This new day will be the third and last in our trilogy Kiotense. The Northeast route combines essential rides and temples. To end the afternoon we visited the shopping area where you meet Kawaramachi many shopping malls. This is the outline of the route:
And this is an overview of the route on Google Earth. Although it seems long, most of the routes we will make bus.
This image is an approximation to the first part of the route:
The route begins at 7:48 am taking the train from JR Sagano in Kyoto station, this train will leave us in the Saga-Arashiyama JR 6 stops or 2 minutes later. Leaving the station we go to point 3 of the route.
3 - THE BAMBOO FOREST.
In one district of Kyoto (Japan), Arashimaya, the visual and aural spectacle becomes shocking. On this side of town, the huge stalks of bamboo make a forest almost sacred to the Japanese people. When the wind blows, the gusts of air slip between each of these plants of the grass family.
The hollow stems pick up the sound of the wind as if it were a musical, every day attracts thousands of visitors who attend almost a symphony of nature. Bamboo Forest accompanying the walker to the Zen temple Tenryu-ji, one of the greatest exponents of Shinto spirit of the city rivaling even Tokyo today, a spiritual level.
The combination of sharply creeds related to Buddhism gave to these parts of a deep religious nature, particularly is reflected in their gardens. Wet and dry, represent a paradise for any Nippon. That is why, so the rhythm of the seasons combined masterfully.
Each season has a special drama. In autumn, for example, the bamboo forest around the sanctuary, is stained a special ocher. For any resident of this city, the garden is essential. Each cottage has a corresponding 'parterre', so is the green link between nature and spirit.
Practical information about Bamboo Forest:
- Planning: stay 15 minutes, from 8:20 to 8:35 am
- Location: West of JR Saga-Arashiyama, 20 minutes from Kyoto Station.
- Price: Free.
- Timetable: A forest ... have no schedule.
The fate of the walk through the forest of bamboo is the next point on our route.
04 - Tenryu-ji Temple
On several occasions we talked about many temples in Japan, many located in Kyoto, the beautiful capital, but very few that match the Tenryu-ji, which has a landscape that simply steals the words of any face to be an explicit example of reverence and respect sacred.
This temple, located in Susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan, is best known as Shiseizen Tenryu-ji, and would become the "head" Central Tenryu Rinzai Zen Buddhist sect.
Its foundation dates back to 1339 thanks to the work of Ashikaga Takauji, whose original intention was to venerate the figure of Gautama Buddha. The building was completed in 1345 and is considered a sacred building and socio-cultural high interest joined in 1994, was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The temple has a beautiful traditional Japanese architecture, but what is most striking, at least to me, is the beautiful surrounding landscape full of nostalgia impressive, from the hand of a beautiful pond where you can see the shadows of maples and thousands of rocks that abound in the place. So this landscape model was taken into account what other style gardens were recreated throughout Japan.
Tenryuji means "Heavenly Dragon Temple" and those who visit can enjoy this beautiful temple, besides the scenery and peace, delicious vegetarian cuisine, known as "shojin ryori".
Helpful information about Tenryu-ji Temple:
- Planning: stay 40 minutes, from 8:40 to 9:20
- Location: West of JR Saga-Arashiyama, 20 minutes from Kyoto Station.
- Price: 500Y
- Hours: 8:30 to 17:30
- Links: http://tenryuji.org/
05 - Bridge Togetsukyo
This bridge Togetsukyo (Bridge walk to the moon) with Mount Arashiyama in the background covered with forest, is the most photographed symbol. The scenery is really nice. crosses the River Kasturagawa that connects the neighborhood with that of Ukyoku Nishikyoku. The railings of the bridge are made of wood, which gives a very Japanese style. It is also the most recognizable symbol of the city.
Practical information on the bridge Togetsukyo:
- Planning: stay 20 minutes, from 9:30 to 9:50
- Location: West of JR Saga-Arashiyama, 20 minutes from Kyoto Station.
- Price: Free
- Timetable: A bridge.
After making the relevant dozens of photographs on the bridge we approach the season Keifuku Arashiyama line. Here we take the 10:03 train that will leave us after 5 stops at the station wings Katabiranotsuji 10:09. Here we got off and waited for the train, this time line Keifuku Keitano, from 10:11 to 5 stops later we leave the station Myoshinji. All for 200Y.
I leave an image of the area and the walk from Myoshinji to Ninnaji.
