#Ise Torii

[eduseyes]

夫婦岩 Meoto Iwa

2024.05.04

[bonguri]

20240209 Ise+Futami 3 by BONGURI 何度訪れても特別な場所。 @Ise Grand shrine, Ise city, Mie pref.（三重県伊勢市 皇大神宮）

[moznohayanie]

たまたま撮れた神がかり的な一枚

[hst432]

社叢

[studentofshinto]

I needed to see this image to be able to see how big the rocks were. Or in this case, how small. I used to think the Torii gate was full-sized

The sacred Meoto Iwa (夫婦岩) or Husband & Wife Rocks off the coast of Ise, Mie Prefecture

Photo by the Asahi Shimbun

Image from "Shintō: The Sacred Art of Ancient Japan" edited by Victor Harris, published by the British Museum Press. 2001, page 16

[shii-ne]

お伊勢さん

[irunevenus]

Shinto: Japan’s Spiritual Tradition and Its Unique Elements

Shinto, one of Japan’s oldest religions, is a spiritual practice deeply rooted in the country’s culture and history. Unlike many Western religions, Shinto has no specific founder, single sacred book, or universalized doctrine. Instead, it is a spiritual tradition that focuses on the veneration of kami, spirits and deities that inhabit the natural world and its manifestations. This article explores the origins of Shinto, its core tenets, practices, and the religion’s continuing influence on contemporary Japanese society.

Origins and Development of Shinto Shinto has its roots in animistic practices and beliefs that predate the formation of Japan as a nation. Its history is closely intertwined with Japan’s cultural and political evolution, and many of its traditions have been shaped over the centuries by interactions with other religions, such as Buddhism and Confucianism.

The earliest written records of Shinto date back to the 8th century, with the compilation of texts such as the "Kojiki" (Records of Ancient Matters) and the "Nihon Shoki" (Chronicles of Japan). These texts describe Shinto mythology and the historical events associated with the formation of the first Japanese dynasties. Although Shinto has evolved over the centuries, its basic practices and beliefs have remained relatively consistent, centering on the worship of kami and maintaining harmony with nature.

Kami: Spirits and Deities in Shinto In Shinto, the concept of kami is central. Kami are spirits or deities that reside in natural elements such as mountains, rivers, trees, and other aspects of the natural environment. They can also be revered ancestors or supernatural beings with specific powers.

Nature Kami: Many kami are associated with specific natural phenomena and locations. For example, mountain kami are associated with strength and protection, while river kami may be associated with fertility and purity.

Ancestral Kami: In some traditions, kami are the spirits of important ancestors or revered historical figures. Ancestor worship is a way to honor their contributions and maintain a spiritual connection to the family line.

Imperial Kami: The Japanese imperial family is considered to be direct descendants of kami, especially the sun goddess Amaterasu. This gives the imperial family a sacred role, as they are seen as intermediaries between the gods and the Japanese people.

Shinto Shrines: Places of Worship and Rituals Shinto shrines, known as "jinja," are places of worship and worship where kami are revered. These shrines range in size and importance, from small communal altars to large complexes such as Ise Shrine, dedicated to Amaterasu.

Torii: One of the most recognizable symbols of Shintoism is the torii, a traditional gate that marks the entrance to a shrine. The torii symbolizes the transition from the profane to the sacred world and is often found at the entrance to Shinto shrines.

Honden and Haiden: Inside shrines, the main structure, called the honden, is where the kami are housed. The haiden is the place of worship where worshipers offer prayers and invocations.

Rituals and Festivals: Shinto rituals, known as matsuri, are events that celebrate the kami and the season. These festivals may include dances, music, and other activities that promote purification and gratitude.

Principles and Practices of Shintoism Shintoism does not have a uniform written doctrine, but its principles are centered on concepts of purity, harmony, and respect for nature:

Purity and Contamination: The notion of purity is essential in Shintoism. The concept of "kegare" refers to spiritual contamination, which can be caused by impure actions or negative events. Purification rituals, such as the use of water or the performance of specific ceremonies, are important to restore purity.

Harmony with Nature: Shintoism emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with nature and respecting the kami that inhabit the natural environment. The practice of reverence and gratitude for natural resources is a fundamental part of Shinto spirituality.

Rituals and Offerings: Shinto rituals often involve making offerings to the kami, such as food, drinks, and symbolic objects. These offerings are made to express respect, gratitude, and to ask for protection and blessings.

Influence of Shinto on Japanese Society

Shinto has had a profound influence on Japanese culture and society. Although Buddhism has become the predominant religion in Japan, Shinto continues to play an important role in daily life and cultural celebrations.

Weddings and Festivals: Many Japanese hold wedding ceremonies and New Year celebrations at Shinto shrines, reflecting the continued importance of religion in family life and cultural traditions.Rites of Passage: Shinto is also involved in rites of passage, such as naming ceremonies for newborns and festivals that mark important life moments.Cultural Preservation: Shinto contributes to the preservation of cultural traditions and artistic practices, such as annual festivals and the maintenance of traditional crafts and architecture.

Contemporary Challenges and Adaptations

Shinto, like many religious traditions, faces challenges in the modern era. Urbanization and globalization have impacted religious practice and the preservation of shrines and traditions. However, many Japanese continue to cherish and celebrate their Shinto traditions, adapting them to contemporary circumstances.

Conclusion

Shinto is a religion deeply rooted in Japanese history and culture, offering a spiritual vision that celebrates connection with nature and reverence for kami. Although it has evolved over the centuries and faced challenges in the modern world, Shinto continues to play a significant role in the lives of Japanese people, influencing their cultural and spiritual practices.

Through its traditions of purity, harmony, and respect for nature, Shinto offers a unique perspective on spirituality and the relationship between humans and the natural world. Its enduring presence and cultural practices reflect a rich heritage and enduring vision that continues to inspire and guide its followers.

Shinto, with its emphasis on reverence for spirits and nature, continues to be a fundamental part of cultural and spiritual life in Japan. As the country faces the changes of the modern world, Shinto offers a perspective of harmony and respect, while maintaining a deep connection to its ancient traditions and values.

