Tag Archives: Kyoto
The Momiji Diaries – Part 5 – Kyoto, Hogon-in
11th November, Visit to Arashiyama district North West Kyoto
We caught the local train to Saga Arashiyama by the river Hozu, just after it emerges from the Hozu gorge. Our first visit was to the Hogon-in temple a sub temple of Tenryu-ji. Hogon-in has a pleasant stroll garden with many grumpy looking statues of monks by the [...]
The Momiji Diaries – Part 4 – Kyoto, Agon-shu
10th November, Coach tour East and South of Kyoto
As this was the first day with the group, we laid on a visit to the head temple of the Agon-shu Buddhist sect by chartered coach. Agon-shu is a new sect only a few decades old with a mountain top eyrie. The building is fabulous and exudes [...]
The Momiji Diaries – Part 3 – Kyoto, Nishi Honganji palace
Part 3 of David’s Momiji Diary, parts 1 and 2 are available from the Jade Pavillions author page.
9th November, Kyoto
As the group were arriving later that day I visited some local sites not on the group itinerary. The first was Nishi Honganji palace, which has a splendid ornate entranceway reminiscent of the Heian period architecture. [...]
The Momiji Diaries – Part 2 – Kyoto, Murin-an garden
Continuing the Momiji Diaries (Part 1 can be viewed here if you missed it!)…
8th November, Kyoto
The objective of the day was to check out the progress of the Autumn colour down in the city and up in the hills. With this in mind I made my way to Murin-an garden on foot, stopping to investigate [...]
The Momiji Diaries – Part 1 – Kyoto, Shinnyo-do temple
The following diary entries are from a 2½ week stay in Kyoto and Matsue during 2008, where I led a group of Japanese garden enthusiasts visiting the sites of Kyoto and elsewhere to experience the momiji (maple viewing).
7th November 2008, Kyoto
I arrived in Kyoto late on the 6th of November as an advance member of [...]
A Place in Time
The Japanese garden tradition started in the early Heian period when the new capital was established at Heian-kyo (modern day Kyoto). This provided an opportunity to build a new city in a geomantically ideal location. The new Heian aristocracy were allocated plots near the Imperial Palace, where they built their homes and gardens. From surviving [...]
Full StoryKyoto Corner – Nijo-jo
Nijo-jo or Nijo castle as it is better known, is one of the many sites in Kyoto city which has both impressive architecture and gardens including a number of cultural heritage treasures. The moated castle was constructed in the early 17th century by the Ieyasu Tokugawa, the first of the Tokugawa shoguns who unified Japan, [...]
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