Nina ji temple(仁和寺） is located in near Arashiyama area. This temple was first established in A.D 888.

When ” Onin no ran”（Onin War) was occured, this temple was fully burned.

This was, then, re-established in 1634 by Shogun “Iemitsu Tokunaga.” Ninna ji temple registered with

world heritage in 1994 as one of the historic monuments of ancient Kyoto and Nio-mon(Nio gate) is one of three greatest and biggest gate in Kyoto.

When you see this gate, two gardian(Wooden A and Un Nio statue) stand by both the side. 

Coming here in Spring when the flower of a cherry tree blooms must be great because cherry trees here are a little bit short, unique but beautiful. Please check these photos.

-Ninna ji temple-

[Address] 33, O-uchi, Omuro, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City

[Access] Bus No.26 / 40min from Kyoto station 
Bus No.10 or 59 / 40min from Sanjyo keihan station 
Train Get off at Hanazono station and take a taxi(5min)(※Going there by bus might be cheep and a good way）

[Hours] 9:00~16:30

[Fee] ¥500

In fron t of this temple, there is a restaurant “Sakon” which is french&Japanese restaurant. We went early morning , so we couldn’t go to Sakon. This restaurant is expensive but many paople told us this is delicious. Please check Sakon’s website. 　Lunch ¥4600~ (11:30~)Around this temple , there are many places to see such as Kinkaku temple(the golden temple), Ryoan temple(Rock garden is the most famous).

Although there are many temples, shrine and places to see in Kyoto,

people don’t have time to visit all of places.

My recommendation is that having a theme of which one wants to see and absorb.For example,visiting places which came out in the tale of Genji.

On Feb 2008, I and my german friend went to Kyoto but we only have a day.

Therefore we dicided to visit some places and “Three biggest gate in Kyoto.

” Those are located in Nanzen temple, Ninna temple(a world heritage) and Chion-in. Nanzen temple is located in east side of Kyoto,and between Ginkaku temple and Chion-in.

We went Nanzen temple from Ginkaku temple on foot. It took 30 min.

( It was far but  Tetsugaku no michi( the load of Philosphy leading to Nanzen temple) was beautiful especially in Spring season.   Nanzen temple was buit in 1291.

The big gate called ” San mon” was built in 1628 by Takatora Todo. This temple is above the Go-san(Five mountain) and the status of this temple in Rin-zai Zen is the highest.

If you go there, I want you to see a waterway in Nazen temple area. This waterway constructed between Lake Biwa and Kyoto city almost 200 years ago.

Cherry blossom in Nanzen temple is one of the most famous and beautiful in Kyoto. Coming Spring must be great but there are too many people …..

We didn’t have time to go up “San mon” but poeple can go. It cost ¥500.The web of Nanzen temple is here(http://nanzenji.com/english/index.html ). 

-Nanzen Temple-

[Address] Fukuchi cho, Nanzen-Ji,Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi 

 [Access] Keage station (Subway Touzai line)

 [Hours]　12/1~2/28 8:40~16:40, 3/1~11/30 8:40~17:00 

[Spot] The Big gate, The waterway, Cherry blossom in Spring, The ceiling of Hond, Houjo etc.

When people come to Kyoto, most of tours includes visiting both Ginkaku ji and Kinkaku ji.

This temple is located in north western area of Kyoto and a little bit far from Kyoto station.

People need 30min for looking aroung in Kinkaku ji.

Kinkaku ji was constructed in 1398 as a villa for Yoshimitsu Ashikaga, then, it changed to Zen temple and has consisted of 3 floors.

1st floor is a classic aristocratic mansion style. 2nd floor is drawing room style and 3rd one is Zen style.

Kyochiko(A Mirror pond) is also famous. The scenery of projecting the Kinkakuji Temple on the water surface is great view. Everytime I go to Kyoto, Everytime I go to Kinkaku ji. Why? Because it’s so beautiful.

-Rokuon ji temple( Kinkaku ji)-

[Address] Kinkaku ji 1, Kita ku, Kyoto

[Access] Kinkaku ji station /Bus No.101 or 205 from Kyoto station (50min)

[Time] 10:00 ~17:00

[Fee] Adult ¥400 Child¥300

[Additional infomation]

Ninna ji temple and Ryoan ji temple is located near Kinkaku ji .

If one plans to go to Kinkaku ji,one can also visit Ryoan ji(Rock garden),

Ninna ji temple( World heritage& the greatest gate) and even Myoshin ji temple.

It is good to go to Arashiyama&Sagano area from stations of Arashiyama line near those temples.

There is a mountain called “Tuki machi yama.”( the mountain of waiting moon.) The garden is very interesting because this garden uses Tuki machi mountain as a part of this garden, when we look at a garden,a pond and Tuki machi mountain from Ginkaku.

This is one of 17 architectures as a world heritage”Histolic monuments of ancient Kyoto.”

-Jisho ji temple (Ginaku ji) -

[Address] Ginkakuji 2, Sakyo ku,Kyoto

[Access] “Ginakuji michi” /Bus No.5 or 17 from Kyoto station (less 25min)

[Time] Summer 3/1- 11/30 8:30~ 17:00 Winter 12/1- 2/28 9:00~ 16:30

[Fee] Adult ¥500 Child ¥300

What we see is the black Trii which is a gate of the shrine. Usually the color of “Trii” is red (such as Yasaka shrine, Kasuga shrine or Istukushima shrine ) but Torii here is very unique, I think. It is black ,made by Japanese oak and it’s the oldest style of Torii.