[noticiasarquelogicasjaponesas]

Sean bienvenidos a una nueva publicación en la cual aclararemos las diferencias entre un templo y un santuario japonés dicho esto pónganse cómodos que empezamos. - Seguramente, todos hemos visto alguna vez en fotos templos y santuarios que están por todo el archipiélago nipón y más de una vez nos hemos preguntado: ¿Cuáles son las diferencias entre ellos? - Primero la palabra santuario ¿Qué significa?: Es el lugar en el que los japoneses adoran a todos los kamis por lo cual cada uno tiene el suyo propio, también cabe destacar que puede ser una montaña un lago ect.. Cuando buscamos esta palabra en español, hace referencia a un templo,entonces ¿Cuáles son las principales diferencias? la principal sería que los santuarios sintoístas, disponen de una puerta principal llamada torii a diferencia de los templos budistas, que disponen de una pagoda. Ejemplos de templos budistas por ciudades Templo de Kiyomizu-dera (Kioto) Templo Kinkakuji (Kioto) Templo Senso-ji (Tokio) Templo de Hokokuji (Kamakura) Templo Todai-ji (Nara) Templo de Sanjusangendo (Kioto - Santuarios japoneses por ciudades: Santuario de Ise – Ciudad de Ise Santuario Meiji – Tokio Santuario Itsukushima – Miyajima Santuario Sumiyoshi Taisha – Osaka Santuario Hie Jinja – Tokio Santuario Izumo – Ciudad de Izumo - Para aclarar las dudas, entre un santuario y un templo: También hay que tener en cuenta los distintos nombres y otras de las cosas que caracterizan un templo son las siguientes : Komainu, Temizuya o chōzuya, Salas principales, Amuletos,Komainu, Temizuya el honden y el haiden. En próximos capítulos podemos hablar de cada uno de ellos, aparte de seguir realizando publicaciones de historia, arqueología, geografía entre otros temas de japón os deseo un cordial saludo. - Welcome to a new publication in which we will clarify the differences between a temple and a Japanese sanctuary. That being said, make yourself comfortable and let's get started. - Surely, we have all seen temples and sanctuaries that are all over the Japanese archipelago in photos and more than once we have asked ourselves: What are the differences between them? - First, the word sanctuary What does it mean?: It is the place where the Japanese worship all the kamis, so each one has their own, it is also worth noting that it can be a mountain, a lake, etc. When we look for this word in Spanish, it refers to a temple, so what are the main differences? The main one would be that Shinto shrines have a main door called torii. unlike Buddhist temples, which have a pagoda. Examples of Buddhist temples by city Kiyomizu-dera Temple (Kyoto) Kinkakuji Temple (Kyoto) Senso-ji Temple (Tokyo) Hokokuji Temple (Kamakura) Todai-ji Temple (Nara) Sanjusangendo Temple (Kyoto) Shitennoji Temple (Osaka) - Japanese shrines by cities: Ise Shrine – Ise City Meiji Shrine – Miyajima Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine – Osaka Fushimi Inari Shrine – Kyoto Hie Jinja Shrine – Tokyo Izumo Shrine – Izumo City - To clarify doubts, between a sanctuary and a temple: We must also take into account the different names and other things that characterize a temple are the following: Komainu, Temizuya or chōzuya, Main rooms, Amulets, Komainu, Temizuya the honden and the haiden. In future chapters we can talk about each of them, apart from continuing to publish publications on history, archaeology, geography, among other topics about Japan, I wish you a cordial greeting. - 寺院と日本の聖域の違いを明確にする新しい出版物へようこそ。そうは言っても、安心して始めましょう。 - 確かに、私たちは皆、日本列島各地にある寺院や聖域を写真で見たことがあり、それらの違いは何だろうかと自問したことが一度や二度ではありません。 - まず、聖域という言葉はどういう意味ですか?: それは日本人がすべての神を崇拝する場所であり、それぞれに独自の神があり、それが山や湖などであることも注目に値します。この単語はスペイン語で寺院を指しますが、主な違いは何でしょうか? 主なものは、神社には鳥居と呼ばれる表扉があることです。 塔のある仏教寺院とは異なります。 都市別の仏教寺院の例 清水寺（京都） 金閣寺（京都） 浅草寺（東京） 報国寺（鎌倉） 東大寺（奈良） 三十三間堂（京都） 四天王寺（大阪） - 都市別の日本の神社: 伊勢神宮 – 伊勢市 明治神宮 – 東京 厳島神社 – 宮島 住吉大社 – 大阪 伏見稲荷大社 – 京都 日枝神社 – 東京 出雲大社 – 出雲市 - 聖域と寺院の間の疑問を解消するには、次のような名前や寺院を特徴付けるその他のものについても考慮する必要があります: 狛犬、手水舎または手水舎、主室、お守り、狛犬、本殿と拝殿。 今後の章では、歴史、考古学、地理、その他日本に関するトピックに関する出版物の発行を続けることに加えて、それぞれのテーマについてお話します。心からご挨拶を申し上げます。

[tenjin-no-shinja]

Torii

The Origins of Torii

There are two kinds of Sandō (road that approaches the shrine), a road that comes from a town or city and continues to the shrine, and the road from the entrance of the shrine to the Haiden (Prayer Hall) • Honden (Main Hall). Both are sacred roads in which visitors walk, and mikoshi are carried along the path. Therefore in order to demarcate the sacred land, torii, koma inu, stone lanterns, etc… are placed. Koma inu, and stone lions will be discussed later on, here is where torii are being discussed. In fact the origin of Torii is not clear. From extant examples and paintings in picture scrolls, it is known that a similar type of torii existed in the 12th century, but it is not known when and for what purpose they were built.

Why are there so many different types of Torii?

The present torii gate functions as a symbolic gateway, indicating that the area inside (beyond) the gateway is sacred ground. It also serves as a warning that any disrespectful behavior beyond the gate will result in punishment. Another feature of torii gates is that there are many types. It is said that the shape of the torii may have indicated the type of kami, but this is not certain. The form can be broadly classified into the Shinmei type and the Myojin type. While the Shinmei type is simple, the Myojin type is highly decorative and sometimes painted in vermilion. This may be related to the fact that Myojin-style torii are often erected at shrines of common people’s beliefs, as they have a strong sense of Shinto/Buddhist syncretism.

Parts of a Torii Gate

笠木 Kasagi

Cap Piece that covers the top of a Torii

島木 Shimagi

Long horizontal timber above the columns on a Torii, right below the Kasagi

台輪 Daiwa

The single piece placed where the columns meet the Shimagi, believed to prevent rot from setting in from the top of the pillars

額束 Gakutsuka

The plaque that holds the name of the shrine

楔 Kusabi

Wedges/Lynchpins

貫 Nuki

Lower horizontal timber, traditionally does not pierce the columns, and in Shinmei style torii, is said to be round

柱 Hashira

The two vertical columns leading up to the horizontal bars

藁座 Waraza

Reinforcement for the Daīshi at the bottom of the torii

台石 Daīshi

Stone pedestal at the bottom of torii

亀腹 Kamebara

White plaster bun-shaped mounds used to reinforce support base stones.

Varieties of Torii

神明系 Shinmei Style

Image Sources: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

黒木鳥居 Kurogi Torii

Made from logs where the outer bark is still attached. Seen at shrines like 野宮神社 Nonomiya Jinja.

鹿島鳥居 Kashima Torii

The lower cross bar is quadrilateral (instead of rounded), and sticks out past the pillars holding the torii up. Seen at shrines like 鹿島神宮 Kashima Jingū.

神明鳥居 Shinmei Torii

The pillars, top crossbar and lower crossbar are all rounded. See at shrines like 神明宮 Shinmeigū.

