Sunday March 27, 2016
Our group boarded a coach in the morning which drove us to several World Heritage Sites. We first visited the impressive Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple. The temple was founded in 778 and the present buildings were constructed in 1633.
Kiyomizu means “clear water” or “pure water” and the complex takes its name from the waterfall which runs off nearby hills. People were lined up to drink for health, longevity, and success.
We drove to the Higashiyama District of Kyoto to visit Sanjusangen-do, a Buddhist temple which was originally built in 1164. The name literally means ‘Hall with thirty three spaces between columns’, which describes the architecture of the long main hall of the temple. The main deity of the temple is surrounded by one thousand golden life-size statues. (Sorry no photos allowed inside!)
Next we went to Nijo Castle which had been completed in 1626 and was the residence of the Tokugawa Shoguns. The castle grounds are comprised of two concentric moats each with high stone walls.
We toured the huge Ninomaru Palace which consisted of five large buildings. Decoration included lavish gold leaf walls and elaborate wood carvings. The floor of the outer corridors were built with “nightingale floors” which sounded like chirping birds when anyone stepped on them. This protected the occupants from sneak attacks and assassins.
We had a lovely lunch at La Tour, a French restaurant located on the campus of Kyoto University.
Last, we went to Kinkaku-ji, the Zen Buddhist temple known as the “Temple of the Golden Pavilion.” Kinkaku-ji’s history dates from 1397, however the current structure was rebuilt in 1955.
