Kyoto, part two

While in Kyoto, we visited Ryooan-ji temple, which includes a very famous Zen rock garden.  There are fifteen rocks, but it is said that from any given position, you can see only fourteen of the rocks.  We counted and found that to be true.  To enter the garden, you pay a small fee, remove your shoes and put on plastic slippers they provide, and then try to find an open spot to quietly view the garden.  We felt very lucky that it wasn't too crowded.

The rocks and raked gravel are meant to symbolize either mountaintops peaking out of the mist, or islands in the ocean.  Most historians agree that the rocks were placed by a man named Soami around 1450.   It is Japan's most famous "hiri-niwa" (a flat garden, without hills or ponds).


Our favorite rock garden, though, was Kodaiji.  A guide explained that although the garden design is usually changed regularly, they decided to leave this design for the whole year, after the earthquake and tsunami.  This design depicts two dragons.  Dragons are said to be able to hold down, to calm, the earth.

For lunch one day we ate at a traditional noodle shop.  We took off our shoes, sat on the tatami (straw) floor, and we were definitely the only Westerners there!

From Kyoto we traveled to Hiroshima - stay tuned for photos of our time there!

Kyoto, part one

Noelle snapped this photo of an elusive Geisha in Kyoto

Over the winter break, we decided to travel a bit within Japan.  Noelle is with us, and it's great to be all together again for a few weeks.  Noelle took lots of pictures, some of which I am including here.

We traveled by bullet train, and spent a few days in Kyoto.  Kyoto was the ancient capital of Japan, and it is still the cultural center of Japan.  We had a great time.  We walked and walked, and saw lots of interesting shrines and temples.  Our first stop was Fushimi Inari Shrine. 

One giant Tori at the entrance gives a hint of what is to be found further up the incline.

If the fortune you receive is negative, leave it tied here and try again another time.

The fox is an important symbol in Japan.  This fox is holding corn - an important harvest symbol. 

Bamboo forest - it was magical!

Next we headed to Kiyomizu Dera.  Noelle snapped this photo of a spring where visitors drink the sacred waters.  There are three streams and it is considered greedy to drink from more than one.  But each spring represents different things, so people have to choose between luck in love, success in school, or a long life.  The line was so very long that we opted for none of the above!

We also visited Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, one of the most famous sites in Kyoto. Noelle took some beautiful photos.

Amazing that at the end of December, there are still leaves on the trees!

The last of the persimmons are still clinging to their branches.