伊勢鳥居 Ise Torii

The upper crossbar is pentagonal in shape. Seen at shrines like 伊勢神宮内宮・外宮 Ise Jingū Naikū • Gekū and 熱田神宮 Atsuta Jingū

明神系 Myojin Style

Usually these have the cap piece called a Kasagi while Shinmei do not

八幡鳥居 Hachiman Torii

The edge of the top bar is slanted. Seen at shrines like 岩清水八幡宮 Iwashimizu Hachimangū.

台輪（稲荷）鳥居 Daiwa (Inari) Torii

Below the upper crossbar are Daiwa (see above definition). Seen at shrines like 伏見稲荷大社 Fushimi Inari Taisha.

春日鳥居 Kasuga Torii

Less warping of the cap piece and upper crossbar (fairly flat). Seen at shrines like 春日大社 Kasuga Taisha.

両部鳥居 Ryōbu Torii

Has smaller support columns attached to the main pillars. Seen at shrines like 厳島神社 Itsukushima Jinja, and 氣比神宮 Kehi Jingū.

中山鳥居 Nakayama Torii

The same as a Myōjin Torii, except the lower crossbar doesn’t stick out. Seen at shrines like 中山神社 Nakayama Jinja.

Image Sources: 1 , 2

明神鳥居 Myōjin Torii

Both the upper and lower crossbars have warping (meaning they’re more curved). Seen at shrines like 神田明神 Kanda Myōjin.

山王鳥居 Sannō Torii

Above the Kasagi, there is an extra part called the Gasshō, which is a triangular shaped piece. Seen at shrines like 日吉大社 Hiyoshi Taisha.

三輪鳥居 Miwa Torii

To the sides are smaller support torii. Seen at shrines like 大神神社 Ōmiwa Jinja.

Translations of this page

[nuri148]

My Trip to Japan! ⛩️ Part 3

16.12

We had breakfast as soon as service started at 6:30, and then went to take the Shinkansen to Kyoto. The trip lasted just under an hour, and we arrived at 8:30. It was an adventure to get out. It would take us a day and a half to figure out the right way to move around the gigantic Kyoto station without getting trapped like a rat in a maze. We left the suitcases at the hotel, conveniently located just opposite the station, and went straight to Kinkaku-ji, the temple of the Golden Pavillion. The titlepavillion is one of several that make up the temple, though none as spectacular. The gardens were a delight. We had matcha tea at the temple's tea house, with a very tasty sweet bearing the pavillion’s outline and a touch of gold leaf.

We continued to the next temple, Ryō-An-ji. I liked this one a lot; it has a large stone Zen garden that invites contemplation... until the school outing arrives and misaligns all your chakras. On the way out, I bought a beautiful maiko doll for my niece, and we had a butaman, a very fluffy bread ball filled with pork. Very tasty.

Next on the itinerary was Ninna-ji, with an impressive monumental gate and a cherry blossom promenade that must be a dream during hanami season. Ninna-ji is an extensive complex, with many pavilions and a five-story pagoda. It was already 1 pm so we took a cute vintage train to Arashiyama, where we had some delicious sobaforlunch, looked at shops, and peeked at the Katsura River before attacking the fourth temple of the day, UNESCO World Heritage Site like the other 3: Tenryū-ji. This was the one that caught my attention the least (or maybe I was already saturated), but next to it ther’s the bamboo forest. You don't enter the forest proper, which is fenced, but walk through a pathway opened between the canes. Still, the height, greenery, and coverage of the bamboo canopy are impressive. You could hear the crackling of the canes hitting each other.

On the way back to the train, we happened to pass by a Shinto shrine in the middle of the bamboo forest, Nonomiya jinja, beautiful in its simplicity. Imperial princesses came here to purify themselves for at least a year before going to the Ise Shrine to ervve there on behalf of the emperor. Even if the custom ended in the 14th century, Nonomiya shrine still enjoys the favor of the imperial family.

In the evening we strolled a bit through the picturesque Gion district at night, had dinner, and went to bed for the next early rising.

17.12.

We got up at six sharp to go to the world-famous Fushimi Inari-taisha, the “shrine of the thousand torii” (ritual gates). We missed the train we wanted to take, lost in the mega-station, but we still arrived in time to start well before the hordes of visitors arrived. Even before entering, I witnessed something that gave a hint of how special this place is: while we were have breakfast in front of the konbini opposite the main entrance, a taxi stopped, the driver got out, prayed facing the temple right there on the tarmac, and continued his route.

The shrine was founded in the 8th century, dedicated, like the mountain where it sits, to Inari, the Shinto deity of rice, agriculture, and business, whose messenger animal is the fox. Therefore, fox-shaped statuettes are omnipresent on the altars spread all about the mountain. We went in, toured the different halls, and started the climb up Mount Inari along the torii-lined path. These gates are erected as votive offerings; the large ones, like the ones along the path, can cost as much as a luxury car, so they usually come from companies, but many minor shrines hold small, smaller, tiny, keychain-sized torii gates. Throughout the mountain, there are literally thousands of shrines: new and old, luxurious or very humble, alone or in groups, next to the path or hidden in the forest, pristine or claimed by nature.

Regardless of each person’s beliefs, Fushimi Inari has more than earned its sacred mountain status. Its atmosphere is tremendously spiritual. Even as I write this I get emotional, as I recall the overwhelming feeling that gripped me most of the way, despite the growing number of people appearing as the day progressed.

After leaving the shrine, we ate some takoyaki on the go and went to the center, to Nishiki Market, a covered street with very nice shops, especially food ones. I stopped at one which had all kinds of beautiful things, had my loot, and when I got to the cash point, the old lady took all her time to perfectly wrap the humble set of Hina dolls that I had bought. Position, bag, box, bag… I legit felt like Alan Rickman in Love Actually when Mr. Bean wraps the gift for his lover. Three times I told her she didn’t need to peel the price tags, as everything was for myself. Forget it, the price tag must go. We ate some more takoyaki to complete lunch at a place that only sells that. The basic ones were ¥280 (€1.90) for 6. In Europe, they charge you €5 for 4 balls. After eating, we went to Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion, with beautiful gardens and not as crowded as the golden one (spoiler: it's not covered in silver. That was the idea, but it never materialized).

We went down a little street that borders a canal called "The Philosopher's Path". A very bucolic and pleasant stroll, with a lot of green, traditional houses and hardly any shops, just art galleries or craft workshops. The last temple of the day was Eikan-do. Larger than we anticipated, it’s set within lush gardens and is beautiful: its many pavillions include a pagoda and a curved staircase nicknamed "sleeping dragon." Next to these stairs stands the three-needle pine, whose needles grow in groups of three, not two. It’s said to symbolize the virtues of wisdom, mercy, and sincerity. And that if you get a pine needle like that, you will be blessed with all three. Unfortunately, with everything being so clean, there was none within my reach.

