eat play rove: Japan

Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts

Sunday, February 13, 2011

PLUM BLOSSOM IN GION

Although we haven't had as much snow as Europe and North America this winter has been the coldest I remember since I came to Japan. But February should see the end of it and by next month the weather will begin to warm up. I was going through some photos of Gion that I took last March. Gion is the old area of Kyoto where geishas lived, and where the story of Sayuri was mostly set. Even today, if you walk around Gion in the evening, you might catch a glimpse of a beautifully clad maiko or geisha heading to an evening engagement.

My photos were taken in the afternoon. There were no geishas, but there were beautiful pink and white plum blossoms - the first messengers of spring.

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

JAPANESE TEMPLE IN THE SNOW

There's a small local temple in Yamashina called Honkokuji. It nestles at the foot of forest clad hills. To find it you must walk up to Biwako Canal from Misasagi and cross the red bridge. Your first tantalizing glimpse will be the red gate amid the trees. Passing through that you will see a second gate guarded by two fierce looking golden giants. Straight ahead the main hall with a statue of a stern but gentle monk with one arm outstretched, to the left a pretty bell tower with a large golden bell.

The fish on the roof of the second gate, a small torii, an elegant Asian dragon and various other details also also gleam gold against the wooden buildings and the trees. This temple has a lot of gold, which I'm told is unusual in Kyoto (with the notable exception of Kinkakuji.)

I often visit this photogenic little temple to take photographs. I went there recently in the snow on New Year's Eve. If you're ever in neighborhood, it's a pleasant way to spend an hour or two.

Oh, and unlike Kinkakuji, it's free, and it's never crowded!

Friday, January 14, 2011

MY FAVORITE BRIDGE IN KYOTO

Kyoto has a lot of bridges. Some of them are very old and famous, like Togetsukyo over the Hozu River in Arashiyama. But my favouite bridge is small and off the beaten track. It's on a small road in Yamashina that ends with Honkokuji Temple. . In spring the bridge is surrounded with cherry blossom. In summer the startling vermilion paint and gold detail create wonderful contrast with the green leaves. In Autumn the colors of cherry and maple echo the colors of the bridge, and in the winter snow it was dazzling!