 Most viewed - KYOTO 京都府 |
Cafe-type seats (wooden) with a table.68 views
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At Fukuchyama Station, the entrance to the Kyoto Tango Railway platform.68 views
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In Uji, Kyoto, Byodo-in is one of Japan's most famous temples and most recognizable buildings.67 viewsByodo-in is acuallly a temple complex, but this building, called the Phoenix Hall (Ho'odo 鳳凰堂), is the main attraction and a National Treasure.
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The center structure of both the original and replica houses a statue of a sitting Buddha.67 views
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Although the major renovations were completed, they were still restoring the paintings on the doors, etc., of Byodo-in.67 views
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People from Hawaii would know Byodo-in since there's a ferro-concrete replica in a park-like cemetery called Valley of the Temples on the island of Oahu.67 viewsThe replica of the Phoenix Hall was built in 1968 to mark the 100th anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. I photographed the one in Hawaii last year and now I can compare the two.
As you can see, the replica is very accurate. They say that the one in Hawaii is a smaller scale, but it looks the same as the original (made of wood) in Kyoto. Perhaps only the surrounding garden is smaller. Also, the one in Hawaii seems to house offices on the upper floor. (If you look behind the building, you can see stairs and air conditioners.) The original one's upper floor is see-through with no walls.
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Each arhat has a name.67 views
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Fukuchiyama Castle is also noted for its stone walls using stones that were originally something else, like gravestones, stone lanterns, and even Buddha stone statues (転用石).67 viewsFukuchiyama, Kyoto Prefecture.
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What to see from Amanohashidate Station. Best to rent a bicycle at the souvenir shop in front of the station.67 views
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About the rotating bridge (Shotenkyo).67 views
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The sand spit gets shorter each hour.67 views
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Fuchu Station is the Cable Car and Chair Lift station to go up to Kasamatsu Park on the northern end of Amanohashidate.67 views
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Amanohashidate sardines supposed to be good.67 views
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Puffer fish.67 views
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Tenryuji66 views
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Opening in 2016, Kyoto Railway Museum is a modern makeover of the old Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum that opened in 1972. Short bus ride from Kyoto Station.66 views
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Inside a sleeper train.66 views
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500 Series shinkansen66 views
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The central hall houses a sitting Amida Buddha with celestial floating Buddhas on the surrounding walls. The Phoenix Hall was originally constructed in 1053 (Heian Period).66 views
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In front of Daiohoden Hall.66 views
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Only part of the original Okunoyama Chaen remains as a tea field. The original Okunoyama tea field was larger. Notice the shade.66 views
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Near Amanohashidate Shrine is this well of pure spring water named "Iso-shimizu" (磯清水) famous since the Heian Period.66 views
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Cable car to Kasamatsu Park.66 views
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Amanohashidate Viewland has this elevated walkway to view Amanohashidate. Not good if you're afraid of heights.66 views
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This small ferris wheel at Amanohashidate Viewland is visible to the naked eye from across the sandbar.66 views
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Besides having lookout decks, Amanohashidate Viewland is a small amusement park for kids.66 views
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Map of Amanohashidate Viewland amusement park.66 views
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Counter seat with a knob to hold on to.66 views
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Amanohashidate Station66 views
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View from the two-story pagoda on the hillside. This would be a sea of red during the peak period. I have to come back here.65 views
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Turntable to direct the locomotives to the desired track and direction.65 views
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Sleeper train dining car65 views
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"Raicho" Tokkyu Limited Express, KUHA48965 views
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Reconstructed rural train station from the good old days (1950s-60s). Named "Showa-no-Eki Station."65 views
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Daihatsu three-wheeler car65 views
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Many artifacts on display on both the 1st and 2nd floors of t he Main Hall.65 views
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The pond as seen from the Phoenix Hall.65 views
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Manpukuji (萬福寺) is a large temple complex and headquarters of a Chinese Zen sect (Obaku-shu). It's one of the Big Three Zen sects in Japan (besides Soto and Rinzai).65 viewsThe founder was Chinese Zen master Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen) from Fujien Province in China who came to Japan via Nagasaki in 1654. Manpukuji (or Mampukuji) is part of the Japan Heritage for Uji tea history. A short walk from Obaku Station on the JR Nara Line and Keihan Uji Line.