⬆️ I haven't talked much about shopping so far, because the truth is there was hardly any AoT merchandise anywhere. These on the picture above are the only items they had at the Kyoto Animate store: One (1) chibi Levi clearfile; random manga volumes; One (1) Ereh acrylic stand and One (1) Levi one but it was teen Levi, not looking hot; and a "surprise" box with some chibi stuff but I'm certainly NOT spending 880¥ in a surprise. That's it. Neither Donki nor the discount place opposite had jackshit.

We had dinner on the 11th floor of the train station. Kyoto Station's building is a monster of engineering; the north hall rises ten floors above street level and includes a monumental staircase with LED colors on the risers that play with lights and even reproduce entire videos in full color (we saw the trailer for the latest Disney movie); on that side, there’s a huge department store, of which the last two floors are food courts: the 10th floor is only ramen restaurants, and the 11th floor has a bit of everything. We had beef tongue, a favourite of mine. After dinner, we went to the Sky Gallery, a walkway emerging from the 10th floor, with  panoramic views of the station and the city.

18.12.

We woke up early and had breakfast at the hotel buffet, supposedly "western style," which turned out to be a hit-and-miss, not so much because of the Japanese version of what you can find at a buffet in Europe or the US, but because many of those dishes were cold, when they’re eaten warm in the West.

We started the day at Kiyomizu-dera, very spacious, with a clarity inside the temple that I hadn't seen in other Buddhist shrines. The impressive views over the city from its balcony supported by a structure of 13-meter-high wooden pillars are noteworthy. We walked down, looking at shops in Gion (there was a Ghibli shop here too!) and then we looked for an early lunch, as we had booked a kimono tea ceremony at one.

The buildig where the tea house operates is a registered cultural property. They dressed me in a kimono for me: an underrobe, tied with a ribbon (which straightens your back), the kimono itself, tied wit another ribbon, a plate to hold the obi (sash) in place, and the obi. They did my hair, and I proceeded to the salon, where Husband was already waiting for me looking like a full-fledged samurai. We were in a group of 8: us, an Australian couple about our age, and an Asian-American family of dad, mom, and two teenage children. Luckily, everyone was motivated and respectful of the place and the ritual.

After the hostess showed the entire process, she taught us how to whisk the matcha, and we enjoyed our tea (the traditional way is that everyone takes turns drinking from the same cup, but since the pandemic, each one gets their own bowl). Previously, we tasted sweets. One of them was a kind of dumpling filled with anko that blew my mind. It's called yatsuhashi and is a Kyoto specialty. The hostess wrote the name on a piece of paper for me and everything, but... My joy was short-lived, as when I went to buy it, the expiration date was quite short, so I could only got a small package to eat as soon as we returned home. Once the ceremony was over, we took photos at will in the house garden before returning the kimono.

In the afternoon we went to Nijo Castle, with impressive paintings on the door panels and exquisite marquetry on the lintels and ceilings. The historical significance of this castle is enormous, as it was the place wher the Tokugawa shogunate, better known as the Edo era, both began and ended. After the castle and more walking around the city centre, we had dinner and dragged ourselves back to the hotel, exhausted, and prepared everything to go to Nara the next day.

[morporkian-cryptid]

🇯🇵⛩️Japan day 9 - last day of the road trip

Today we visited Ise, birthplace of Shintoism and home of Japan's most important shrine to Amaterasu-Omikami, the sun goddess who gave birth to the Imperial line.

⛩️Ise-Jingu is an immense shrine spanning the entire region, and containing 125 small shrines. The most important one is Naiku, the one where Amaterasu-Omikami is enshrined. Historically the high priests and priestesses of the shrine belonged to the imperial line, and the current high priestess is the daughter of retired emperor Akihito. The entire shrine (like, the main buildings, torii, etc, the whole shebang) is rebuilt anew every twenty years; the operation takes nine years and involves hundreds of rituals.

Ise shrine has been an important place of pilgrimage since the Edo era. The traditional route is to first purify yourself at Futamiokitama shrine, home of the famous Meoto Iwa "married stones", where young women pray for an auspicious marriage. The rocks represent Izanagi and Izanami, the original gods and parents of Amaterasu & co. The enshrined kami, Sarutahiko Okami, has frogs for their messenger animal, and there are frog statues and frog-decorated merch to buy. I nearly bought a tadpole-shaped omamori (might go back tomorrow for it).

Then you visit Geku shrine, dedicated to Toyouke Ohime. She is the goddess of food, clothes and homes. She was summoned and enshrined in Ise after an emperor had a vision of Amaterasu basically saying "I love it here but there's no food, bring my pal over so she can cook for me".

And lastly, you visit Naiku shrine, home of Amaterasu the sun goddess, protector of Japan. You can even ourify yourself djrectmy in the river rather than in a temizuya.

The shrines themselves were a little underwhelming, especially when compared with the other shrines I've seen so far. All of the buildings were made of plain wood, which is logical when you account for the fact that they're rebuilt every 20 years. You also cant see the atars, which are hidden behind walls or cloths, and there are no statues.

On the other hand, plain wooden buildings shaped like rice granaries in the middle of a forest /does/ bring you closer to nature, which is the origin of shintoism (which is at heart an animist belief). All in all, it was a important place to cross off the bucket list.

Also, tonight I can sleep on a real mattress for the first time in 10 days 🥳 And tomorrow we head back to Tokyo.

[whencyclopedfr]

Sanctuaire d'Ise

Le Grand sanctuaire d'Ise ou Ise Jingu, situé au cœur d'une forêt sacrée dans la préfecture de Mie au Japon, est le sanctuaire shintoïste le plus important du pays. Il est dédié à la déesse du soleil Amaterasu et un sanctuaire séparé est consacré à Toyouke, la déesse de la nourriture. Construit pour la première fois en l'an 4 avant notre ère, les structures actuelles sont basées sur les bâtiments érigés au 7e siècle de notre ère. Fait unique, 16 des 125 bâtiments de ce complexe tentaculaire, ainsi que le pont Uju et la porte torii , sont reconstruits exactement tous les 20 ans, la dernière fois en 2013. Ise Jingu est le sanctuaire ancestral des empereurs du Japon.

Lire la suite...

