Temple of Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-ji, in Kyoto

Golden Pavilion Temple [Japanese: 金閣寺; Kinkaku-ji]

Kinkaku-ji is a Buddist temple officially named "Rokuon-ji (=Deer Garden Temple)" [Japanese: 鹿苑寺].
Rokuon-ji (=Kinkaku-ji) is located in Kita-ku, Kyoto.
the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" [古都京都の文化財].

reflection of Golden Pavilion Temple on the pond 

[Japanese: 逆さ金閣寺]

Episode of Golden Pavilion Temple (Kinkaku-ji)

Tomo&Chouchou visited very famous temple "Kinkaku-ji (=Golden Pavillion Temple)" where is in Kyoto. We also learned Kinkakuji temple in the history class in school. So we were very excited to see the real one.

Tomo didn't imagine that Golden Pavilion Temple was not so gold as the name before visiting. But it was wrong. The temple was real gold color! So Tomo was so surprised to see the real gold temple. We have never seen such a shining gold temple in our lives!

When we went to Kinkakuji, it was sunny. We could luckily see the reflection of the Kinkaku-ji on the pond! It was so fascinating.
It was in May. We could see beautiful irises [Japanese: 菖蒲]. It was more beautiful view. We could spend lots of time for taking photos in front of the Golden Pavillion Temple, pond and iris flower. It was very worth seeing the Golden Pavillion Temple.


Information

Opening hours: 9-17h  all year long

Admission: Adult 400yen    Elementary & junior high school student 300yen

Access: closest bus stop: Kyoto city bus "Kinkakuji-michi" [金閣寺道]



Other UNESCO World Heritage Spots in Kyoto

* Byodo-in in Uji

Byodo-in in Uji, Kyoto, Japan

The most famous building in Byōdō-in temple is the Phenix Hall 

[Japanese: 鳳凰堂; Hōō-dō) surrounded by a pond.
The Phenix Hall is also called the Amida Hall. [Japanese: 阿弥陀堂]

Information & History of Byodo-in

Byōdō-in [Japanese: 平等院] is located in Uji city in Kyoto, Japan.
Byōdō-in is a temple which is on Japanese ten yen coin.
The building with Buddhist images in Byōdō-in was constructed about 1000 years ago.
Byōdō-in has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1994.
Byōdō-in was originally the villa owned by Minamoto no Tōru [Japanese: 源融] a son of Emperor Saga [Japanese: 嵯峨天皇].
It's said he was the model for Hikaru Genji [Japanese: 光源氏] in The Tale of Genji [Japanese: 源氏物語].
Then this villa was taken over by Emperor Uda [Japanese: 宇多天皇], and then Minamoto no Shigenobu [Japanese: 源重信], a grandson of Emperor Uda, took over it.
Fujiwara no Michinaga [Japanese: 藤原道長] inherited it from Minamoto no Shigenobu's wife.
Fujiwara no Yorimichi [Japanese: 藤原頼道], eldest son of Fujiwara no Michinaga transformed the villa to a Buddhist temple called Byōdō-in in 1052.

The garden in Byōdō-in is "Jōdo garden"(=Pure Land garden) [Japanese: 浄土式庭園] used during Heian [Japanese: 平安] to Kamakura [Japanese: 鎌倉] period.

National Treasures of Byodo-in are ...
* Phoenix Hall (central building, two wing corridors, and tail corridor): four structures  [Japanese: 鳳凰堂（中堂・両翼廊・尾廊）4棟]
* Seated Statue of Amitabha Tathagata  [Japanese: 阿弥陀如来坐像]
* 52 wooden Worshiping Bodhisattvas on Clouds  [木造雲中供養菩薩像　52躯]
* Wooden canopy  [Japanese: 木造天蓋]
* Duo of Phoenixes  [Japanese: 鳳凰1対]
* Temple bell  [Japanese: 梵鐘]
* 14 paintings on wooden doors  [Japanese: 壁扉画14面]



Information
Venerated Amida Nyorai (Amitābha)  [本尊：阿弥陀如来]
Founded in 1052 [永承７年]
Founder: Fujiwara no Yorimichi  [開基：藤原頼道]
Founding priest: Myōson  [開山：明尊]

Open throughout the year (including holidays)
Byodoin Garden 8:30-17:30, Interior of Phenix Hall 9:30-16:10

Address
116 Ujirenge, Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
京都府宇治市宇治蓮華116

Access
Get off at Uji station [宇治駅] of JR Nara Line [JR奈良線] and walk 10 minutes east.