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石碑65 views
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Shaka Nyorai or Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism. 釈迦如来座像65 views
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Side view of the Shaka Nyorai.65 views
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About Koma no Ashikage-en Monument. According to legend, local people in Uji pondered over how to sow the seeds to grow tea.65 viewsIt was then Priest Myoe (明恵), from the Kegon-shu Buddhist Sect, came on horseback and trotted on the field saying, "Plant the seeds in my horse's hoof prints." This monument was built by Uji tea growers in 1926 to express their appreciation to Myoe.
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My rental bicycle. Rental bicycles also available at the entrance to the Amanohashidate sandbar.65 views
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Jizo statue on Amanohashidate.65 views
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The cannon was never based or used on Amanohashidate. It was originally from the Battleship Kasuga. Donated by the Imperial Navy to the village in 1923 to promote the Imperial Navy.65 views
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Poetry monument for Buson, a famous poet.65 views
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About Buson, a famous poet.65 views
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The Twin Dragon Pine Trees were broken. 双龍の松65 views
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Arriving Kasamatsu Park on the chairlift.65 views
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Southern end of Amanohashidate. Amanohashidate Viewland can be seen.65 views
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Old postbox and a message.65 views
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After bicycling across Amanohashidate back to the southern end, the rotating bridge again making room for a ship.65 views
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Platform to view the sandbar upside down. 65 views
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On the southern end here, Amanohashidate upside down looks like a flying dragon (hiryu 飛竜). 65 views
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The Aomatsu train runs once every morning (10:17 am) and afternoon (3:17 pm) from Fukuchiyama Station to Amanohashidate Station and requires no reservations or extra train fare.65 views
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Wooden showcase.65 views
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One home on the Chirimen Kaido Road the public can enter is the Former Bito Family Merchant's House (Kyu-Bitoke 旧尾藤家). The Bito family was a raw silk and chirimen wholesaler since the Edo Period. 65 viewsVery prominent and rich local family who also became active in local government and business during the Meiji Period.
http://www.yosano.or.jp/chirimen-kaido/?page_id=162
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Tenryuji's Japanese garden.64 views
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Miei-do Hall (Daiden)64 views
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Hojo-ike Pond. Notice the two-story pagoda (Tahoto) in the distance.64 views
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This is probably the most steam locomotives you'll ever see in Japan. Some or most of them still run.64 views
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The SL Steam runs every 15 or 30 min. from 11 am to 3:30 pm. Fare is ¥300.64 views
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The classic and iconic "Bullet Train."64 views
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JNR for Japan National Railways64 views
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Old train tickets64 views
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A gate being renovated.64 views
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Very fine roof.64 views
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Chinese-style architecture is obvious with the roof corners curling upward.64 views
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Corridor to Daiohoden Hall.64 views
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About Daiohoden Hall.64 views
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Daiohoden Hall entrance.64 views
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Plum blossoms.64 views
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Near the entrance to Amanohashidate, this welcome sign with "One of the three famous beauty spots of Japan" has been here for decades.64 viewsAccording to Japanese Wikipedia, the "Nihon Sankei" (Japan's Scenic Trio) label originated in 1643 by Hayashi Gaho (aka Hayashi Shunsai), a Japanese Neo-Confucian scholar who wrote a book mentioning these three sights. The expression "Nihon Sankei" was later coined in 1689 by another Japanese Neo-Confucianist scholar, Kaibara Ekken in his travel diary. So "Nihon Sankei" goes way back to the 17th century.
It's really amazing that it has stuck throughout these centuries even with Mt. Fuji not included. With Japan having so many places of beauty, it would be nearly impossible today for anyone to unilaterally declare any three sights as the "Best Three."
To the question of why it's always the best "three," the answer seems to be more complicated. It seems the Japanese have had numerical favorites for many centuries. Many odd numbers are favorites including one, three, five, and seven. This might sound familiar when you think about haiku and tanka poetry syllables, and the 7-5-3 coming of age celebration for kids. But the number "three" for "Best Three" has also stuck for centuries and still today.