[bonguri]

20240209 Ise+Futami 2 by BONGURI 伊勢神宮の一の鳥居。榊が左右に揺れた跡は風の影響とかなのかな？ @Ise Grand shrine, Ise city, Mie pref.（三重県伊勢市 皇大神宮）

[gidilecekyerler]

Japonya Gezilecek Yerler 2023 (Yurtdışında Gezilecek Yerler)

Japonya gezilecek yerler 2023 listesinde dünyada en önemli ülkelerden bir tanesidir. Doğu Asya'da yer alan ve zengin tarihi ve kültürel mirasıyla ünlüdür. Japonya'yı gezmek, farklı bir kültür ve yaşam tarzı keşfetmek için mükemmel bir fırsat sunar. Ayrıca Japon mutfağı da dünyaca ünlüdür ve lezzetli yemekleri deneyimlemek için Japonya'ya gitmek bir zorunluluktur. Bu makalede, Japonya gezilecek yerler, tarihi ve meşhur yemekler hakkında bilgi vereceğim. Yurtdışı gezilecek yerler hakkında daha fazla bilgi için diğer yazılarımıza da göz atabilirsiniz. Japonya vize istiyor mu? Japonya'ya nasıl giderim? Japonya'da iş hayatı nasıl? Japonya'da iş bulabilir miyim? Sorularına da detaylı olarak bir sonraki vizesiz gidilecek ve vizeli gidilecek ülkeler makalemizde görebilirsiniz. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Yokohama, Sapporo ve Nagoya gibi büyük şehirler yer alır. Japonya gezilecek yerler listesinde bulunan bu şehirler oldukça popüler ve ünlüdür. Ancak, ülkede gezilecek pek çok turistik yer de vardır. Ayrıca Japonya Tokyo Tapınakları da meşhurdur. Bunlardan bazıları şunlardır: - Tokyo Kulesi Kaç Metre: Tokyo Kulesi, Tokyo'da yer alan bir gözlem kulesidir. 333 metre yüksekliği ile Japonya'nın en yüksek yapısıdır ve harika bir manzara sunar. - Meiji Jingu Tapınağı: Meiji Jingu Tapınağı, Tokyo'da yer alan ve Japonya'nın en önemli tapınaklarından biridir. Tapınak, İmparator Meiji ve İmparatoriçe Shoken anısına inşa edilmiştir. - Kinkaku-ji Tapınağı: Kinkaku-ji Tapınağı, Kyoto'da yer alan ve altın kaplama ile kaplı bir tapınaktır. Tapınak, Japon bahçesi ve tarihi mimarisiyle ünlüdür. - Fushimi Inari Tapınağı Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Tapınağı, Kyoto'da yer alan ve binlerce torii kapısı ile ünlü bir tapınaktır. Tapınak, Japon dininin önemli bir sembolüdür. - Himeji Kalesi Tarihi: Himeji Kalesi, Japonya'nın en iyi korunmuş kalelerinden biridir. Beyaz duvarları ve karmaşık mimarisiyle ünlüdür ve UNESCO Dünya Mirası Listesi'nde yer almaktadır.

Tokyo Kulesi ve Japonya Gezilecek Yerler

Tokyo Kulesi Kaç Metre? Yurtdışı gezilecek yerler listesinde bir numara diyebiliriz. Tokyo Kulesi, Japonya'nın başkenti Tokyo'da bulunan bir kule kompleksidir. 1958 yılında açılan kule, 333 metre yüksekliği ile Japonya'nın en yüksek yapısıdır ve Tokyo'nun sembolik yapılarından biridir. Tokyo Kulesi, ziyaretçilere harika bir şehir manzarası sunmakta ve her yıl milyonlarca turisti ağırlamaktadır. Tokyo Kulesi'nin tarihi oldukça ilginçtir. İnşaatı 1957'de başlayan kule, Tokyo'nun kentsel gelişiminde önemli bir rol oynamıştır. Kule, Tokyo Körfezi'ne yakın bir noktada bulunmaktadır ve orijinal olarak Tokyo Körfezi'nde inşa edilmiş olan iki adanın birleştirilmesiyle oluşturulmuştur. İnşaat süreci oldukça zordu ve Tokyo Kulesi'nin yapımı 3 yıl sürdü. Tokyo Kulesi, günümüzde Tokyo'nun en popüler turistik yerlerinden biridir. Ziyaretçiler, kuleye çıkarak Tokyo'nun muhteşem manzarasını görebilirler. Kule, iki gözlem noktasına sahiptir. Alt gözlem noktası 150 metre yükseklikte yer almaktadır ve Tokyo Körfezi'ne bakan bir manzaraya sahiptir. Üst gözlem noktası ise 250 metre yükseklikte bulunmakta ve Tokyo'nun merkezi semtlerine bakan bir manzara sunmaktadır. Tokyo Kulesi'ne ziyaretçiler, asansörle ulaşabilirler ve kulede çeşitli restoran ve hediyelik eşya mağazaları bulunmaktadır.

Meiji Jingu Tapınağı Tokyo

Meji Jingu Tapınağı Kaç Metre? Meiji Jingu Tapınağı, Tokyo'nun en ünlü turistik yerlerinden biridir ve Japonya'nın en önemli dini anıtlarından biridir. 1920 yılında inşa edilen tapınak, İmparator Meiji ve İmparatoriçe Shoken'in anısına yapılmıştır ve Japon halkı tarafından oldukça saygı duyulmaktadır. Meiji Jingu Tapınağı, doğal güzellikleri, Japon kültürü ve gelenekleriyle ilgilenen ziyaretçiler için mükemmel bir yerdir. Meiji Jingu Tapınağı'nın inşaatı, 1912 yılında İmparator Meiji'nin ölümü üzerine başladı ve 1920 yılında tamamlandı. Tapınak, 70 hektarlık bir ormanlık alana inşa edildi ve Japon mimarisi ve geleneksel teknikleri kullanılarak yapıldı. Tapınakta bulunan büyük kapılar, Japon kültürünün en önemli sembollerinden biridir ve ziyaretçilerin hoş geldiniz demek için kullanılır. Tapınakta, Japon kültürü ve gelenekleri hakkında bilgi edinmek için birçok fırsat bulunmaktadır. Örneğin, tapınak bahçesinde bulunan Naien bölgesinde, İmparator Meiji ve İmparatoriçe Shoken'in kişisel eşyalarını sergileyen bir müze bulunmaktadır. Ayrıca, Meiji Jingu Tapınağı'nda düzenlenen geleneksel Japon düğünleri, ziyaretçiler için unutulmaz bir deneyimdir. Meiji Jingu Tapınağı'nın önemi, sadece Japon halkı için değil, turistler için de büyüktür. Tapınak, Tokyo'nun kalbinde yer almakta ve ziyaretçilerin kolayca ulaşabileceği bir konumdadır. Ayrıca, tapınağın yılda birkaç kez düzenlenen festivalleri, Japon kültürünün en canlı yönlerini gösterir. Sonuç olarak, Meiji Jingu Tapınağı, Japonya'nın en önemli dini anıtlarından biridir ve Japon kültürü ve gelenekleri hakkında bilgi edinmek isteyen ziyaretçiler için mükemmel bir yerdir. Tapınak, doğal güzellikleri ve konumu ile turistler için de büyük bir çekim merkezidir. Eğer Tokyo'ya seyahat ediyorsanız, Meiji Jingu Tapınağı'nı mutlaka ziyaret etmelisiniz.

