMG_1982

View back from the gate over Kyoto.

IMG_1983IMG_1984IMG_1985IMG_1986

IMG_1987

Near the gate is this pagoda.

From memory you pay 300 yen to enter the temple (which isn’t very much at all).

IMG_1988

This temple has an impressive veranda that is held together without a single nail.

IMG_1989IMG_1990IMG_1991IMG_1992

Impressive to think that there are no nail holding all those people up the veranda.

IMG_1993IMG_1994IMG_1995

The path then winds through a wonderful garden and makes it way back around to the front of the temple.

IMG_1996IMG_1997IMG_1998IMG_1999IMG_2000IMG_2001

IMG_2002

Back down the hill I went with everyone else.

IMG_2003

IMG_2004IMG_2005

After a few twists and turns I ended up at the Yasaka Pagoda. Note the Geisha in the front wearing green.

IMG_2006

Here’s an examples of the streets in the area.

IMG_2007

I then entered a memorial dedicated to the Japanese soldiers who dies in World War II. There is a small fee to enter and you also get an incense stick.

I also found an interesting memorial to all Allied soldiers killed in Japan during war (during their internment I believe). There is soil from these countries in a shelf off to teh side (including Australia).

IMG_2008

People were also heading up the hill here so I joined them.

IMG_2009

There seemed to be some sort of entry fee to go further up the hill so I kept going and found a path on the side that didn’t charge a fee.

IMG_2010

At the top were two temples and a graveyard.

IMG_2011IMG_2012

Interestingly, this area was far less trodden than the paid area (which you can see over a fence). It is therefore in much better condition.

IMG_2013

So back down the hill I headed again, snapping this outside a new museum.

IMG_2014IMG_2015IMG_2016IMG_2017IMG_2018

I continued through the street coming across many temples and other interesting sites.

IMG_2019IMG_2020IMG_2021

I also came across the big cemetery with great view across Kyoto.

IMG_2022IMG_2023

Yasaka Shrine

IMG_2024IMG_2025IMG_2026IMG_2027IMG_2028IMG_2029IMG_2030IMG_2031IMG_2032IMG_2033IMG_2034IMG_2035

IMG_2036IMG_2037IMG_2038IMG_2039IMG_2040

Heian ShrineIMG_2041IMG_2042IMG_2043IMG_2044IMG_2045IMG_2046IMG_2047IMG_2048IMG_2049IMG_2050

 

IMG_2051IMG_2052IMG_2053IMG_2054IMG_2055IMG_2056