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Entrance to Amanohashidate's path to the other end. Japanese pine trees all over on both sides of the road.64 views
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Path on Amanohashidate going north. Almost endless forest of pine trees. Very pleasant cycling ride or walk.64 views
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A few pine trees died or were knocked down.64 views
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Kasamatsu Park on the hill as seen from Amanohashidate.64 views
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Look at Amanohashidate upside down.64 views
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Bus stop to Nariaiji temple further up the hill, one of the 33 Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage Temples.64 views
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About the Circle of Wisdom.64 views
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Window seats at the counter.64 views
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There's a staffed bar where you can order drinks and food.64 views
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Toward the front of the train are regular seats.64 views
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Inside Amanohashidate Station. Nice station with luggage lockers and English-speaking tourist information desk.64 views
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Miei-do Hall (Daiden)63 views
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Hojo-ike Pond. The two-story pagoda (Tahoto) in the distance.63 views
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The two-story pagoda (Tahoto) is a short climb up the stairs. Worth the view.63 views
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Bridge to Benten-shima on Hojo-ike Pond.63 views
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80 series EMU car KuHa 8600163 views
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The museum's main highlight is the Umekoji steam locomotives on a roundabout or roundhouse next to a turntable.63 views
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This must be Japan's largest collection of steam locomotives on diplay.63 views
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Inside the rear of the round house.63 views
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This real steam locomotive offers rides a few times a day.63 views
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Inside Nijo Station that was moved here. Now the museum gift shop.63 views
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Inside Osaka Loop Line train63 views
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Main Hall63 views
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Train kiosk from the good old days (1950s-60s).63 views
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Kiosk owner's space.63 views
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Showa-no-Eki Station gate to platform.63 views
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Train diorama63 views
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The Sanmon main gate (Important Cultural Property). 三門（さんもん）63 views
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The Sanmon main gate (exit side). 三門（さんもん）63 views
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Behind the Daiohoden Hall is Hatto Hall (Important Cultural Property) where Buddhist lectures are held. 法堂（はっとう）63 views
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About Hatto Hall. 63 views
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On my second visit to Manpukuji, I went with a group of foreigners and had lunch at the temple's restaurant Oryokaku (黄龍閣) serving Chinese-style shojin-ryori (religious vegetarian cuisine) called fucha-ryori (普茶料理).63 views
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Inside Icho-an. We could immediately tell that it was Chinese since the food was served on a turntable (Lazy Susan) which you can see in the photo.63 views(This photo was taken after we finished lunch.)
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Rice was finally served at the end with pickles.63 views
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Tetsugen Doko (1630-1682), one of Ingen's Japanese disciples, started the project to make these printing blocks still used today.63 views
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Sample printings.63 views
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In 1738, Nagatani Soen basically invented sencha green tea by using a kneading process for young tea leaves. He used a hot drying plate called hoiro to knead the steamed tea buds by hand to dry them. The process is called aosei sencha seiho. 63 views
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View from Tsutenkyo Bridge. 63 views
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On the southern end, this bridge to Amanohashidate rotates quite often to allow boats to pass. 63 views
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Most of the boats carry freight.63 views
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Sightseeing map of Amanohashidate.63 views
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How Amanohashidate sandbar formed. Sand from the east coast of Tango Peninsula carried by ocean currents were repeled by the river current of the Noda River. The sand thereby accumulated from the northern end to enclose the bay.63 viewsUnderwater, Amanohashidate looks like a sand wall.
