Traditional Japanese Garden - Ginkakuji, Kyoto
Shoguns, Bonsais And Zen Tranquility
It is the ancient capital of Japan. Its history is very rich with warriors, emperors and shoguns. There are so many beautiful temples, gardens and palaces. Coincidentally, it’s Japan’s seventh largest city. Kyoto is one place that managed to strike a balance between the ultra-modern and the ancient traditional way of Japanese living. I visited this place only knowing that this was Japan’s old capital before Tokyo, yet I had no idea on what to expect.
While I was on the plane to Osaka, I was still frantically reading the guidebook I borrowed from a friend of mine. I had no clue what I can see in Kyoto and where to go. I just boarded the plane and hoped for the best. It was a total last minute decision as I managed to get great last minute deals from Sydney to Osaka, and it was too good to refuse! I was fortunate enough to be seated next to this Japanese student who was returning home to Kyoto from her 2 years of English studies in Hobart. She asked for help in filling out the immigration forms, and I helped her out. Our conversation then led to asking where she lives and then I asked for tips on what to see and do in Kyoto. She was really kind enough to tell me where to go and what to see.
Getting There
Kyoto is about an hour on the train from Osaka. The closest airport is Osaka. From Kansai International Airport, you can take either the JR Express train to Osaka, and then change to the JR Kyoto line. Alternatively, you can take the slower train to Umeda, from where you have to change to Shin Osaka to take the JR Kyoto line. I was glad I had my newfound friend helping me onmy way to Kyoto, as the train lines can be very confusing if you’re not familiar with the place, and especially if you can’t read and speak Japanese! The vending machines for the tickets are all in Japanese, and the only signs that are in English are the train stations. If you opt for the slower way, it will take you an hour and a half to get to Kyoto, or 2 hours if you miss some connections.
Temples And Gardens To See
Kyoto is full of great temples and gardens. Nearly each temple would have a lovely traditional Japanese garden. The gardens are so simple yet so pleasing and calming to the senses. The essence of a Japanese garden is really in its simplicity and harmony with its natural surroundings. Here are some of my favourite temples and gardens to see in Kyoto:
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu Temple - Kyoto
This wooden temple is located up in the hills surrounding Kyoto, and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Japan. The name Kiyomizu means clear and pure water and the history of the temple dates back to 798 A.D. It has been rebuilt since and the current structure dates back to 1633. What makes this temple unique is that it doesn’t use any nails to hold the entire building structure! It’s all made of well-crafted hinges that locks the planks of wood to each other. Considering that this has been in existence for centuries, this is very remarkable for a wooden structure, as they easily get destroyed by fire, earthquakes or perhaps termites and natural decay.
One awesome feature of this temple is the view that you get of the entire city of Kyoto. It’s a very peaceful place to visit (if you can avoid the times that the tourists flock in) and if arrive early in the morning, you are more guaranteed for it to be quieter. There is a waterfall that can be seen from the nearby hills, and this is where the name Kiyomizu came from.
Kinkakuji Temple
Kinkakuji - Kyoto
Kinkakuji (The Golden Pavillion) is a Zen Buddhist Temple that was originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for a local shogun before being converted into a Zen Buddhist temple. The current structure is actually rebuilt in 1955, after a monk tried to commit suicide by burning down the original structure in 1950. The current structure is gilded with gold-leaf, and has a much thicker coat of gold than that of the original structure.
This golden temple sits in front of a big pond, and surrounded by some gorgeous Japanese gardens. Visitors cannot go inside the temple, but you can go close to it and have a closer look at the 3-story pagoda structure.
Ryoanji Temple and Rock Garden
Ryoanji - Kyoto
Ryoanji is another Zen Buddhist temple that is well known for its rock garden. This temple is another UNESCO World Heritage site. The rock garden is thought to have been built in the late 1400s. It is comprised of raked gravel and 15 moss covered rocks. The rectangular garden has been designed such that only 14 rocks are visible at any angle (apart from an aerial view) when viewing the garden. The simplicity and stark dry landscape of the garden creates a stunning and calming presence while viewing the gardens. This is one of those zen gardens that would be perfect to just sit and reflect and meditate on.
Ginkakuji Temple
Sand Garden in Ginkakuji Temple - Kyoto
Ginkakuji (The Temple of the Silver Pavillion) was built originally as another place of rest and solitude by one of the shoguns in the 1400s. It eventually was turned into a Zen Buddhist temple. There were initial plans of putting a silver foil on the exterior, but this did not materialise. Yet, the name “Silver Pavillion” or Ginkaku-ji stuck with it through the centuries. At the front of the temple complex is a beautifully crafted sand garden. It has a fan-shaped design carved on it and a conical mound of sand that is thought to represent Mount Fuji at one end of the garden. As with the other temples, Ginkakuji is surrounded by a magnificent Japanese garden, which I thought looks much better than the Kinkakuji temple.
Nijo Castle
Kyoto - Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle may not be a temple, but this structure is worth a mention for its gardens and the unique way some of the buildings have been built. This castle was built by the Tokugawa Shogunate in the 1600s, and was the residence of the Tokugawa Shoguns. Nijo Castle has 2 concentric rings of fortifications around the castle, consisting of a wall and a wide moat. Inside the castle are several palaces, the most distinguished one is the Ninomaru Palace. There are several rooms for meeting and greeting visitors, depending on the rank and position of the person arriving. What is unique about the Ninomaru Palace is the way the wooden floors in the corridors are built. They are called “Nightingale Floors” and it is all because they made a squeaking sound with every step you make. It was designed as a warning system in case assassins enter the palace at night.
The castle grounds have numerous great gardens, the most impressive one being the Ninomaru Gardens just outside the Ninomaru Palace. The garden has a large pond with 3 islands in the middle, each having stones carefully laid out with a pine tree on them. The gardens are definitely worth the visit.
When visiting Kyoto (as with the rest of Japan), the best time would have to be during the Cherry Blossom festival (known as the Sakura festival). The cherry blossoms make the temple gardens look very pretty with its bright pink, white and red colours. It is, however more expensive at this time of the year, as it is the most popular time for tourists. If you want a great bargain, you would have to come in the early part of the rainy season (June), as the weather is generally warm, but the rain and potential cyclone discourages the tourists from visiting.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. Til the next Fabulous Journeys!
Authors bio is coming up shortly.