Get off at Keihan Uji station [京阪宇治駅] of Keihan Uji Line [京阪電鉄宇治線] and walk 10 minutes.



Other UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kyoto

* Kinkaku-ji

Yasaka shrine in Kyoto

Yasaka shrine [Japanese: 八坂神社; Yasaka-jinja]
Yasaka shrine is also called "Gion-san" [Japanese: 祇園さん] because Yasaka shrine was once called Gion shrine(=Gion-jinja).
Yasaka shrine is the second most popular shrines in Kyoto.
Yasaka shrine welcomes about 1 millions of people for New Year.

We walked Shijo street [Japanese: 四条通; Shijō-dori] 

from Gion-Shijo station [Japanese: 祇園四条駅; Gion-Shijō]

to the east.

↓

main entrance of Yasaka shrine [Japanese: 西楼門] on Shijo street.

 

 

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After we entered the main entrance [桜門],

 

a Daruma dolls stand
(Daruma dolls are regarded as a talisman of good luck and seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck.)
 

 ↓

After keep walking the pathway [Japanese: 参道],

main hall of Yasaka shrine [Japanese: 本殿; Honden].
 Main hall is one of the Important Cultural Properties of Japan.

In front of the main hall, 

there was a Kagura hall or Maidono [Japanese:神楽殿 or 舞殿].
(Kagura hall: music pavilion in a Shinto shrine dedicated to Noh or the sacred kagura dance)
 

 

Backside of main hall,

there was a place to tie Omikuji and Ema.
(O-mikuji: fortune slip)
(Ema: wooden plaques bearing prayers or wishes)
 

 

In front of Omikuji area, 

there was "Utsukushi-Gozensha" [Japanese: 美御前社].

 The god of Utsukushi-Gozensha is the god of the beauty.

Episode of Yasaka shrine

TOMO&CHOUCHOU went to Yasaka shrine [Japanese: 八坂神社; Yasaka-jinja) in Kyoto for New Year's.
Tomo&Chouchou went to Kyoto by train, then we walked Shijō street [Japanese: 四条通; Shijō-dōri) from Gion-Shijō station [祇園四条駅] to Yasaka shrine.
On Shijō street(=forth avenue), there were many Kyoto-taste shops. It was enjoyable to seee while walking!
After Keep walking Shijō street to the east, we could find the main entrance of the Yasaka shrine [Japanese: 西楼門].
After the entrance, we found many stands (Japanese: 屋台; yatai).
Chouchou was happy to find a Daruma dolls stand, then Chouchou prayed to the Daruma doll.
Keep walking the pathway through the crowd, we found a main hall [Japanese: 本殿; Honden) which was one of the Important Cultural Properties of Japan [重要文化財]. There were so many people in the shrine but we could pray well.
In front of the main hall, there was a maidono [舞殿] which is decorated with lots of Japanese lanterns.
Back side of main hall, there was a place to tie Omikuji [Japanese: おみくじ] or Ema [Japanese: 絵馬].
In front of omikuji area, there was "Utsukushi-Gozensha" [Japanese: 美御前社]. Tomo was happily surprised to find the god of the beauty at Utsukushi-Gozensha! In front of the shrine, there was sacred water [Japanese: 神水]. This sacred water cures skin problems and makes us beautiful from the heart. Of course, Tomo put sacred water to her skin and prayed for the beauty!

Then, we went to the park which is called "Maruyama-Kōen" [Japanese: 円山公園] where is located in the east side of Yasaka shrine. We enjoyed Shijo area in New Year's. It was the good start of the year!

Tomo&Chouchou's advices for Yasaka shrine

Yasaka shrine is popular all year rounds. 

Yasaka shrine is famous for Gion festival(=祇園祭; Gion-matsuri). It is held in July every year. At this time, it is super crowded around Shijo area.

Maruyama-Kōen has excellent cherry blossom (=Shidare-sakura), so Shijo area is very crowded during spring, especially cherry blossom season (=Hanami season).

The entrances and exits of Yasaka shrine are never closed, so you can visit and pray at night too.

Please enjoy Yasaka shrine each season !


Address
625, Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
[京都府京都市東山区祇園町北側625番地]

Transportation
about 5min. on foot from Gion-Shijo station of Keihan line [京阪祇園四条駅]
or
About 8min. on foot from Kawaramachi station of Hankyu line [阪急河原町駅]
or
about 15min. by car from Kyoto station of JR line [ＪＲ京都駅]
or
in front of "Gion" bus stop of Kyoto city bus 206 from JR Kyoto station