Nanzenji, Eikando Zenrin-ji, Philosopher’s Path, Teramachi Mall, Nishiki Market, Kyoto Night Market
Took the subway to Keage station and walked to Nanzen-ji. There is a huge gate here. You can go inside and climb the steep slippery wooden stairs in stocking feet to see the altar at the top. There was a nice view of the temple precincts from up there, too. This was the only gate like this that I’ve ever been able to go inside. Then we looked at Nanzenji Hatto (the lecture hall) and went to see the aqueduct that crosses the temple precincts. It’s an impressive brick structure that’s part of the system that brings water from lake Biwa to Kyoto.
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| Subway train on the Karasuma line bearing a Kyoto Symphony 70th anniversary headmark. |
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| View from Sanmon Gate. |
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| Ceiling of the Nanzen-ji lecture hall. |
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| Altar of the Nanzen-ji lecture hall. |
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| Arched aquaduct |
We went up the stairs to the canal that feeds the aqueduct, and from here we walked back towards Keage along the canal, passing the penstock for the power station. At the end of our walk we came to a place where they were giving boat rides along the canal. They were sold out for that Saturday, so we asked about Sunday. That was sold out too. How about Monday? Nope, Sunday was the last day of the spring season. The next rides won’t be until November!
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| Keage Incline was used transport boats between different canal levels. |
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| Canal tour boat. |
Next, to Eikando Zenrin-ji. This was one of the most beautiful temples that we visited on this trip. You take your shoes off and walk on covered hallways and verandas with nightingale floors. Iron brackets under the floor make a chipping sound as you walk. Some buildings had beautifully painted divider screens, others had altars. All were surrounded by lush gardens, rock and sand sculptures, and green maple trees. This temple is famed for it's statue of Buddha looking back over his shoulder, as if saying "Awaken! Follow me."
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| Eikando Zenrin-ji's gate. |
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| Azalea hedge and sand garden. |
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| Verandas with nightingale floors. |
It was time for lunch, and we found it at nearby Zen Oknomiyaki. The meal hit the spot. They cook it right in front of you and admonish you not to touch it until it’s done.
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| Zen Okonomiyaki restaurant. |
We continued to Kumano Nyakuōji Shrine which marks the southern end of the Philosopher's Path. This one of the symbols of this shrine is the three-legged crow. Here it represents divine guidance. Interestingly we saw reference in Korea to a three-legged crow, but there it represented supreme sovereign power.
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| Kumano Nyakuōji Shrine |
Then we continued North on the Philosopher's Path. It’s a very nice cool walk along a canal with lots of trees. Stopped at one more Ōtoyo Shrine to see its famous guardian mice.
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| Lake Biwa Canal along the Philospher's Path |
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| This guardian mouse at Ōtoyo shrine holds a fertility orb. |
Then we walked down to Shirakawa street to catch a taxi to Nomura Tailor in the Teramachi shopping arcade. We got some nice craft items there even though it wasn’t the Nomura Tailor shop we had intended to go to. We found out later that the other Nomura Tailor was four minutes away on Shiji Street .
Then we walked down to Nishiki market for old times sake. We hadn’t been there for years and it has really changed. It caters more to tourists now. It used to be that there was little you could really buy from "Kyoto's kitchen". What tourist is going to buy a tub of pickles or a whole raw fish? There have always been foods there I wanted to try, but it was no place to eat them. But now more places have added seating areas in the back & are selling prepared foods. And they are prohibiting people from eating while walking. As we were walking, who did we see but our nephew! What are the chances of that? His family was eating dango in the back of one of the shops. We got some dango too and joined them.
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| Nishiki Market |
Next to Hands where I got a made-in-Japan Porter go-bag, and a wallet that was a less-bulky 2-fold. In Japan, it’s better to pay with a nice looking bill, and my 3-fold wallet made the bills look crumpled up.
There is a relatively new event in Kyoto - right in front of Higashi Hongwanji. Every few months they have food trucks and stalls set up for a night market. We strolled around - watched a lady with a trained monkey and had some extra long potato fries. We went back to the restaurant floor at the top of the Iseten department store. Had doria for dinner - sort of a baked cheesy rice dish.
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| Kyoto Tower in the distance at the Kyoto Night Market. |
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| A churro vendor in front of Nishi Hongwangi's gate. |
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| Doria |
Proceed to next day ->
