The former army clothing depot should be preserved

Next to the depot stand ordinary houses

The former army clothing depot in Hiroshima remains to this day. Being 2.7 km away from the hypocenter, it withstood the atomic blast on August 6, 1945. I rode a bike along it and completely overwhelmed. This historic complex of four buildings which form a large letter L has to be preserved. The complex is visible from a major street but come closer and look at it right there. This eloquently talks to us about the history of the city more than photos or books. Then naturally you would like to know what it was and start learning by yourself. 

Read the articles on the sites of arch-hiroshima and hiroshima peace media center to know more about this installation.

Shin-nyo-do gardens

Shin-nyo-do main hall & three storied pagoda

the newer garden designed by SHIGEMORI's grandson

Here are the photos of the gardens you can see if you pay and go beyond the main hall of the temple called Shin-nyo-do. The large premises of the temple themselves are worth a visit but the interior tour was worth paying for. Not crowded at all, especially because it was a cold winter day, but even in high seasons of Kyoto, the area is relatively quiet. The remains of autumn foliage were still enjoyed when I went there in December. If you try, you can find such places in Kyoto. That's the wealth of the ancient capital. 

the garden of nirvana

The SHIGEMORI Mirei Garden Museum

Feel the seashore

It was on a cold winter day in Kyoto. I had applied for the visit to the Garden Museum where the gardens and the tea ceremony room SHIGEMORI designed can be seen. I kind of love the places for which you have to make a reservation in advance. I saw the similarity between the larger garden I saw on that day and the garden at Kamoizumi Brewery in Saijo, Higashi-hiroshima where I live. These gardens were made in the same period of time, in the middle of the 20th century by SHIGEMORI. The flat brownish stones and white gravels make an interesting seashore in both gardens. The design of the sliding doors reminded me of that of the Katsura Detached Palace.

After the visit to the museum near Kyoto University, I walked around Yoshida Shrine, which looks like a backyard of the university, and Shin-nyo-do, where I happened to go inside the halls and see clean refined temple rooms, drawings on the sliding doors, and two impressive gardens. I'm so glad I spontaneously decided to pay for the visit. The temple person sounded very kind and warm. He and other staff members talk to the visitors. So good to have a house tour with a friendly guide who talks well.

You can walk more around there. Ginkaku-ji temple and other places along the Philosopher's Walk is not so far away. I'd love to go back and walk more.

On this URL are the photos of the garden museum. Enjoy.