Kyoto Things to Do Tips by joiwatani Top 5 Page for this destination

Go to Rooms 8-12, Paintings Room at the Museum Kyoto National Museum Review

These rooms are my favorites. The paintings are huge. Some paintings were taken from walls of individual Japanese houses before. In these rooms, you see the Buddhist paintings, ink paintings, and handscrolls, as well as screen paintings from the Momoyama to Edo periods (late 16th-19th c.). Also, on display are the early Chinese and Korean paintings.

The Waterfowl in Lotus Pond by Tawaray Sotatsu is on display in this room. It is considered a a National Treasure.

Address: 527 Chayamachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Directions: Via Keihan Railway: Get off a Shichijo Station. Walk east along Shichijo Street to the Museum. Approximately 7 minutes.

Phone: 075-541-1151

Experience Special Ceremonies at the Toji Temple Toji Temple Review

There are special ceremonies held at the Toji Temple. There is the Fusatsu Ceremony which is held every 15th day of the month.

Fusatsu ceremony is an atonement ritual that composes of vowing and chanting. It is an ancient Buddhist cleansing ritual.

Address: Kujuo-cho 1, Minami-Ku, Kyoto, Japan

Directions: Catch the first train at the JR station and catch 205. And then catch the bus #205 going west towards the westside gate of the temple.side gate of the temple.

Phone: (075) 691-3325

Observe the colors of Fall Season Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) Review

The colors of the Japanese maples at Ginkakuji Temple is very beautiful. It is so exhilirating to just stop and breath the fresh cold air up in the mountains and hills of Kyoto.

The leaves are in colors of bright oranges, reds, purples, red orange, yellow, yellow green and green.

Address: Ginkakuji Temple, Kyoto

Directions: All throughout the hills of Kyoto

Check out the local crafts store Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) Review

There are so many arts and crafts made by the Japanese. They are usually on display and are on sale at the local stores which are line up on the streets at the Ginkakuji Temple. There's one particular store that caught my eye because they have the most beautiful crafts I have seen so far at the local stores. These are hanging crafts- made of silk stuffed with cotton! These are shaped in maple leaves colored orange, purples and reds. Some are shaped in other things like birds, pumpkins, fruits, etc.

There's one that I wanted to buy but it is way too big and too expensive. I bought some small coin purses made of silk. It's cheap but poorly made. I also bought some purses for jewelries.

Address: Ginkakuji Temple, Kyoto

Directions: rFound on the street going up the hill of Ginkakuji Temple.

Attend the Bon Festival at Toji Temple Toji Temple Review

The Bon Festival is one of the many famous festivals in Japan. It is one of the most important tradition of the Japanese. It is held in August of every year. August is called O-Bon, therefore the word "Bon". The people pray for the repose of the souls of the departed. The Japanese lit up lantersn inside their houses during this festival.

Address: Kujuo-cho 1, Minami-Ku, Kyoto, Japan

Directions: It takes two short train trips to get to the Toji Temple. Catch the first train at the JR station and catch 205. And then catch the bus #205 going west towards the west. It takes two short train trips to get to the Toji Temple.

Other Contact: %s5%crFax: (075) 662-0250%c*

Phone: (075) 691-3325

See the Exhibition of Homotsukan at Toji Temple Toji Temple Review

There are two exhibitions held at the grounds of the Toji Temple. The 65 National Treasures of Japan are brought to the Toji Temple for visitors to see. The principal image and National Treasure of Japan called the "Joshin Zazo" is also brought here. This image or statue resembles the women in the early Heian Period.

The exhibition is held in Spring time between March 20 to May 25 and the Autumn Exhibition starts on September 20 to November 25.

The hours start at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m. The last visitor must enter the temple grounds at 4:00 p.m.

Address: Kujuo-cho 1, Minami-Ku, Kyoto, Japan

Directions: Catch the first train at the JR station and catch 205. And then catch the bus #205 going west towards the westside gate of the temple.side gate of the temple.

