Japan: Kyoto IV - Kodaji Temple
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
There are many temples in the Higashiyama area, and this is merely one of which that we visited because there's light-up during the summer. Located up a steep mini hill, you might miss it if you weren't looking.
This is a temple that is calming to the senses, and with every step, the scenery just changes before your eyes . It's the same trees, same houses, but it just looks like a different picture every few step of the way.
A pleasant walk that takes about one hour. There are friendly guides along each of the houses, but they speak Japanese. These awesome guides were standing in the cold with friendly smiles on their faces. Kudos!
This is a Zen Buddhism temple, and one unique feature of Zen temples is their rock garden. This rock garden consisting of a large field of raked gravel meant to represent the vast ocean.
It was established in 1606 in memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan's greatest historical figures, by Hideyoshi's wife Nene who is also enshrined at the temple.
Up on the hillside behind the temple lies a mausoleum for Hideyoshi and Nene. The interior is richly decorated with special lacquerwork, known as Kodaiji Makie, that features designs of powdered gold and silver set in lacquer, a technique that Kodaiji is famous for.
I mentioned night light-up didn't I? Haha. Well, it's very difficult to take a good night shot without the tripod, so here's the ones taken before the sun sets totally.
After a really long walking day, we are back at Kyoto's Porta Underground for dinner. The simplest and cheapest meal you can find in Japan is the Udon. The clear refreshing soup is like a breathe of fresh air after a heavy meal. I chose the Seaweed Plum flavour. Simple and calming.
Good night folks! Kinkakuji Temple up next!
Information from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3927.html
Comments