08 - Ninna-ji Temple
The massive front door of Ninnaji gives the entrance to this temple that is subdivided to another 60 subtemplos. Completed in the year 888, apart from the great door highlight the 5-story pagoda and gardens. This temple was built by Emperor Uda, making it his residence when he retired. Niomon coming through the door on the left is the former Imperial Residence Omuro Gosho. Is a set of luxurious buildings. It is also famous for its cherry trees of the species Omurozakura Yaezakura.
Ninnaji is one of the most interesting temples of Kyoto, with a variety of different buildings and gardens in its spacious grounds. It belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage dela. Today, Ninnaji is home to the school of Shingon Buddhist sect Omuro.
Helpful information about Ninna-ji Temple:
- Planning: Stay 30 minutes from 10:25 until 10:55
- Location: A few steps from the station line Omuro Keifuku Kitano.
- Price: 500Y
- Hours: 9:00 to 16:30
Coming out of Ninna-Ji will take the 59 bus stop and get off Omuro Ninnaji 3 stops later in the season-Mae Ryonaji.
Status of Ninna-ji stop:
Bus stop situation Ryoanji Temple Ryoanji Himae regarding:
08 - Ryoan-Ji Temple
The temple Ryoan-ji Zen temple in Kyoto is famous for its beautiful garden that produces dry they say peace and tranquility in those who see it.
In total there are 15 stones arranged 3 big groups so that only you can see all the stones from one point. The set makes the eyes are fixed in the first group of far left and go slowly flowing to the lowest in the center stones ending in the most voluminous set of the far right. To view all the stones at the same time you have to place you right at all.
The great mystery of this small garden is that no one knows its meaning, or why it evokes such tranquility and peace to visitors. It is unknown who designed it, and it remains uncertain what was their intention or procedure followed. Among the traditional interpretation is one which says that the stones forming the figure of a tiger crossing a river, others say they are Chinese mountains that stand out in a sea of clouds and so on. It turns out that all these interpretations go astray, Zen emphasizes the void, into nothingness.
"- What makes it so special Ryoanji garden?
-The spaces between the rocks "- Alan Booth
In 2002, scientists at Kyoto University used computers to search for using the available forms of the empty areas of the garden instead of the arrangement of the stones. The result is that the pattern found hidden in a tree structure of the garden. They say that it is so pleasant to witness the garden, our subconsiciente captures the pattern of the tree without noticing.
The same research team tried moving some stones at random and found that harmony was lost once the initial setup. Therefore believe that the construction of the garden is very well thought out and not an act of chance.
Researchers at Kyoto University applied the Voronoi algorithm, which searches the farthest reaches of all stones. That is, the algorithm searches for areas "more empty" and marked with lines. Putting all of these lines obtained by the algorithm, appeared the form of a tree whose branches converge right in the center of the point where it is supposed that the monks have to practice meditation.
Helpful information about Ryoan-Ji Temple:
- Planning: Stay 30 minutes from 11:10 until 11:40
- Location: A few steps from the station line Omuro Keifuku Kitano.
- Price: 500Y
- Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
- Link: http://www.ryoanji.jp/
After leaving the temple we went down the street to the bus stop RyoanJiMae, here we take line 12 or line 59 for 3 stops get off at the stop after KinkakujiMichi. Kinkauji, the Golden Temple, is the next stop on this route.
12 - Kinkakuji Temple
It's a Zen temple formally known as Rokuonji. In 1397 construction began on the Golden Pavilion as part of a new residence for the retired shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Kinkakuji became a Zen temple after Yoshimitsu's death in 1408.
The Golden Pavilion functions as shariden, storage of sacred relics of Buddha, covered in gold leaf. The present building dates from 1955 and the pavilion was burnt by a fanatic monk in 1950.
Helpful information about Kinkaku-Ji Temple (Golden Pavilion):
- Planning: Stay 30 minutes from 12:10 until 12:40
- Location: You can get directly from Kyoto station to the lines 101 or 205.
- Price: 4 00Y
- Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
- Link: http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_kinkakuji/
For thirteen centuries, Japan designs meditation spaces in communion with nature. Represent the universe and are designed to inspire vitality and serenity. The best known of the kare sansui dry garden is Ryoan-ji Temple, founded in 1473. The Zen garden Daitoku-ji temple in northwest Kyoto, is among the most famous in Japan, the former imperial capital of Japan. The altar of gray rocks, stands behind the simplicity of a raked gravel floor and against a background of shrubs and conifers. The garden is revered by the monks of the temple and its main purpose is to provide a conducive external environment for meditation.