Other Contact: %s5%crFax: (075) 662-0250%c*

Phone: (075) 691-3325

Pray at the shrine at Kinkakuji Temple Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Review

There are so many people forming in line to pray for many things at the shrine located at the Kinkakuji Temple. The shrine is very small compared to other temples in Kyoto. There is a place to write down your wishes and prayers and there are translations in each of every wish or prayer.

There is also a box where people make donations. It is very fascinating to see how people freely give donations for the shrine.

Address: Kinkakuji Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Directions: Take Bus #100 from the Kyoto Bus Station and stop at the Kinkakuji Temple.

Visit the Yakushi Trinity at the Toji Temple Toji Temple Review

Sorry that I can't show you pictures of the of the Yakushi Trinity and the 12 Sacred Generals because I was not allowed to take pictures inside the temple.

According to the belief of the Japanese, the statues of the Yakushi Trinity (Yakushi-nyoari and his two attendants, Nikko and Gakko Bosatsu) look filled with mercy and heal the sick in body and soul.

The statues of the "Twelve Sacred Generals placed under the "Mokakeza" (the seat of NYorai), are said to have been carve by Kosho, athe 21st generation sculptor of Buddhist images after Jocho, and are representative master pices of the Momoyama period.

Hours: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Address: Kujuo-cho 1, Minami-Ku, Kyoto, Japan

Directions: It takes two short train trips to get to the Toji Temple. Catch the first train at the JR station and catch 205. And then catch the bus #205 going west towards the westside gate of the temple.

Other Contact: %s5%crFax: (075) 662-0250%c*

Phone: (075) 691-3325

Walk around the landscaped garden in Kinkakuji Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Review

It is quite a walk to get into the temple. However, with a good pair of walking shoes, the walk is pretty relaxing and invigorating. The landscape of the garden is so beautiful. The stepping stones are neatly layered on top of each other and to walk on the sand is nice. The bonsai trees are neatly shaped and trimmed!

Address: Kyoto, Japan

Directions: Take Bus #100 at the Kyoto Bus Station and drop off at Kinkakuji Temple.

Take a deep breath while watching the temple! Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Review

The Kinkakuji Temple is one of the most beautiful sight I have ever seen that was built by man. The beauty of the nature compliments the spectacular architecture of the temple. The landscape is such a delight to see what with the colorful reds and yellows of the autumn leaves of the Japanese maple trees. The green bonsai trees are reflected as the sun sets just above the giant pine and maple trees and the sunlight hits the solemn water that is fronting the Kinkakuji temple.

Just imagine what were the people thinking when they built this beautiful temple and how the succeeding generations preserved this ancient work of art. I can only be grateful for the ancestors and the new generations who knew how to preserve this temple in order for me and other people to experience and see how beautiful the temple was!

(Note:The following notes were lifted from the flyer of the Kinkakuji Temple)
History: Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion) is a popular name for one of the main buildings of this temple, which is properly called Rokuon-ji Temple. In the 1220's it was the comfortable villa of Kintsune Saionji.

Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga, abdicated the throne in 1394. After three years, he began to build Itayamaden and he made a special effort to make it a breath-taking site. he indulged in his peaceful life in this serene setting. After Yoshimitsu;s death, Kitayamaden was made into a Zen temple in accorddance with his will. All the buildings of those days came to ruin except Kinkaku. The garden, however, remains as it was in former days and ca be enjoyed as it was hundreds of years ago. Rokuon-ji Temple was inscribed as World Cultural Heritage in 1994.

Points of interest: The name of the pond is Kyoko-chi (Mirror pond). The pond contains many large and small islands. Climbing a few steps, yu stand at the edge of another small pond, An-min-taku. The small stone pagoda on the island is called Hakuha-no-tsuka (the mound in memory of the white snake).

Address: Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8361

Directions: From the Kyoto Station, get the bus #100. Get off at the Kinkakuji Temple.

Phone: 075-461-001