Kinkaku-ji Tapınağı ve Tarihi

Kinkakuji Tapınağı Kinkakuji Tapınağı ve kısaca tarihi hakkında bilgi verelim. Japonya'nın Kyoto şehrinde bulunan tarihi bir tapınaktır. İlk olarak 1397 yılında inşa edilen tapınak, daha sonra birçok kez restore edilmiştir. Tapınak, üç katlı bir yapıya sahiptir ve en üst katı altın kaplamalıdır. Bu özelliği ile "Altın Tapınak" olarak da bilinir. Kinkakuji Tapınağı, Japonya'nın en ünlü turistik yerlerinden biridir. Tapınak, bahçesi ve altın kaplamalı yapısı ile ziyaretçilerin ilgisini çekmektedir. Tapınak bahçesi, çam ağaçları, çalılar ve su özellikleriyle doludur. Bahçe, doğanın güzelliğini vurgulamak için özenle tasarlanmıştır. Tapınak bahçesinde yürürken doğanın huzur verici etkisini hissetmek mümkündür. Kinkakuji Tapınağı, Japon kültürü ve tarihine büyük önem veren bir yerdir. Tapınak, 1994 yılında UNESCO Dünya Mirası Listesi'ne dahil edilmiştir. Bu nedenle, Japonya'yı ziyaret eden turistlerin mutlaka görmesi gereken yerlerden biridir. Eğer Kinkaku-ji Tapınağı'nı ziyaret etmek istiyorsanız, bahar aylarında ziyaret etmeniz önerilir. Bu dönemde, tapınak bahçesi kiraz çiçekleri ile doludur ve muhteşem bir manzara sunar. Ayrıca, tapınak bahçesindeki yapay göletteki yansımaları izlemek de ayrı bir keyiftir. Kinkaku-ji Tapınağı'nı ziyaret etmek için en uygun zaman bahar ve sonbahar aylarıdır. Yaz aylarında çok sıcak ve nemli olabilir, kış aylarında ise kar yağışı görülebilir. Ziyaretiniz sırasında uygun kıyafetler seçmeye özen gösterin. Sonuç olarak, Kinkaku-ji Tapınağı Japonya'nın en önemli turistik yerlerinden biridir. Tapınak, bahçesi ve altın kaplamalı yapısı ile ziyaretçilerin ilgisini çekmektedir. Tapınak, Japon kültürü ve tarihine önem veren bir yerdir ve mutlaka ziyaret edilmesi gereken bir yerdir.

Fushimi Inari Tapınağı Tarihi

Fushimi Inari Tapınağı Japonya gezi rehberi içinde bulunan bu tapınak mutlaka listeye eklenmelidir. Tabiatın ve dinin bütünleştiği, eşsiz bir yer olan Fushimi Inari Tapınağı, Japonya'nın Kyoto şehrinde bulunur. Bu tapınak, Japonya'nın en ünlü turistik yerlerinden biri olarak kabul edilir ve yılda milyonlarca turist tarafından ziyaret edilir. Fushimi Inari Tapınağı, Torii kapıları ile ünlüdür. Bu kapılar, kutsal alanın girişini işaret eder. Tapınak, birçok küçük tapınaktan oluşur ve birçok tanrı ve tanrıça heykeli bulunur. Tapınakta bulunan İnari Tanrısı, Japon tarımı ve ticareti için önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Tapınağın en dikkat çekici özelliği, binlerce oranj renkli Torii kapısından oluşan bir yoldur. Bu kapılar, tapınağın arka kısmına kadar devam eder ve ziyaretçilere nefes kesici manzaralar sunar. Ayrıca, tapınağın arka tarafındaki dağlarda, ziyaretçilerin yürüyebileceği birçok yürüyüş parkuru bulunur. Fushimi Inari Tapınağı'nın ayrıca bir diğer özelliği de Japonya'nın geçmişinde önemli bir yeri olan shintoizm inancının izlerini taşımasıdır. Bu inanca göre, doğada var olan her şey tanrısal bir varlık tarafından kontrol edilir. Bu sebeplerden dolayı, Fushimi Inari Tapınağı, Japon kültürünün en önemli sembollerinden biridir ve her yıl milyonlarca turisti kendine çekmektedir. Japonya'da seyahat planı yapanlar için mutlaka görülmesi gereken yerler arasındadır.

Himeji Kalesi Tarihi ve Fotoğraflar

Himeji Kalesi Hakkında Bilgi Japonya gezilecek yerler listesinde mutlaka eklemeniz gerek kaledir. Himeji Kalesi, Japonya'nın Himeji şehrinde yer alan bir kale ve UNESCO Dünya Mirası alanıdır. Bu muhteşem kale, Japonya'nın en büyük ve en iyi korunmuş kalelerinden biridir. Himeji Kalesi, Japon mimarisinin en güzel örneklerinden biridir ve ziyaretçilere Japon tarihine ve kültürüne benzersiz bir bakış sunar. Himeji Kalesi, 1333 yılında inşa edilmeye başlandı ve yüzyıllar boyunca birçok kez genişletildi ve restore edildi. Kale, Japonya'nın en ünlü dönemlerinden biri olan Sengoku döneminde (MÖ 1467-1603) yapıldı ve Japon tarihinin en ünlü kalesi olarak kabul edilir. Himeji Kalesi, 83 bin metrekarelik bir alanı kaplar ve birkaç bölümden oluşur. Kalemizin ana bölümü, merkezde yer alan "dondurma konisi" şeklindeki bir yapıdır. Bu bölüm, altı katlı ve her katta farklı bir amaca hizmet eden odaları vardır. Ziyaretçiler, kaleyi gezerken, tarihi Japon mimarisini inceleyebilir ve kaledeki özel koleksiyonlar hakkında bilgi edinebilirler. Himeji Kalesi, Japon mimarisinin en güzel örneklerinden biridir ve koruyucu özellikleri nedeniyle "Beyaz Martı Kalesi" olarak da bilinir. UNESCO Dünya Mirası olarak listelenen kale, yılda milyonlarca turisti çekmektedir. Japonya'ya yolunuz düşerse, Himeji Kalesi'nin muhteşem güzelliğini görmenizi kesinlikle öneririz. Himeji Kalesi, Japonya'nın tarihi mirasları arasında yer alan en güzel ve en ilginç yapılarından biridir. Ziyaretçiler, bu tarihi yapıyı gezerken Japon kültürüne ve tarihine olan ilgilerini tatmin edebilirler.

Japon Mutfağı Hakkında Bilgi ve Yemekleri

Japon Mutfağı Hakkında Bilgi ve Yemekleri Japonya gezi rehberi içerisinde olmazsa olmaz Japon mutfağı ve yemekleridir. Japonya mutfağı, dünyanın dört bir yanından ziyaretçileri cezbeden birçok lezzet sunar. Japon yemek kültürü, özellikle sushi, ramen ve tempura gibi popüler yemekleriyle tanınır. Ancak, Japon mutfağı sadece bu yemeklerle sınırlı değildir. İşte Japonya'da mutlaka denemeniz gereken bazı yemekler: - Sushi: Japonya'nın en ünlü yemeği olan sushi, balık ve pirinçle hazırlanır ve birçok farklı şekilde sunulur. - Ramen: Ramen, Japon çorbası ve noodles'dan oluşan bir yemektir. Ülke genelinde farklı çeşitleri mevcuttur Japon mutfağı, ülke genelinde farklı çeşitleri mevcut olan balık yemekleriyle de ünlüdür. Sushi, sashimi ve tempura, dünya çapında tanınan Japon yemeklerinden sadece birkaçıdır. Ayrıca, ramen, udon ve soba gibi farklı noodle çorbaları da popülerdir. Natto ve okonomiyaki gibi geleneksel yemekler de mutlaka tadılması gereken lezzetler arasındadır. Japonya'nın geleneksel yemekleri kadar, modern ve yaratıcı yemekleri de oldukça popülerdir. Özellikle Tokyo'da, dünya çapında tanınan şeflerin sahibi olduğu Michelin yıldızlı restoranlar bulunmaktadır. Bu restoranlarda, Japon mutfağına farklı dokunuşlarla yenilikçi yorumlar yapılmaktadır.