Although apparently simple, the gardens are more difficult to design the stone. The most beautiful you can visit the temples of Kyoto, where they were conceived as an instrument of meditation Zen monks. "These areas are stripped of all splendor, the greatness lies in the simple things"
The traditional center of attraction is a rock garden or a group of rocks that help the viewer to abstract from their daily life concentrating.
The rocks should be placed against a background-as a small backyard or a corner of the garden, which stand out. The size and nature of the background are indistinct, but their willingness to produce the effect of directing the eyes toward the altar of rock. The rocks must always be placed in groups of 3, 5 and 7, and never random. The rocks are calligraphy, so that in every garden there is a phrase, a thought or idea.
Always represent their placement in a landscape of japan. The furrows in the gravel surface would behave as if the rocks were coming out of it, as would move the energy.
A simple garden might consist of a group of three rocks arranged neatly on a carefully raked gravel soil, moss or grass short acting also as the foreground. In a small space, just choose a quiet corner, place the stones and add maybe a little lawn or an area covered with pebbles.
The sand is raked sea around the rocks were raking in rings, as if these formed ripples in the water. In the rest of the garden, raking in parallel to the platform. Now be brought carved stones in dry gardens (previously only natural stones).
The rock garden in front of the abbot's residence is called Isshidan, while the smaller rock garden in Japan is called Totekiko.
The main temple is surrounded by several smaller temples, forming a kind of village temples. The main temple and some others are open to the public and expose zen architecture and design, including beautiful gardens and tea ceremony rooms. This temple complex is a compendium of Zen culture, sovereign of all, the Shinjuan, home of the "tea ceremony" introduced in the sixteenth century by Juko and Sen no Rikyu, the teacher who was forced to take the " seppuku "(ritual suicide).
The whole garden is surrounded by three "dry" style karesansui, which have been attributed to Soami. Open from 9 to 17 hours and entry costs about 400 yen.
The Treasure Ship is one of the most famous stones, reminiscent of a rush moving through the waves. This garden evokes a panorama of mountains, rivers and waterfalls, but without using a drop of water is a three-dimensional version of the monochrome landscape painting style Sung. The fate of humanity, his relationship with nature and its place in the universe are expressed in this work can not be beaten.
Really wonderful, wonderful world that I personally love it as a tourist visit. Consider a Japanese garden is like diving into a dream in which the rocks are mountains, where gravel is modulated waveform caused by the fall of an imaginary drop in a pond, where the bamboo poles moved, leaving hear the music of their emotions. As a constant flow of sensations, colors and textures, the design of Japanese gardens was conceived more than three centuries ago, as a tool to get the correct perception of reality. Unlike Westerners, Japanese gardens are not made for walking. It should admire as if it were a painting or calligraphy, where the displacement of the body and opening the mind are essential.
Helpful information about Daitoku-Ji Temple:
- Planning: stay 30 minutes, relaxing, from 14:00 to 14:30
- Location: From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma subway line.
- Price: 4 00Y
- Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
After leaving the temple Daitoku-Ji back to the bus stop from where we are. Upon arriving there we look for the bus line 206 and we got to get off 25 stops later, at the Kiyomizu-michi stop. A long journey, over how long it takes to get the bus is an extension of time, so our next item is reserved at 16:00.
STUDY SHIKI-SAKURATEN
Yep, at 17:00 pm is when we have to be in this and photographic studio located just opposite the bus stop. There we maiko dress in girls and boys Samurais, we make a couple of photos and let us make us professional pictures with our own cameras. The process of Maiko makeup and that dress in kimono takes about 2 hours, so do not think we leave before 19:30.
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Practical information on studio photography
- Planning: Stay 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- Location: Opposite the bus stop is Kiyomizu-michi.
- Price: 6500Y per person for the most basic plan.
- Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (last reception)
When we leave the studio a few meters to the south and turned the first corner to the west:
Then straight west about 600 meters to reach the river Kamo:
By the river we crossed the bridge:
On the other hand, we reached the main road and take it north. In the first major crossroads we encounter in Shijo Kawaramachi shopping area, we already know, and have dinner here:
After dinner we head to the den where we will end the evening, the Sake Bar Asakura. This is the path has to follow, as you see is almost follow the road north:
And bend in the following alley:
As we leave the Bareto Sake, let's bent or not, do the following route to the station Kyotoshiyajushomae:
From here, I propose these two routes by train to reach the Kyoto Central Station:
From Kyoto Station to the hotel, we know the way ... Good night!
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