As I took my first step into Kyoto, I knew at once, that it was going to be fascinating. I had spend some time reading about Kyoto and its numerous temples, shrines and gardens, so I couldn't help but had this great anticipation.
With child-like eagerness, my wife and I embarked on the way to our first historical attraction in Kyoto.
We arrived at Sannenzaka (三年坂), a stone-paved pedestrian road that is lined with traditional buildings and shops.
Sannenzaka
This road is often paired with the more well-known Ninenzaka. Both roads lead to our destination.
When I finally come face-to-face with the Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺), it was such a breath-taking moment. Despite seeing the image of the temple umpteen times online, to really see it in the flesh, it's nothing short of mind-blowing.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
To me, arm-chair traveling is just not the same.
Kyoto is no doubt the cultural capital of Japan and is home to 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites which include 13 Buddhist temples, 3 Shinto shrines and a castle. So how did this come about?
Kyoto is old. In fact, it is the oldest city in Japan and was chosen by the emperors of Japan to be its capital for 1,075 years since 794. Hence Kyoto is also known as the Thousand-year Capital (千年の都).
The city was also spared from major destruction during the Second World War, unlike other Japanese cities. An interesting fact is Kyoto was initially selected by the United States as a target for an atomic bomb. It was believed that the loss of this important city was great enough to persuade Japan to surrender. Fortunately, the then US Secretary of War, Henry Stimson, argued successfully against it, having visited Kyoto a few times for diplomatic reasons and spending his honeymoon there.
Fast forward to the present day, Kyoto is a leading tourist destination with 50 million visitors before Covid-19 struck. If you have just a few days to spare in Kyoto, it will not be possible for you to speed-visit all 17 World Heritage Sites, so here are 6 of my favourites sites. One man's poison is another man's meat, so take this with an ample dose of salt!
Without further ado, let's begin our adventure with where we have left off earlier, Kiyomizu-dera.
No. 1 Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺)
Kiyomizu-dera was founded 1,250 years ago by a priest from Nara who received a vision to construct the temple next to the Otowa spring.
The temple's present buildings were constructed in 1633 by the Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu.
It is best known for its wooden stage that overlooks the beautiful maple and cherry trees which erupt into a riot of red, orange and yellow during autumn and spring.
The Hondi (Main Hall)
The Hondo (Main Hall) and the wooden stage structure was put together without using any nails.
The popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is equivalent to the English expression "to take the plunge". The Japanese took this quite literally with the tradition that if one were to survive the 13-metre jump from the Kiyomizu stage, one's wish would be granted, that's if you survive. Of the 234 jumps recorded, 85% survived. Thankfully, this practice was prohibited in 1872.
Three-storeyed Pagoda
The three-storeyed Pagoda is one of the tallest of its kind in Japan, at 31 metres high. The current structure dates back to a re-construction in 1633.
No 2. Toji Temple (东寺)
Toji Temple or the "East Temple" was founded in 826 just after the capital was moved to Kyoto from Nara. It is the tallest pagoda in Japan at 55 metres. The large temple together with its sister temple Saiji (西寺), which was burnt down in 1233, flanked the south entrance of Kyoto City and served as the guardian temples.
The entrance to the Toji Temple
Kondo (Main Hall)
The Kondo or the main hall is the largest structure in To-ji. It was built in the 8th Century, burnt down in 1486 and re-built in 1603.
There are three statues in the hall with The Yakushi Nyorai, also known as the Buddha of Medicine in the centre. He is flanked by Nikko Bosatu and Gakko Bosatsu, who were his attendants.
Silhouette of the Five-storeyed Pagoda
The pagoda is a structure used to house relics of the historical Buddha. Four Buddhas statues, facing in four different directions, are located on the ground level. The inside of the pagoda is normally closed to the public.
The Five-storeyed Pagoda with the Hyotan Pond in the foreground
Since the 9th Century, the pagoda was burnt down 4 times, with the current one built in 1644. But through the centuries, the pagoda was never knocked down by an earthquake. Apparently, it was designed to absorb the vibrations of earthquakes through the interlocked parts of the pagoda and the vibration could also gradually dispersed as they moved to the higher parts of the pagoda, in a motion known as the "snake dance".
No 3. Kinkaku-ji Temple (金閣寺)
Kinkaku-ji is also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion and has its history traces back to 1397. It was the retirement villa of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and he had ordered it to be converted into a Zen Temple after his death.