Japon Mutfağı Yemekleri Ramen Japonya tarihi ve kültürel mirasının yanı sıra, doğal güzellikleri de ziyaretçilerin ilgisini çekmektedir. Fuji Dağı, Japonya'nın en yüksek dağıdır ve doğal güzelliği ile ziyaretçileri kendine çekmektedir. Ayrıca, Japonya'nın tarihi şehirlerinden biri olan Kyoto, antik tapınakları, bahçeleri ve geleneksel kültürü ile ünlüdür. Hiroşima'da, II. Dünya Savaşı'ndaki nükleer bomba patlamasının anısına inşa edilen barış parkı ve müze ziyaret edilebilir. Japonya, aynı zamanda teknolojik gelişmeleri ile de tanınmaktadır. Tokyo, dünyanın en büyük şehirlerinden biridir ve dünya çapında teknoloji ve moda merkezlerinden biridir. Akihabara, elektronik cihazlar ve bilgisayar donanımı satan bir bölge olarak bilinmektedir. Japonya'nın gezilecek yerleri ve lezzetleri, ziyaretçiler için muhteşem bir deneyim sunmaktadır. Ülkenin tarihi, kültürü, doğal güzellikleri ve teknolojisi, herkesin ilgisini çekecek farklı seçenekler sunmaktadır.

Japonya UNESCO Gezilecek Yerler

UNESCO Japonya Gezilecek Yerler Japonya'nın güzel şehri Kyoto, geleneksel Japon kültürü ve mimarisinin merkezlerinden biridir. Kentte bulunan Kinkaku-ji Tapınağı, Japonya'nın en ünlü manzaralarından biridir ve ülkenin en önemli turistik yerlerinden biridir. Kinkaku-ji Tapınağı, 1397 yılında inşa edilmiş ve daha sonra bir yangın sonucu yıkılmıştır. Ancak, 1955 yılında restore edilmiştir. Tapınak, birçok ziyaretçinin ilgisini çeken altın renkli çatısı ile ünlüdür. Tapınak ayrıca güzel bahçeleriyle de tanınır ve Japonya'nın bahçe sanatının en iyi örneklerinden biridir. Kyoto'daki bir diğer ünlü turistik yer ise Himeji Kalesi'dir. Bu kale, Japonya'nın en büyük ve en iyi korunmuş kalesi olarak kabul edilir. Himeji Kalesi, 14. yüzyılda inşa edilmiş ve Japonya'nın Ortaçağ dönemi mimarisinin en iyi örneklerinden biridir. Himeji Kalesi'nin beyaz renkli görünümü nedeniyle "Beyaz Kuş Kalesi" olarak da adlandırılmaktadır. Kale, ziyaretçilere açık olan bir müze olarak hizmet vermektedir. İçinde, ziyaretçiler Japon kültürü hakkında bilgi edinebilirler ve kaleyi oluşturan yapıları ve savunma sistemlerini keşfedebilirler. Kyoto, Japonya'nın tarihi ve kültürel miraslarının en önemli yerlerinden biridir. Şehir, zengin tarihi dokusu, geleneksel mimarisi ve eşsiz manzaralarıyla her yıl binlerce turisti ağırlamaktadır. Bunların yanı sıra, Japonya'nın Kyoto kentindeki geleneksel yemekler de oldukça ünlüdür. Kyoto mutfağı, özellikle balık, sebzeler ve tofu gibi malzemelerin kullanıldığı sağlıklı ve lezzetli yemekleriyle bilinir. Kyoto mutfağının en popüler yemeklerinden biri "Kaiseki" adı verilen yemektir. Kaiseki, geleneksel Japon yemek kültürünün en yüksek ifadesi olarak kabul edilir ve sıralı küçük tabaklarda sunulan bir dizi yemekten oluşur. Yemek, özenle seçilen malzemelerin estetik bir sunumuyla hazırlanır ve lezzetleri ve renkleri birbirleriyle uyum içindedir. Kyoto'da ayrıca, "Yudofu" adı verilen bir yemek de oldukça popülerdir.Yudofu, soya sütü ve tofu gibi basit malzemelerle hazırlanan geleneksel bir Kyoto yemeğidir. Bu yemek, genellikle tofu blokları sıcak bir suda pişirilir ve ardından bir sosla servis edilir. Yudofu, Japon mutfağının sağlıklı ve lezzetli yemeklerinden biridir. Tofu, protein ve vitamin bakımından zengin olduğu için oldukça sağlıklı bir yiyecektir ve soya sütü de aynı şekilde sağlıklı bir içecektir. Yudofu'nun lezzeti, tofu bloklarının doğal tadı ve sosa eşlik eden diğer malzemelerin birleşmesinden gelir. Bu yemeği tatmak için Kyoto'da birçok restoran ve kafe bulunmaktadır. Japonya gezilecek yerler ve Japonya gezi rehberi hakkında yazdığımız makalede siz nereleri sevdiniz? Yurtdışı gezilecek yerler hakkında merak ettikleriniz ve eklemek istediklerinizi yorumlara yazabilirsiniz. Read the full article

[hst432]

風日祈宮 伊勢神宮

[southkoreaandjapan]

Kyoto

July 4, 2023

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years - from 794 to 1868. It was not bombed during WWII mainly because it was had no industrial complex so what we are seeing are - for the most part - original. It's famous for its numerous classical Buddhist temples - (the largest complex of Buddhist temples is here) as well as gardens, imperial palaces, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses. It’s also known for formal traditions such as kaiseki dining, consisting of multiple courses of precise dishes, and geisha, female entertainers often found in the Gion district.

We experienced it all!

It is another HOT and muggy day with temps in the high 90s. We started our day early trying to beat the crowds and the heat and went to Fushimi Inari Shrine. Mark and I visited here in 2017 but it was remarkable no matter how many times you see it. The Torii Gate is a process of identifying a holy spot where the kami can reside inside in comfort. Families/or a single person can erect an Torii Gate anywhere making an area holy.

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is holy to the nth degree with more than 1,000 Torii Gates ranging from huge to tiny.

