Category Archives: Kyoto

4th February: Kyoto – Fushimi-Inari Taisha

Posted on April 19, 2012 by

On the way back from Nijo Castle I stopped in at Fushimi-Inari Taisha, a Shinto shrine just south of Kyoto on the railway line between Kyoto and Nara.  It’s very accessible because it’s very close to the railway station. This … Continue reading →

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4th February: Kyoto – Nijo Castle

Posted on April 16, 2012 by

Though staying in Nara, I caught the train to Kyoto and visited Nijo Castle. It’s important to pay attention to the signs.  Poets and students who might suddenly sit down on the road with their notepads to finish an essay … Continue reading →

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30th January: Kyoto to Kanazawa

Posted on February 3, 2012 by

It had been snowing in Kyoto each day, but only for a few hours each day and melting when it hit the ground.  Almost as soon as I left Kyoto on the train heading north for Kanazawa, there was snow … Continue reading →

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29th January: Kyoto – The Philosopher’s Path – Ginkakuji (The Silver Pavilion)

Posted on February 3, 2012 by

Finally, at the end of the path, I reached the Silver Pavilion.  This was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the grandson of the shogun who built the Golden Pavilion (Ashikaga Yoshimitsu).  It was planned in 1460 but due to the Onin … Continue reading →

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29th January: Kyoto – The Philosopher’s Path – Honen-In

Posted on February 2, 2012 by

On the way from Nanzen-Ji to Ginkakuji along the Philosopher’s Walk, I also dropped into Honen-In Temple which does not allow photographs inside the buildings.  However, I was particularly taken with the thatched gate leading to the temple past two … Continue reading →

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29th January: Kyoto – The Philosopher’s Path – Nanzen-Ji

Posted on February 1, 2012 by

Today I walked the Philosopher’s Path from south (Nanzen-Ji) to north (Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion).  Eminent Kyoto-based philosopher Nishida Kitaro used to walk it every day in the early 20th century. First port of call is the delightful Tenjuan Garden, … Continue reading →

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28th January: Kyoto – the Gion.

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

There were quite a few young women wearing kimonos amongst the crowd at the Kiyomizu-dera temple and in the Gion district below. They might have been Geisha, or Maikos (apprentice Geisha) or probably just young women wearing traditional dress. The … Continue reading →

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28th January: Kyoto – Kiyomizu-dera

Posted on January 30, 2012 by

Today I took train and bus to visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple,  more than a thousand years old, high on a hill overlooking Kyoto. The road to the temple goes through the Higashiyama area, which is a traditional location for artisans including … Continue reading →

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27th January: Kyoto – Ryoanji

Posted on January 29, 2012 by

On the way back from Kinkaku-Ji, I visited Ryoan-Ji, a Zen Temple mainly famed for its dry rock garden. The garden and pond dates back to the 12th century. The red structure you can see through the trees is a … Continue reading →

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27th January: Kyoto – Kinkaku-Ji (the Golden Pavilion)

Posted on January 29, 2012 by

Kyoto is a city of around 1.5 million people and is not far from Osaka, a very large city.  There are many charming side streets with elegant houses and exquisite trees but this is not what we have here, instead, … Continue reading →

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