sum-up of kyoto
i just spent an hour recalling our visit to kyoto. however, the site crashed and lost the whole piece. perhaps that's a good thing, it probably saved you all from dutifully reading too many details.
so we got to kyoto and had only one and a half days there, as we arrived in the afternoon and left in the morning two days later. there are enough temples, shrines, castles, gardens, and the like to keep one busy for at least a year, perhaps several. anyway, we spent our time wandering around gion and the downtown area at night. by day, we visited ryoan-ji and nijo jinya.
ryoan-ji is perhaps the most famous dry garden in japan. it is a zen rock garden that dates back in its current form to atleast 1799. the site however, has housed a zen temple since atleast 938. it is a beautiful site and i won't say more for fear of selling it short. the 
air was still and it was a cold, damp morning which led to the ancient aura of the place.
we were of course, constantly reminded of the dichotomy that is japan. there were many tourists there with ipods in, cameras flashing and wearing glittery heels, mini skirts and puffy purple jackets shivering down the gardens' paths.
we went next to nijo jinya. it was a guest house for traveling daimyo, feudal lords, who came to the ancient capital in the edo period. located near nijojo castle, it was built to provide entertainment and comfort as well as protection. the house is riddled with secret rooms, hidden staircases, false doors, passageways and even accoustic design to muffle or amplify voices. this is one of the coolest places i have been to yet in japan.
it is privately owned (i think) and one must reserve a tour atleast one day in advance. we were lucky enough that they allowed us a tour with a same-day reservation. the tour of the house is given to small groups (about ten people) and in japanese only. we were especially lucky becuase there was an american/japanese couple there and she was kind enough to translate for all of us after she noticed us leaning in toward her and her boyfriend.
so we got to kyoto and had only one and a half days there, as we arrived in the afternoon and left in the morning two days later. there are enough temples, shrines, castles, gardens, and the like to keep one busy for at least a year, perhaps several. anyway, we spent our time wandering around gion and the downtown area at night. by day, we visited ryoan-ji and nijo jinya.
ryoan-ji is perhaps the most famous dry garden in japan. it is a zen rock garden that dates back in its current form to atleast 1799. the site however, has housed a zen temple since atleast 938. it is a beautiful site and i won't say more for fear of selling it short. the 
air was still and it was a cold, damp morning which led to the ancient aura of the place.we were of course, constantly reminded of the dichotomy that is japan. there were many tourists there with ipods in, cameras flashing and wearing glittery heels, mini skirts and puffy purple jackets shivering down the gardens' paths.
we went next to nijo jinya. it was a guest house for traveling daimyo, feudal lords, who came to the ancient capital in the edo period. located near nijojo castle, it was built to provide entertainment and comfort as well as protection. the house is riddled with secret rooms, hidden staircases, false doors, passageways and even accoustic design to muffle or amplify voices. this is one of the coolest places i have been to yet in japan.
it is privately owned (i think) and one must reserve a tour atleast one day in advance. we were lucky enough that they allowed us a tour with a same-day reservation. the tour of the house is given to small groups (about ten people) and in japanese only. we were especially lucky becuase there was an american/japanese couple there and she was kind enough to translate for all of us after she noticed us leaning in toward her and her boyfriend.
posted by nel at 9:22 PM
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