Torii gates represent the border between the secular world and the sacred worlds of the Shinto belief. The gates act as a passageway into a shrine's sacred space. It is not uncommon for a shrine to have more than one Torii gate. It can be described as a fusion of Shinto and Buddhism which once had a significant influence around Japan. In Buddhism, red is regarded as a color which represents the sacred atmosphere as well as vital force. As a result, ancient people started to paint torii gates standing at shinto shrines with red. Also the red color is believed to ward off the evil spirits and red color is used often for Inari Shrine, which enshrines the deity of harvest. 

This place is a sight to see.

Before you entire the main area of the Shinto Shrine (or the Buddhist Temple or a mosque) you must purify yourself. In this case, first by cleansing your hand, then bringing water to your mouth with your hand, rinsing your mouth, spitting the water in the trough and then re-washing your hands.

At this Shrine the fox is the protector.

The white papers tied to the lines at the bottom left are baaaaaad fortunes that people have received. By hanging them on this place they will not come true. I asked Ken to give me an example - thinking surely they couldn't be too bad -BUT the example he gave me was "you are going to be a car accident." I guess that is not as bad as "you have a horrible disease and will be dead in a week" - but maybe there are fortunes like that and if there are I'm sure they are hanging on the outside of the shrine.

The size of the Torii gates change as you go higher up the hill.

The backside of the gates have the name of the family, person, company, etc that paid to have it built. These gates do not last forever and as they age - they are replaced by a new gate. There is a long waiting list of "replacers". The cost, the size and the location are related.

As you get further into the "tunnel" there are breaks where there are personal shrines and/or where you can buy a fortune. It is very interesting.

The is a beautiful path that goes up the mountain - but we didn't have enough time to complete it. With "25 minutes to the top" sign and 40 minutes until we had to return to the group - I turned back. Anson continued but eventually also turned back. But not before he saw this...

The woods were lovely and in almost every location I saw a believer clapping twice before a shrine and then bending in prayer.

There at two types of Torii Gates and we have seen both. The Torii Gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine - where we were today have a curvy top. The Torii Gates at the Ise Grand Shrine are flat. I actually read the Japanese word for each Torii gate - but really - what is the point- I can barely remember the English word... Obviously not all are painted red - (although my eyes keep seeing orange.)

From there we were went to lunch in the Nishiki Market.

This was a lunch on your own thing - but OAT supplied us with some money. There were lots of options - but the one option Mark and Jay were searching for was an option with tables and chairs. We found a couple of places and settled on one that offered dumplings and fried chicken. Anson continued to search but eventually returned to our location and as he looked at the menu he discovered that Carol had not actually ordered "chicken" but "chicken skins." Carol eyes got huge and she tried to put a stop to it - but to no avail. I wish I had taken a picture - I felt bad for her, but it ended up not so bad. The dumplings and chicken skins arrived and Jay had the skins and Carol had the dumplings. The skins were crispy and atop a salad and they looked good to me - but they were battered with gluten filled deliciousness. Anson had 2 kinds of dumplings; gyoza and Kyoto pork dumplings. No pics here but delicious!! This place was perfect because it was now raining and this market was covered. Sweet!

Next up the Golden Pavilion - another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally built in 1397 this was one of those things that is NOT original and has been rebuilt many times. The one you see behind Anson and I was built in 1957 after a monk suffering from mental illness burned it to the ground in a suicide attempt. It was re-built using the plans of the 1397 structure.

This place is simply spectacular!! BUT the temps were closing in on 100 degrees and there were lots of people so finding your zen there was tough. I will say if ZEN was to be found - it was there though. The gardens are just fabulous.

What follows is from the website: " The site of Kinkaku-ji was originally a villa called Kitayama-dai (北山第), belonging to a powerful statesman, Saionji Kintsune.  Kinkaku-ji's history dates to 1397, when the villa was purchased from the Saionji family by shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and transformed into the Kinkaku-ji complex. When Yoshimitsu died the building was converted into a Zen temple by his son, according to his wishes. Don't worry - there will NOT be a test!

The outside of the pavilion is gold leaf and we saw pictures of it in all four seasons and at all times of the day and night and it is just stunning.

In the evening, Mark, Anson, Jay and Carol and I opted to attend a performance at Gion Corner. Gion is the center of Geisha - FYI. Photos are forbidden here BUT you can get a great look at what we saw by visiting their website. You can switch it from Japanese to English in the upper right hand corner.

I lifted this from that website: "At the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Small Theater, you can digest traditional culture and traditional performing arts that Japan boasts to the world, including Kyoto dance by maiko, Kyogen, bugaku, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, koto music, bunraku, and/or noh , in about an hour."

It was a great little  smorgasbord of Japanese culture - I think it may have been better to say a great little "kaiseki" of Japanese culture - but i figured most people wouldn't understand what I was talking about - so I'm sticking with the big buffet!

The night we saw the performance they did Bunraku but not Noh. Frankly I was happy about that because we saw Noh theater the last time we were here. Anson remembered that I took all the grandkids to the DIA to see a Bunraku puppet show a few years back - but it was fun to see it in Japan. The key to enjoying a performance in a language you do not understand is to read the synopsis in the brochure before you see the show. It is the case that performance art often translates in any language. Our favorite was the Kyogen comedy and the least favorite was the Bugaku dance. We followed the storyline of the dance but the music was not pleasant to our American ears and the discord was such that we couldn't tell if it was meant to be or just an error made by musicians. We did all agree that the costumes were amazing thought. Anson suggested that we find a YouTube of a different Bugaku performance and see if the music is similar. We will do that. We also recognized the "dance by Maiko" as the same dance we had seen the night before when the adorable Maiko was performing just for us.

After the show we went to the Kyoto train station - which is WAY more that a train station.

We opted - much to Anson's dismay- to go to an Italian restaurant. Carol and Jay are not loving Japanese food the way Anson, Mark and I are. But even the Italian restaurant had a Japanese flare. The two major differences were that for the first time there was silverware on the table and large paper napkins. The silverware on the table looked strange and I am quite comfortable with chopsticks BUT I wanted the kiss those silly napkins. It turns out that I just am more comfortable with a napkin in my lap. The "napkins" we have had are small wet wipes and while I appreciate them for cleaning my hands both before and after the meal - I don't love wiping my mouth with them. Anyway - Carol and Jay had a pizza and Anson and Mark has some kind of hamburger dish and I had both Mark's and Anson's appetizers: escargot in garlic and butter, and mushrooms in garlic and butter and a glass of wine. What was not to love!!!

On our way home we opted to hang out at the Kyoto station and listen to live piano music tied into this light show. Anson told us that Papa Steve does the same kind of things in his studio.

The temperatures were delightful and the night was young - sadly we are not - but we enjoyed the show. As we walked back to our hotel we saw realized the Kyoto tower was right there!

Funny story - Mark and I decided to do a selfie in front of the tower and Mark took one pic - then he said - Man, I just took one pic and I always take a bunch. I said - it will be fine. it wasn't....

It was another beautiful night in Japan.

Stay tuned.