Kyoto aka: Kyouto,京都

Wedding in October. Travelling with a college friend who I haven’t seen in a long time.

Since all we did all day was ride the train/bus to get to Kyoto, the night before our full day there, we went out to Gion in the evening. There we saw a sort of touristy Kyoto traditional performing arts sampler. This included koto, a brief comic skit, bunraku, and traditional dance. They wanted two guests to volunteer to participate in the part of a tea ceremony, and Rose and I shot our hands up immediately, and so we got to do this.

I realize in retrospect that I ran everyone ragged that day, starting in Kiyomizu Temple, and slowly heading north on foot, visiting various temples along the way, then along the Philosopher’s Walk to the Silver Pavillion. Basically it was from the south end of town to the north, a great deal of walking in the muggy heat (in the 30s C).

When we stopped at the headquarters of Jodo Shinshu (Pure Land) Buddhism (something I might not have done, but David was interested in looking in), we went into the main meditation hall. A monk was in a corner chanting, and I was surprised to hear the Heart Sutra, something I associate much more with Zen. In fact, it is the sutra we would chant every morning when I lived at a zen temple. So I just sat there on the tatamis for a bit listening, until he went into a more typical chant of that sect.

We also visited the temple that is the headquarters for Rinzai Zen. We hiked back into the gorge behind the temple, in the coolth of the shady trees. There’s a waterfall there, where traditionally you stand under the waters to achieve enlightenment. I don’t think I attained satori, but it was quite a shock to have the icy cold mountain water suddenly pelt me on the head.

After going to this temple, and wandering around for some time trying to find the Philosopher’s Walk, Emma and Rose became increasingly frustrated with my lack of ability to navigate, and became a little frayed around the edges. I think we found a place selling green tea ice cream in an artic-ly air conditioned cafe, and this buoyed everyone’s flagging spirits.

By the time we reached the Silver Pavillion, I think probably Rose and especially Emma were too tired to really enjoy the exquisite gardens. We splurged on a cab ride back to the hotel, then had showers. We then had a late Italian dinner at a building called The Cube, on the 10th floor overlooking the
city.

Must have been near the turn of the century. While the world was certainly heading toward impending doom with the Y2K bug, I was loosing myself in the massive array of temples, gardens and ancient Nippon city streets. Of all of Japan, this is my favorite city.
If you’re a fan of rock gardens (and I wasn’t really until I visited Kyoto) meditate on the stoop overlooking the Ryogen-in. If you like temples and/or coy visit Kinkaku, aka Golden Pavilion. The list is nearly inexhaustible.
I remember reading someplace that while America was considering which cities in Japan to drop the Little Boy and Fat Man, they intentionally excluded Kyoto because of all the beauty it had to offer the world. Sorry, I don’t mean to end on a solemn note, but I thought it worth mentioning and certainly this is a chapter of human history that we must keep fresh in our minds.

My host-sister told me that Kyoto was only a place that was good for shopping. Ha-ha; how wrong she was!

Figure out the bus system. It’s a bit hard at first, but unlike the rest of Japan, buses are the way to go in Kyoto.

I made sure to visit one of my favorite temples, the Kiyomizu-dera. History has it that if you drink the water from the three small water-falls there, you will fourish in each.

Great place to experience like the rest of Japan…You must walk in the streets, allof a sudden you can discover small,traditional shrines.Would love to go there in spring!

Kyoto has so many beautiful places to visit, and each of the four seasons can make the experience of visiting them totally different, I will keep going back again and again.

I went to Japan in the early 80’s so I would not be of any use for updated advice. I would love to go back as it was truly beautiful. The spirit of the people and the customs are something that I still remember. A lot of smiles shared during the month and a half that I was there. I was fortunate enough to see the Cherry Blossom festivle. Awe, now I want to go back more than ever.

i’ve been to kyoto a few times now. the last time i was there was for new years. i hope to go back soon!