Kyoto

Just a quick trip on the Shinkansen from Tokyo is Kyoto, which served as the home of the emperor and capital of Japan from 794 - 1868. The city was the scene of major battles between samurai back in the 15th-16th centuries, but was spared the destructive bombing of WWII and is home to some of the finest examples of pre-war architecture in Japan. It is home to 1600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines. Here are some of the highlights:




Kiyomizu-dera
Begun in 798, the current buildings date back to 1633. No nails were used in the construction. Kiyomizu means "pure water", and people line up to drink from three waterfalls that can grant wisdom, health and longevity- but don't get greedy and try for all three, as that can bring bad luck. An adjacent Shinto shrine contains a statue of the god Okuninushi, who can bring good love matches. None of our group visited him, since we already have perfect matches.


The guy with the red cape is Jizo, a deity who protects children. He's popular guy.


Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, dates back to 1397. The original was destroyed by fire in the 1950's, so the current building dates only to 1955. Gilt in gold, it reminds me of my own home.




At Ryoan-ji you can find one of the most famous Zen gardens in the world. The raked gravel (represneting water?) and 15 strategically place rocks help the viewer to move toward enlightenment. Only 14 of the rocks are visible from any angle, suggesting that completion is never really possible.























Ninna-ji is a Buddhist temple famous for its five story pagoda and a Zen garden. The original was destroyed in the 15th century and rebuilt 150 years later.

The Heian Shrine is a Shinto shrine built in 1895. It was designed to resemble the Imperial Palace, and features a huge torii gate and a garden that was featured in the film "Lost in Translation". Here Laura substitutes for Scarlett Johansson.