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When
you first arrive in Kyoto, it is very difficult not to be impressed
with its modern and extremely imposing train station. Despite what
you might think, it's very easy to navigate around inside this monstrosity.
Trains on the bottom, eateries on the top level. The topl level has
a platform where all types of special events are held. In the two
photos below, one of the shrines of Gion Matsuri is on display
and a dance is performed in its honor. |
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next few photos are from a temple called Eikan-do, or Honen-in. The
temple has some pleasant gardents and an interesting story is told
about its central image of worship. |
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The
main area of the temple is surrounded by walkways through a garden,
in traditional Japanese fashion.
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are two stories that circulate about this statue. Both maintain that
at one time the buddha looked straight forward. The first story tells
of a young monk who was jiving or dancing and suddenly became self
conscious when he thought he was being watched. He stopped, and the
statue turned around and told him to keep jiving. The second story
tells of another young monk who was being lax with his meditation
practice. As he was dozing off to sleep, the statue turned around
and chastized him for not having focus. At any rate, thereafter the
statue's head stayed turned, and the temple had an honored artifact. |
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next temple's name I can't remember, but it was terrific! Some great
pagodas, temple grounds, and rock gardens. When you visit a temple,
it's hard to remember that there are so many of them in Kyoto,. They
may have similar features, but each has their own individual character.
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Gold
foil covered screen doors
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The
temple from across the garden pond
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The
nearby aqueduct with some friends
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next few photos were taken the day before the finale of Gion
Matsuri. For three days prior to the 16th of August, people
walked through the streets during the evening. Traffic is stopped
and stalls line the streets vending all sorts of food and gimmicks.
Large floats are on every street in the district. Many people are
dressed in light summer kimonos, called yukata. |
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girls in yukata sing their wares of rice stalks. Each is a blessing
and protection against evil if hung up in the home. If you buy one,
it's your ticket to go up into one of the tall shrines and listen
to traditional music being played there. |
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were all very large and had different themes. Lanterns strung down
the front and back of most of them. The shrines are hard to get
to because the streets are just swarming with people. This festival
turns the charming city of Kyoto into a real zoo! |
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There I am atop one of the shrines! I had my ticket of rice stalk
blessings and made my way up the steps. There was a small band
of musicians and a priest in the top of the shrine.
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Here's my friend
Makiko who served as my guide
through the crowded streets of Gion!
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A
few miscellaneous pics of Kyoto on this page. This one is of the
magnificent Chion-in Temple. It was built on the site where Honen,
the founder of the Jodo school of Buddhism, taught and eventually
fasted to death.
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charming streets of the Gion district. Sometimes a geisha can be
seen in the area on her way to or from an appointment. |
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Kyoto Tower
And
this last picture was taken just before the famous Daimon-ji Gozan Okuribi
festival. Do you see the multitudes of people sitting on the banks behind
us? Everyone gathers on the banks of the Kamogawa River (and any other
part of the city where they can see the mountains) and waits until 8
pm. Then enormous fires in the form of Chinese characters are lit on
the mountainsides. The festival is performed to bid farewell to the
souls of ancestors.
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