Nonomiya shrine is very small . the way of going there, however, is very tasteful. Bamboo grove leads to this shrine. Walking for 10min in very quiet bamboo grove makes us relax. It was good time.

-Nonomiya Shrine-

[Address] Nonomiya cho 1, Sagano, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi

[Access] 10 min from Arashiyama station

(Ranzan line from Shijyo omiya or Kitano Hakubaicho)

10min from Saga-Arashiyama station( JR Sagano line from Kyoto)

Recently Hot spring especially ”Foot bath” has been popular in Japan. Taking a foot bath for 10min make your body hot. Anyways, foot bath in a station is very interesting.

When one goes to main temle of Chionin, some people might seat in front of Budda and say “Na Mu A Mi Da Bu Tsu.” which is the word for praying at any temple of “Jyodo shu”.

-Chionin-

[Address] 400, Rinka cho, Higashiyama-ku,Kyoto-shi (京都市東山区林下町400)

[Access] Bus: No.206 Chionin station from Kyoto station / 5min

Train: Shijyo station (Keihan line) then walk for 10 min

[Time] Open 9:00~16:00

Usually Winter in Kyoto is very cold but it was warm when we went.

Yokoso! Japan Weeks will start on Jan.20 (to Feb.29), to attract more visitors from overseas, with variety of events and services.
One of them is Free Guide Interpreting Service, in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Hiroshima.
Please check the detail at this page.

Other than free guide interpreting service, there’re special service such as discount at hotels and shops, Japanese cultural experiences, and a lot more to enjoy Japan !!

Please visit Yokoso! Japan Weeks Official Site for more info.

Giouji(祇王寺,Giouji Temple)　at Saga Kyoto

The scenery which I look at 360 degrees where, and is bright red.

Jojakkoji(常寂光寺,Jojakkoji Temple)　at Saga Kyoto
It is the noted place of colored leaves eminent in Kyoto here.

Showa Kinen Park(昭和記念公園) at Tachikawa City Tokyo

There were such a beautiful colored leaves in Tokyo.

The park was established as park of a project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emperor Showa’s reign.

The temple was established in 770 by the monk Gantei from Nara’s Toshodai-ji. After seeing a vision of the deity Bishamon-ten, guardian of the northern quarter of the Buddhist heaven, he established Kurama-dera in its present location, just below the peak of the Mt. Kurama (a holy mountain in Japan).

In the main building (HONDEN) , there are Bishamonten in the middle, Senjukannon (one thousand armed goddess of mercy) to the right, Goho-Mao-son to the left, and three of them together are called Sonten, the principal images of this temple.

It is said that Mao-son came to the earth from Venus 6.5 million years ago. “Bishamonten, Senjukannon and Mao-son” are the symbolic of “the sun, the moon and the earth” and “Light, Love and Power”.

To people in the know, Kurama-dera is one of the most famous place as a power and spiritual spot. I came there twice this year. I had felt comforted. especially OKUNO-IN MAOU-DEN was feel great spot! So I would like you to introduce Kurama-dera.

The entrance to Kurama-dera July 22 2007

The entrance July 22 2007

The cable car July 22 2007

After we elutriated hands and mouth, we enter the temple. July 22 2007

Kurama-dera HONDEN (Main Hall) July 22 2007

Mysterious Stone!? Power Stone!? July 22 2007

The way to HONDEN July 22 2007

This is “Ki no ne Michi” (the road with roots of trees) Amazing! August 27 2007

OKUNO-IN MAOU-DEN Peaceful! August 27 2007

OKUNO-IN MAOU-DEN Sanctuary! August 27 2007

The Japanese restaurant(Shin Tengu) in front of the entrance of Kurama-dera. Soba Reasonable! Delicous! my recommendation! July 22 2007

The landscape from within(Shin Tengu) outward July 22 2007

                                     Kibune-jinja (Shrine) HONDEN August 27 2007

In the Kibune Guchi (Eiden Eizan main line) station, I ate “Tochimochi (original sweets)”. It tastes good! August 27 2007

Only 30 minutes north of Kyoto on the Eiden Eizan main line, Kurama and Kibune are a pair of tranquil valleys long favoured by Kyoto-ites as places to escape the crowds and stress of the city below.

Access Eizan Rlwy: Kurama Stn.- walk 5 min. to temple gate. Walk 30 min. to Main Hall or take the cable car(2 min.+10 min. walk).
Parking: Private parking facility near Sanroku Nio-mon Gate
Handicap: Not possible
Open Time: 9:00 - 16:30
Required Time: about 1 hour(s) 30 minute(s) - 3 hour(s)

Holiday Open daily (Sanrei Ho-den is closed Mondays and December 12 - end of February)
Note Closing time is 17:00 from June - August
Charge: 200 yen - Free
Groups (20 - 49: 160 yen)(50 - 99: 120 yen)(100 and over: 100 yen). Disabled people admitted free.
Reserve: Not necessary