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  3. TRAVEL: 2007 through 2011
  4. APRIL, 2008 JAPAN (KYOTO TRIP)

KYOTO IV

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The ONLY way to travel!
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The ONLY way to travel!

  • The ONLY way to travel!
  • We are approaching the Yasaka Shrine, which is listed as a Shinto shrine. However, it seems to me that the Japanese mix Buddhism and Shinto-ism to the point where it is difficult to tell which is which.
  • For instance, the entrance to Yasaka Shrine is a Sanmon (mountain gate), which (it's my understanding) is based on Zen Buddhism. This shrine dates back to 656, but most of the buildings were reconstructed in 1654.
  • Yasaka Shrine borders the Maruyama Koen (Park). We had read that one of the oldest and most revered cherry trees for hanami (cherry blossom viewing) was located in Maruyama Koen, so we passed through Yasaka Shrine grounds as we looked for this marvelous tree. It was far from obvious on any of our maps and descriptions how to find the tree, so we asked some of the locals where the big tree was. One of the locals listended intently, looked really confused for a while, and then said "Ahh, big..." and made a hand gesture which I thought meant tree. We said "Yes!" and he pointed to a trail. We eagerly scurried up the trail.....
  • ...but a hand gesture for "tree" and one for "bell" can look VERY SIMILAR. So, we got to see this cool Zen Bell, which we would not have seen had the person been able to speak excellent english.
  • I would LOVE to be able to hear this bell. Even though, in looking it up here on the net, I see that it is the heaviest bell in Japan, cast in 1633 and weighing in at 74 tons!
  • We were welcomed when we did find our way to Maruyama Koen. Created in 1886, this is the oldest city park in Kyoto. It is also THE most popular spot for hanami, as you will see in the ensuing photos!
  • I've no idea whom the statues depict. Probably a couple of dead people.
  • VERY live children (twins, probably).
  • We FINALLY found the old venerated cherry tree we had read about. You can start to notice the people.
  • Geisha? Maiko? Or just a couple of Japanese ladies enjoying the day in kimonos?
  • This is called a weeping cherry tree (shidare-sakura).
  • It looked like LOTS of these people came for at least the whole day, if not longer.
  • Geisha, or at least women in kimonos. ALL the women whom we thought may be Geisha had white socks and sandals (actually usually wooden thongs, but I was afraid that if I said "thongs" without first saying "sandals" you might get the wrong idea).
  • People would throw coins into a tray, then pull the rope to rattle the bangel. I assume it was a ritual to obtain the blessing of the deity of this shrine.
  • Now we are heading toward the gate onto the Gion district.
  • !
  • A typical Gion sidestreet. I think that people selling copper wire probably made a killing
  • Kyoto is THE center of the Geisha custom, and Gion is THE Geisha district of Kyoto.
  • Of course, for all I know these ladies may be paid by the tourism promoters to walk the streets and allow people to take photos.
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