Walking Around Nara Japan

Nara is the old old capitol of Japan before Kyoto was. It is a great area to go to for a day, lots to see and play with the deer that roam the streets. From 710-784 it was the capitol. Nara's name is believed to come from Narasu which is "flatten" and it is located in the Nara basin. 

It has mountains that are all around and provides great "borrowed scenery" for gardens and  the city ass a whole.

Ginkakuji (Siler Pavilion) in Autumn Kyoto

Ginkakuji or the "Silver Pavilion" is a wonderful  temple to go see. It is one of my favorites in Kyoto and it is right off the Philosophers path. I have a full post on all the information about it here from my previous trip. So I will spare the long info about this temple so you can check out the visit in the autumn. A lot more people!

The colors with the pine and maples on the grounds were magnificent and you can appreciate the work put in to maintain this look.

Camera Naniwa - Kyoto

I came across this small camera store off the shopping district in Kyoto and they had a lot of used old film cameras for sale. It was great to even just look at some of them. Some rare stuff and stuff that I have not seen before. They also had samples out for New cameras if you wanted to order one. 

Myoshin-ji Temple - Kyoto, Japan

Myoshin-ji Temple is a temple complex with many sub-temples in the grounds much like Daitokuji. It is a head temple of the Rinzai Zen Sect of Buddhism and by far the largest. It use to by the location of the Emperor Hanazono palace before becoming a monk and making the land a temple in 1342. Almost all the buildings got destroyed in the Onin Wars and most of the buildings were built in the 15-17th century. Ryoanji temple is part of the complex just off site.

The Butsuden and Hatto shown below.

Chion-in Temple's Sanmon in the morning

One day I was walking a far distance and I started at 6 am. I past many temples to where I was headed and past Chion-in on purpose to get a glimpse of it. It is a large Sanmon that the main road goes right up to. Those stairs are still a little tiring but worth the climb. I have a post about this temple from my previous travels here.

Ryoginan-totei Temple of Tofuku-ji

Ryoginan-totei Temple is a sub-temple of the Tofuku-ji temple complex. The complex has an impressive layout with fantastic gardens in all the temples. It is considered one of the five main temples of Kyoto. This building has really nice dry garden.

I found this really interesting that it had a border with different color sands...

Kamogamo near Shijo

I was walking around Shijo one early evening before I took this shot. Not many people walking along the river as it was a little chilly but plenty of people on Shijo street. On the opposite side of the river is the restaurants of Pontocho. 

Biwa Canal Autumn 2014

There was a day where I walked all the way from Shijo to the Philosophers path and I followed the canal to the east to reach Nanzen-ji. The colors were pretty, wish it wasn't overcast but the colors in Kyoto are lovley to see.

Anraku-ji Temple - Kyoto, Japan

This temple is only open at times when there are blossoms in the garden or colored leaves on the grounds which makes it a treat when you visit. If you are walking along the Philosophers path and visit other temples on the way stop by here in Spring or Autumn. It was a training area for the priest Honen and his disciples Anraku and Juren. The emperor eventually ordered the deaths of his disciples and exiled Honen. This location of the temples was erected in 1681 in their honor. 

Walking past Imamiya-jinja

I was able to walk past Imamiya-jinja a few times ever since staying at the Konaka Residence again. It is a nice little shrine. If you want more information about it I made a post from my first trip. 

Kasuga-taisha Shrine - Nara, Japan

Kasuga-taisha Shrine in Nara Japan is nestled up by the mountain a little further then Todai-ji but I recommend going while you are there! It is a Shinto Shrine started in 768 and shrines the Fujiwara Family. It is a UNESCO Heritage Site along with the primeval forest behind it. It is mostly known for the many stone lanterns that line the path leading up to it and the shrine has a lot of bronze hanging lanterns within. You get to walk through the deer park where deer are roaming around so it is a great little trip up the hill/mountain from Todai-ji. Enjoy! 

Some of the many lanterns that you pass going through the forest...