Central Japan Day 2 - Kyoto - Kiyomizu Temple & Awara - Onsen Resort

View the first post in this series here.
View the previous post in this series here.

01 July 2008

Having hopped off the Shinkasen (Bullet train) and back on our tour coach, we were promptly taken to Kiyomizu Temple (音羽山清水寺, Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera), a UNESCO World Heritage site that was originally built in 798CE. However, the present buildings are mostly reconstructed in 1633CE. This Buddhist temple houses Kannon, also known as The Goddess of Mercy (观音), and numerous other Shinto shrines.

Apart from this, the temple grounds was also featured in episode 18 of the anime version of the manga, Seto no Hanayome (瀬戸の花嫁, Seto no Hanayome, The Inland Sea Bride) -- a comedy full of ridiculous spoofs.

A Koban (police) station


Local girls in traditional kimonos



The temple is on a hill. The ascend is lined with many shops and is called Chawan-zaka (Teapot Lane).




Finally, the main gate of Kiyomizu temple in striking red


The first compound, it is a crowded day and it seems many students are here on a school trip of sorts


A write-up of this temple


The second gate that takes us to the main temple building. The main building has a large veranda that jutts out from the side of the hill.


Through the second gate

Many websites say these are the foot prints of Buddha. However, according to my tour guide, these are the foot prints of an Oni (demon). The story goes that long ago, an Oni lived in this hill that occasionally descended to terrorise the locals. But when Kiyomizu Temple was built to enshrine Kannon, the Oni could no longer reside in the hill and these foot prints were made when it departed the hill forever.

In the main temple building, the person is probably trying to have his fortune told


The white ribbons tied to the lines remind me of something similar I saw at the House of the Virgin Mary in Turkey. Perhaps they are for wishes?


These steps lead up to a host of Shinto Shrines



The statues of the God of Love and Marriage (Okuninushi-no Mikoto), and a Rabbit (his messenger).



The Jishu Shrine dedicated to Okuninushi-no Mikoto


There are names inscribed on these cards, probably for those hopeful in/for love


This sort of looks like a mini-shrine in front of the Jishu Shrine

A pair of love stones. To use it, start from one stone, close your eyes and think of the person you love while walking to the opposite stone. If you bump into it, then then it's mutual, otherwise... ...pick someone else and try again!

Shrine of, ``Daikoku to be Patted"


Drop some coins, ring the bell, and pat Daikoku to be Patted like these school girls to make your wishes come true


Running water beside the shrine


Stone relief of Buddha


The pagoda viewed from the hill of Jishu Shrine


Another one of the many shrines on this little Jishu Shrine hill



This looks like a shrine dedicated to fox spirits

After walking down from Jishu Shrine, this is picture of the hill on which Kiyomizu Temple is built. The stairs lead down to Otowa-no-taki waterfall where vistors drink the sacred waters for a plethora of wishes. Before walking down we proceeded to the other temple buildings ahead.

Wooden cards of wishes


A Wooden veranda


View of Kiyomizu-dera main temple with the pagoda from the opposite


Descending the previous stairs, we arrived at Otowa-no-taki waterfall where visitors drink the scared waters


Little stone tablets of Buddha


The pagoda again from the base of the temple compound


A little pond, I think this little garden is dedicated to a local Buddhist matyr


Back at the main gate for a less crowded picture

Now is the time to shop! Sadly I only had about ten minutes before having to rush back to the tour coach. But that didn't stop me from grabbing a pair of ornamented tea-cups and some soybean ice-cream. Then, for the first time, we departed Kyoto for the country-side as our coach brought us to Awara, famous for its Onsen (hot spring).

A rest-stop. Here is the reason why it is so difficult to dump trash in Japan, it has to be sorted into six to seven types for recycling purposes.


The country-side is full of padi fields. It is as though any available land is used to grow rice.


We reached Minoya Taiheikaku (みのや泰平閣), Awara, a traditional style Ryokan Hotel. A scrumptious meal awaits us!


Hohoho


Pork and vegetables in soup


Eel with egg


Now this, is actually orange pudding!


After dinner we took a walk around, here's a very green by night garden in the resort.


Indoor and outdoor slippers are provided


Minoya Taiheikaku (みのや泰平閣) door sign


The entrance to the resort takes you through a little garden path


Traditional Ryokan rooms means footwear left at the door


A spacious tatami-lined (rice-straw matting) room with the smell of fresh grass


Having rested enough after dinner, we changed into the Yukatas (traditional summer clothing) provided and headed for the public baths where the Onsen is

A separate bath exists for men and women. Before geting into the Onsen proper, you are supposed to strip to your birthday suit and bathe in the shower area. There are no cubicles. A little wooden stool and bucket are provided along with a shower, soap, shampoo and lots of hot water!

The Onsen is actually an artificial pool with real hot spring water pumped into it. The water is clear as if it was filtered. There are two pools -- indoors and outdoors. After we washed we headed for the outdoor Onsen. The cool air above and hot spring water created a very relaxing experience. A little towel provided by the hotel is used to warm your head as it will be exposed to the cool air -- one basically dips it in the water and slaps it on one's head.

After soaking away our tired muscles, we tried out the massage chairs and headed to the resort's bar for a some Asahi beer on the tap to complete the day. Then, we retired for the night. Tomorrow will be a busy day as we visit sights such as the Tojimbo Cliffs, Kenrokuen Garden, and Shirakawa-go Village before ending up in the town of Takayama about 1000m above sea level.

View the next related post here.

Return to the trip index here.