Island in the Sky - Clingmans Dome, Smoky Mountains

 

There were books inside the store that called it the Island in the Sky. It is the highest point in Tennessee and it is around 6600 feet. It has a special type of environment up there with old fer trees and the moisture is great. I loved coming up to the top even though I didn't hike up there just walked up a long paved trail to the view.  

B's Hobby in Shijo Kyoto

B's Hobby shop is right of Shijo and you will sorta notice it since there is a few toys out front. You go down the stairs to the store which a lot of hobby kits and supplies are waiting for you! I recommend going here if you are into this stuff, other place that I would recommend is the toy floor/hobby floor of Kyoto's Yodabashi Camera which is great as well. At the end of the stairs there is a few completed kits.

Bonsai Exhibit Kyoto Botanical Garden

Kyoto Botanical Gardens is a large area and there was even a Bondai Exhibit which I decided to make a separate post here for that. I enjoy Bonsai if you don't know and have a few myself...

Wonders of Nanzen-ji

Nanzen-ji Temple complex is really amazing. Lots of people grove to it and love seeing the gardens and the aqueduct. Original post here. I didn't see nearly as much as I saw the first time and it is worth spending the time there! 

Todai-ji Temple's Daibutsudden and The Great Daibutsu in Nara

Todai-ji is one of those spectacularly large structures that you can see. Meaning the Eastern Great Temple, it is located in Nara Japan where the old capitol resided before moving to Kyoto. This is the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) where it houses the worlds largest bronze Buddha statue (Vairocana) known in Japan as Daibutsu. The temple is the home of Kegon school of Buddhism and it has been rebuilt a few times and is actually smaller then the original! The now standing building was built in 1709 and 30% smaller then the last. 

Up till 1998 it was the largest wooden building in the world.

It is massive when you fist see it!

Tenjuan Temple - Kyoto, Japan

Tenjuan Temple is a sub-temple that is with Nanzen-ji and right next door. It was founded in 1336 by a guy named Kokanshiren who was the chief priest of Nanzen-ji at the time in honor of Nanzen-ji. It has two lovely gardens one dry and one pond.

The colors make it a famous one to view as well, plenty of people were there...

Gio-ji Temple Arashiyama, Kyoto

Gio-ji is a really small temple area and was a Shingon Buddhist nunnery. There is a single building which is small with a thatched roof and an amazing moss garden but yet small. The history of this little building is that it was part of the Ojo-in Temple founded by Ryochin (disciple of Honen) and over time the temple became in disrepair and fallen that the only thing left was this little building. In 1868 it was abandoned to only have Daikaku-ji take over and a ex-governor of Kyoto in 1895 donated a building from his villa to Gio-ji which is now the present building. This temple is 500 Yen but if you are going to Daikaku-ji pay 600 Yen for both!

I am all about moss and this was great, small but immense satisfaction came from viewing it...

Philosopher's path in the Autumn

My first trip to Japan one of my favorite days was when I walked along the Philosophers path going to Ginkakuji and Nanzenji and other smaller temples. Was amazing and if was quite beautiful in the fall time as well. I visited all those temples that day too! Here was the original post that has some background information of this amazing path. 

Lots of color but there was still some trees that were holding out!