|
|
TOUR THROUGH WESTERN KYOTO
The day will start at Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavillon. We will then
take a short walk up the road (~1.2 km) to Ryoan-ji, where we will
quietly enjoy the serenity of the rock garden. After refreshing our
minds at Ryoan-ji, we will head
further west to Arashiyama where we will
spend time roaming and playing
on the banks of the Katsura-gawa (known as the Hozu-gawa between
Kameoka and Arashiyama), check out the saru in Iwatayama Monkey Park,
and wander through Arashiyama.
Kinkaku-ji (more properply called Rokuon-ji) is the famous
Temple of the Golden Pavillion. In the 13th century, the villa of
Kintsune Saionji occupied this site. Around 100 years later,
the 3rd Ashikagawa Shogun Yoshimitsu built the pavillion. After
his death the pavillion became the Zen temple Rokuon-ji as
was stipulated in his will. The original building burned to the
ground in 1950; an exact replica was built in 1955.
Ryoan-ji has one of the most famous, if not the most famous Zen
rock garden in the world. The garden is unlike the spectacular
gardens seen in castles. It is a small rectangular area of size
10 m x 30 m and is compelling because of its simplicity and
austere nature. There are no trees or shrubs in the garden
with only 15 rocks and moss situated on a bed of white gravel.
Sitting in the western hills of Kyoto, Arashiyama (Storm
Mountain) is a wonderful
place to sit and enjoy scenery. It sits on the
Katsura-gawa which flows quietly into Arashiyama from Kameoka.
Above Arashiyama the
river is known as the Hozu-gawa. A nice quiet trip during
the summer is to take a boat from Kameoka down the Hozu-gawa to
Arashiyama. There are many temples in the area, in particular,
the Zen temple, Tenryu-ji, and Daikaku-ji,
famous for moon viewing from its ike are in Arashiyama.
If temples are not
your thing, many other interesting activities can be
found along the river (looking for mutant tadpoles and so on) and, of
course, you can always go to Iwatayama.
In Iwatayama you will find a panoramic view of Kyoto and,
your favorite and mine, osaru-sama.
|
|
The day will start at Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavillon. We will then take a short walk up the road (~1.2 km) to Ryoan-ji, where we will quietly enjoy the serenity of the rock garden. After refreshing our minds at Ryoan-ji, we will head further west to Arashiyama where we will spend time roaming and playing on the banks of the Katsura-gawa (known as the Hozu-gawa between Kameoka and Arashiyama), check out the saru in Iwatayama Monkey Park, and wander through Arashiyama.
|
|
|
Kinkaku-ji (more properply called Rokuon-ji) is the famous Temple of the Golden Pavillion. In the 13th century, the villa of Kintsune Saionji occupied this site. Around 100 years later, the 3rd Ashikagawa Shogun Yoshimitsu built the pavillion. After his death the pavillion became the Zen temple Rokuon-ji as was stipulated in his will. The original building burned to the ground in 1950; an exact replica was built in 1955. |
|
|
Ryoan-ji has one of the most famous, if not the most famous Zen rock garden in the world. The garden is unlike the spectacular gardens seen in castles. It is a small rectangular area of size 10 m x 30 m and is compelling because of its simplicity and austere nature. There are no trees or shrubs in the garden with only 15 rocks and moss situated on a bed of white gravel. |
|
|
Sitting in the western hills of Kyoto, Arashiyama (Storm Mountain) is a wonderful place to sit and enjoy scenery. It sits on the Katsura-gawa which flows quietly into Arashiyama from Kameoka. Above Arashiyama the river is known as the Hozu-gawa. A nice quiet trip during the summer is to take a boat from Kameoka down the Hozu-gawa to Arashiyama. There are many temples in the area, in particular, the Zen temple, Tenryu-ji, and Daikaku-ji, famous for moon viewing from its ike are in Arashiyama. If temples are not your thing, many other interesting activities can be found along the river (looking for mutant tadpoles and so on) and, of course, you can always go to Iwatayama. |
|
|
|
|
In Iwatayama you will find a panoramic view of Kyoto and, your favorite and mine, osaru-sama.
Back to Trip Sights