My Saturday in Kyoto started at Kinkakuji (Golden Temple). This structure was built originally in the 14th century, but was burnt down in the 1950s, and rebuilt soon thereafter.
Nearby I stopped at Ryoanji, famous for its Zen garden. The temple grounds also had beautiful moss gardens, and a large pond with many lotus flowers (in bloom in July!) and water lillies.
In the afternoon I went to Kiyomizudera, a temple complex originally dating from 798, but with structures dating from the 17th century. This temple was interesting for peoplewatching- there were hordes of domestic and foreign tourists tromping around the temple grounds on a very muggy and hot day. A highlight of visiting the temple is the shopping lane that leads up to it and drinking the sacred water that one waits in a 15 minute line for. But- now I should have a long and healthy life, and the water did taste fantastic after standing out in the hot sun (bottom picture). Definitely an interesting place to observe religion, tourism, and commerce meet.
In the evening I visited the Fushimi Inari shrine, where there was a lantern festival! It was great fun to wander the shrine grounds, which are known for the many hundreds of torii (gates) by the light of what seemed like thousands of lanterns. There was traditional music, many street vendors selling delicious food, and many people wearing beautiful yukata (summer kimono). :)
No comments:
Post a Comment