The top two floors of Kinkaku-ji is completely covered in gold leaf and it had inspired the construction of Ginkaku-ji (Temple of the Silver Pavilion) by his grandson Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa on the other side of the city a few decades later.
The Golden Pavilion
The Golden Pavilion was burnt down quite a few times throughout its history including a recent one in 1950 set by a monk with mental illness. The present building was re-constructed in 1955.
No 4. Ginkaku-ji Temple (銀閣寺)
Ginkaku-ji, also known as the Silver Pavilion, is a Zen temple built in the 15th century by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa.
Ginkaku-ji is famous for its beautiful gardens, which are designed to be viewed from the temple's main hall. The gardens feature a variety of plants and trees, as well as a large pond and a sand garden. The sand garden, also known as the Sea of Silver Sand, is particularly noteworthy for its intricate patterns and designs.
The temple's main hall is a two-story building that houses several important cultural artifacts. Among these is a statue of the temple's founder, Ashikaga Yoshimasa. The main hall also contains several paintings and calligraphy works by famous artists of the time.
The Silver Pavilion
One of the most distinctive features of Ginkaku-ji is its "moon viewing platform," which offers views of the temple's gardens and the surrounding area. The platform is said to have been built as a place for Yoshimasa to enjoy the moon's reflection on the pond, and it remains a popular spot for visitors to take in the view.
Ginkaku-ji is also known for its association with the tea ceremony. The temple is said to be one of the places where the tea ceremony was first developed and it continues to be an important centre for the study and practice of the tea ceremony.
The view from the hill behind the buildings
The temple's history, beautiful gardens and unique features make Ginkaku-ji a must-see destination for visitors to Kyoto.
No 5. Ryoan-ji (龍安寺)
Ryoan-ji temple is considered one of the most famous Zen temples in the world. It is known for its beautiful and serene rock garden, which is considered to be one of the most famous examples of the karesansui (dry) style of gardening.
The garden leading to Ryoan Temple
Kuri, the main building of the Ryoan Temple
The temple was founded in the 15th century and was originally a villa for a powerful nobleman. It was later converted into a temple and was used as a place for Zen meditation and training.
The rock garden, which is considered the main attraction of the temple, was created in the late 15th century and is believed to have been designed by the famous Zen master, Soami.
The Rock Garden
The rock garden is a rectangular space that is approximately 25 metres long and 10 metres wide. It is surrounded by a low wall and is divided into two sections. The larger section is filled with white gravel and is home to 15 rocks of various sizes. The smaller section is planted with moss and is home to a small pond.
The layout of the rocks in the garden is considered to be a mystery and is said to have many different interpretations. Some say that the layout represents the islands of Japan, while others say that it represents the Buddhist concept of enlightenment.
The Rock Garden
It's also said that the garden is designed so that visitors can experience a sense of peace and tranquility and the garden is meant to be viewed from a single viewpoint that is located on the veranda of the Hojo (Abbot's Quarters).
The Hojo (Abbot's Quarters)
Ryoan-ji temple is open to visitors year-round and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. It is a great place to visit for those interested in Zen Buddhism and Japanese culture. The temple also offers a variety of other features, including a tea garden, a traditional Japanese garden and a small museum that houses artifacts from the temple's history.
No 6. Nijo Castle (二条城)
Nijo Castle was built in the 17th century by the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, and served as the residence of the shogun during their visits to Kyoto. The castle is also known as "Nijojo" in Japanese.
Higashi Ore-Mon Gate, the main gate to the castle
The castle is divided into two main areas: the Honmaru (Main Circle) and the Ninomaru (Second Circle).
The Honmaru is the main palace, which was used by the shogun for important ceremonies and meetings.
The Ninomaru is a secondary palace, which was used by the shogun's officials and retainers.
Kara-mon Gate, the entrance to the Ninomaru-goten Palace
One of the most notable features of the castle is its "nightingale" floors. These floors were designed to make a chirping noise when walked on, which served as a security measure to alert the shogun and his guards of any intruders.
The castle also features beautiful gardens, including the Ninomaru Garden, which is known for its cherry blossoms in the spring. The garden also features a pond, a tea house, and a small waterfall.
Seven-stone Garden
These are my favourite 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. So if you really have limited time in Kyoto, you may want to consider these options.
Till my next blog, have a good time traveling!
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