Toshodaiji in fall

Toshodaiji and Yakushiji are five-minute walk away to each other. Both are good to look at the Buddhist statues and their halls and pagodas are architecturally interesting. I especially liked to see Miroku Buddha with a hand sign called Sokuchi-in or Goma-in. A finger looks like touching the ground, signifying that the Buddha is conquering evil influences.

Precisely speaking. Miroku is not yet Buddha but in long training. Sometimes, however, they are already referred to as Buddha. I took time to see Miroku in the Buddha status very closely.

Kofukuji pagodas

Kofukuji lost a lot over its history of 1300 years but the temple still has two pagodas. One is so grand that nobody can miss. 

The other is a three-storied pagoda standing in the corner of the temple quietly and attracts only a small number of visitors. None the less, it was built more than 800 years ago and one of the precious old buildings the temple retains. Here are the pics.

Find Nejiri Manpo tunnel in kyoto

This is my favorite. Good to go to Nanzenji temple through this skew arch tunnel. Feel strange in the tunnel. It's fun.This is part of the constructions related to Lake Biwa Aquaduct. The water channels connecting Lake Biwa and Kyoto provided the city with better transportation, irrigation, hydroelectric power, and drinking water. This was necessary for Kyoto's modernization and revitalization after Kyoto lost the emperor who left for Tokyo in 1869. Find this in Kyoto. This is your mission impossible!

Rock Garden in fall

Here's the rock garden at Ryoanji temple in fall. Seasonal transitions are vividly felt in the Japanese gardens regardless of their styles. 

This is also a garden at Ryoanji, showing an older aristocratic elegance. Don't miss walking around the large pond after your meditation at the rock garden. 

Shimenawa watching is fun

The scenery the other way around with Futakami
 Mountain seen in a distance is also good

This is at Hibara Jinja shinto shrine lying on the ancient trail called Yamanobe-no-michi (the trail along the foot of the hills), Nara prefecture, the oldest trail in written history in Japan. In ancient times, Nara was mostly a large lake and trails were formed along it. Part of the trails which remain to this day is called Yamanobe-no-michi. It's nearly 20 kilometers and an easy hiking is enjoyed. This is where you can experience the DNA of Japanese sentiment, perhaps.

This rope and tassels is called shimenawa. One interesting way to make your journey unique will be to keep records of the shimenawa ropes you saw while in Japan. Since there are shrines everywhere, there are shimenawa ropes of many kinds though they look similar and have the same aura around it. 

This shrine is also called Moto-Ise, or Original Ise because it is believed that Goddess Amaterasu was here before she moved to Ise. Note: there are several places called Moto-Ise, as is often the case. 

The shrine has an attractive torii gate which looks like three gates combined. This will be another way to make your journey memorable: keep records of the torii gates you saw on the trip. 

Mitsu-torii, not seen commonly

Three-storied pagoda @ Yakushiji

West Pagoda rebuilt by NISHIOKA

Each extending roof is double-roofed so at a glance the pagoda looks like six-storied but this is a three-storied pagoda at Yakushiji temple in Nishi-no-kyo, Nara prefecture. Note: three-storied does not mean there are three floors but simply put there's the first floor and the rest is an attic where beams and pillars are combined. 

The temple has two three-storied pagodas standing in a symmetrical manner on the premises. One is from the 8th century and the other was rebuilt in 1981 supervised by late master carpenter NISHIOKA Tsunekazu whom I truly admire.

The old east pagoda will be covered for several years for restoration but the new west pagoda was what I intended to see this time. NISHIOKA had the great opportunities to rebuild two historical pagodas in Nara to try out his mastery of constructing old temple and shrine buildings. 

It seems the traditional techniques and excellent nature of wood are reevaluated and more pagodas are now being built of wood rather than concrete. 

Wood, as timber, is still alive and wooden buildings last longer if their true nature is understood by architects and carpenters in charge.

The west pagoda is currently taller than the old east pagoda, but they will be of the same height in 500 years according to NISHIOKA.

All the ginkgo leaves turned yellow

The tall one

Nishi-hongan-ji is one destination that amplifies your impression of Kyoto. You are not asked to pay for your visit and are free to enter their halls. Temple people are kind and helpful. The English brochures and books are available. It's a thriving working temple instead of just being a historical legacy for tourists. Of course, Kyoto's temples are all active including those packed with tourists. Many of them are worth visiting but this spacious open-minded temple will be good for a refreshing change.

The temple now hosts wedding ceremonies. You might be lucky enough to see a couple. I saw an international couple in traditional wedding attire and everybody there were so excited to see the newly-wed. 

There is a free temple tour that you are asked to register in advance. It's free but your contribution will be appreciated so that the temple can use it for the preservation of their cultural assets. During the tour, you are shown the areas off limits to the general public. You will see their important rooms, corridors, paintings, a Noh stage with interesting tricks (you can't see the pine tree painted on the backboard of the stage first but you see it once you moved to some point - let me make this a secret). Photography is not allowed so you just have to see and remember them well. But that would not be so bad, focusing on seeing without being distracted by anything else. It is done in Japanese but a knowledgeable guide can guide you well in accordance with the tour progress. Count me as one of the knowledgeable guides. 

They have two huge ginkgo trees. One is very tall; the other is not tall but unique because its branches look like roots spreading in the air. Ginkgo trees contain lots of water and many anecdotes remain all across the country that they saved the temples and houses behind. Here too it is believed that this shorter tree spewed out water and put out a fire.  

                                                     Here's the one.