nerv.org.uk - Japan Photos 1: Kyoto


Japan Photos 1: Kyoto

Murin-an Garden	Yasakonoto Pagoda

The Imperial Capital of Japan for a thousand years until it moved to Tokyo in the 19th century, Kyoto is a beautiful city if you can ignore the modern centre. Walking the quiet back streets is fascinating, there's an ancient temple or walled garden around every corner and even a few Maiko - ornately dressed young Geisha - around the Gion and Pontocho districts in the evenings.

Kinkakuji Temple

Is this the most photographed view in Japan? Kinkakuji temple, the Golden Pavillion (and that is real gold) has an interesting history: built long ago as a wealthy lord's country manor and converted to a Zen Buddhist temple after his death, it was burnt down by a mad monk in 1950. Just five years later it had been rebuilt from the ashes, like the phoenix on top of the roof.

< Fushimi Inari

Featured in the anime Rurouni Kenshin, Fushimi Inari is a complex of Shinto shrines on the side of a mountain, connected by tunnels of Torii gates. By the time I had got to the summit and seen the shrine to the right, a thunderstorm had started and as I discovered while getting lost on the way down, those gates don't keep the rain off the path - they concentrate it.

The garden to the right is at Nijo Castle, once inhabited by the Shogun (old military leader of Japan). Only women were permitted to enter his quarters - being the most powerful man in the land had it's advantages.

Nijo Castle Garden

Himeji Castle	Early fire protection system
Supposed to be the finest of the few remaining original castles in Japan, Himeji never saw action, but it's many cunning defences must have made invasion impossible. Attackers would have had to negotiate the dead ends and hidden turnings of the maze up to the keep, while being shot by arrows from the slits above. Luckily it's easier to get in these days. The 6-foot high fish statues on the roof were meant to protect against fire, as a wooden building probably it's only vunerability.
A Nara Deer	Todaiji Temple
Not far from Kyoto, Nara is famous for it's herds of deer which are as tame as cats, so used to tourists they'll eat out of your hand. The building on the right is Todaiji temple, apparently the largest wooden building in Japan, and home to an almost as large statue of the Buddah. I think I chose the same day to visit Nara as every school child in Japan, and most of them wanted to practise their English on me. Go on to part 2: Tokyo Main Japan Page