Rodney Campbell's Blog

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺?, literally “Temple of the Golden Pavilion”), is perhaps the most photographed building in all Japan. It is one of the most popular buildings in Japan, attracting a large number of visitors annually. It is designated as a National Special Historic Site and a National Special Landscape, and it is one of 17 locations making up the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which are World Heritage Sites.

The Golden Pavilion

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Kinkakuji is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Golden

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After viewing Kinkakuji from across the pond, the path leads you around and behind the building and then leads through the temple’s gardens which have retained their original design from Yoshimitsu’s days.

Kinkakuji

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Unlike my first visit here more than thirty five years ago it was of course very crowded. I still remember coming here as a child with my mother. How things have changed. Back then tourism was non-existent. We’d be able to visit all of these same fabulous, amazing temples and other than a few monks walking about we’d be the only souls there. Entry to all of them was also free – unlike today where it’s very commercial.

Still the gardens and buildings are amazing even if you do have to battle the crowds of local and foreign tourists.

Ryoanji Temple (龍安寺) is the site of Japan’s most famous rock garden. My relatives arrived in the early morning to whisk us away on a day of exploration through some of Kyoto’s most treasured locations.

The temple’s name is synonymous with the temple’s famous “Zen garden”, the karesansui (dry landscape) rock garden, thought to have been built in the late 15th century.

Zen

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The garden consists of a rectangular plot of pebbles surrounded by low earthen walls, with 15 rocks laid out in small groups on patches of moss. An interesting feature of the garden’s design is that from any vantage point at least one of the rocks is always hidden from the viewer.

The temple and its gardens are listed as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Ryoanji Temple

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Then it was on to the nearby Golden Pavilion.

One of my mothers cousins lives in the nearby city of Osaka. He had very generously arranged to spend time with us and along with my uncle who would join us from the next day, would be our personal local tour guides and interpreters for our stay.

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It was great having people who could get us everywhere we wanted to go quickly and painlessly. We were very thankful for all the time and care that was taken by all our relatives in looking after us during our stay.

The area around Kiyomizudera Temple is mercantile and touristy but you do have to see it. Half way back down you can turn right and walk down Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka (two amazing preserved streets), eventually ariving Maruyama Park to enjoy some greenery.

Walking Back Through Time

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Walking down these streets is like stepping way back in time to a different era. It was amazing to see how many people would be walking around in traditional garb. So many women, young and old, dressed in colourful kimono’s set amongst these fabulous old buildings.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Tranquil Echoes

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Restfull

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It was getting late so we headed into Gion for dinner. Gion is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district, located around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamo River in the west.

After dinner we strolled back to our accommodation. Wandering through the high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses. Walking in the cool of the early evening we’d see a few fantastically dressed maiko (apprentice geisha) flit about the back streets on their way to their appointments.

Evening Lanterns

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The end of our first day in Kyoto. A place where you truly feel like you’ve stepped back through time.

Kiyomizudera (清水寺, literally “Pure Water Temple”) is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall’s pure waters. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water.

The Water Temple

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The Otowa Waterfall is located at the base of Kiyomizudera’s main hall. Its waters are divided into three separate streams, and visitors use cups attached to long poles to drink from them. It is said that drinking the water brings you good fortune. Each stream’s water is said to have a different benefit, namely to cause longevity, success at school and a fortunate love life.

It was founded in the early Heian period. Its present buildings were constructed in 1633, ordered by the Tokugawa Iemitsu. There is not a single nail used in the entire structure.

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Looking Back In Time

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Kyoto (京都市) is a city located in the central part of the island of Honshu, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. It was formerly the Imperial capital of Japan for more than one thousand years. Kyoto is also known as the thousand-year capital.

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If there was one city in Japan you wanted to see and experience the beauty of olden day Japan then this is the place.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

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Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today. A short walk from just about anywhere will take you past numerous temples and shrines.

We’d planned to stay in the beautiful city of Kyoto for four days. As in Tokyo we’d booked ourselves a nice little place via AirBnB.

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The place we were staying was very conveniently located within walking distance of a number of interesting places. This included a number of fabulous temples and grounds as well as one of the main centres of Kyoto, Gion. It was also close to one of the most fabulous temples in Kyoto – the famed Kiyomizu-dera.

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This temple has amazing picturesque views, it is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. The main hall, which together with the stage was built without the use of nails.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

The Temple Stage

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I remember coming here to this place as a child so as soon as we’d settled into our accomodation we went for a walk up the hill to visit.