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Amanohashidate marker.63 views
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Beach on the east side of Amanohashidate.63 views
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West side of Amanohashidate with no beaches.63 views
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Wild birds found at Amanohashidate. They only wrote the scientific names of the birds. Looks like they include the seagull, egret, heron, sparrow, and cormorant.63 views
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About swordsman Jutaro Iwami's testing stone.63 views
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Many pine trees have names.63 views
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The ocean and beach.63 views
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Wind-blown pine trees.63 views
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Sunny beach on Amanohashidate.63 views
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Fork in the road. Go left.63 views
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Cable Car and Chair Lift station to go up to Kasamatsu Park.63 views
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Cable car if you're afraid of heights.63 views
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Cable car to Kasamatsu Park.63 views
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Arriving Kasamatsu Park on cable car.63 views
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Autumn heart at Amanohashidate.63 views
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Chiarlift down from Amanohashidate Viewland.63 views
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Amanohashidate Station as seen from Amanohashidate Viewland.63 views
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Cafe-type seats (wooden) with a table.63 views
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Amanohashidate Station plaform.63 views
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Courtyard garden seen from the Shaka-do Hall.62 views
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Yasuragi Kannon statue at the bottom of the steps of Amida-do Hall.62 views
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Gasen-do Hall62 views
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I was a few days too late to see the peak. Will return again in autumn.62 views
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First-generation 0 Series shinkansen.62 views
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The ride is only 10 min. roundtrip and the train travels for only 1 km.62 views
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Nijo Station reconstructed here.62 views
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Sleeper train dining car62 views
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Ice cream62 views
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Inside Showa-no-Eki Station.62 views
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Shinkansen traffic control center.62 views
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Train schedules62 views
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Train simulators62 views
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Sanmon main gate. 三門（さんもん）62 views
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From Sanmon Gate, path to Tennoden Hall. The path is modeled after dragon scales.62 views
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Before going to Tennoden Hall, we turned left to this small gate leading to Kaizan-do Hall.62 views
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Manpukuji corridor lanterns.62 views
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Manpukuji temple bell in a corridor.62 views
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Tennoden Hall (Important Cultural Property). 天王殿（てんのうでん）62 views
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Inside the Tennoden Hall is Hotei, one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune. 天王殿（てんのうでん）、弥勒菩薩（布袋）62 views
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Daiohoden Hall (Important Cultural Property), Manpukuji's main temple. 大雄寶殿（だうおうほうでん）62 views
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Chinese-style incense burner.62 views
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About the Bell Tower62 views
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Prayer tablets (ema)62 views
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Manpukuji also has a subtemple and treasure house called Hozoin (宝蔵院) noted for storing tens of thousands of woodblocks used for printing Buddhist scriptures.62 views
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Entrance to Hozoin.62 views
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Buddhist picture print too.62 views
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Koma no Ashikage-en Monument in front of the entrance to Manpukuji temple. This can be roughly translated as "Hoof Print Field Monument." 駒蹄影園跡碑62 viewsThis monument is part of the Japan Heritage designation for Uji tea history.
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Very unusual thatched roof home near Manpukuji.62 views
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This is the symbol of Tofukuji temple, a bridge named Tsutenkyo (通天橋) that goes across this mass of red Japanese maple trees. You see this photo in all the Kyoto travel brochures.62 views
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The 1st floor is the main dining room. It even has a Noh stage.62 views
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Yoshihara Inlet 62 views
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Emperor Showa's Amanohashidate poem.62 views
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The bridge to Amanohashidate.62 views
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Swordsman Jutaro Iwami's testing stone.62 views
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West side of Amanohashidate.62 views
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Good to know how far away you are.62 views
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Pine tree for the sawn maiden's clothes. 羽衣の松62 views
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East edge of Amanohashidate looking toward Kasamatsu Park on the hill.62 views
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Cable car to Kasamatsu Park.62 views
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Upside down, it supposed to look like a bridge to heaven.62 views
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Closeup of Amanohashidate.62 views
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Another Ring of Wisdom on Kasamatsu Park.62 views
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And so Amanohashidate symbolizes a link between Heaven and Earth and between two lovers. That's why you may also see heart or love symbols at Amanohashidate.62 views
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Path to nearby Moto-Ise Kono Shrine.62 views
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Moto-Ise Kono Shrine (元伊勢籠神社)62 viewsIse Grand Shrines (Ise Jingu) in Mie Prefecture are Japan's most sacred Shinto shrines. They are dedicated to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu (Shinto's most important goddess and legendary ancestor of the Imperial family) and Toyouke-Omikami (豊受大神), goddess of agriculture.
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Purify yourself here.62 views
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Boat dock on the northern end to cross by boat if you don't want to cycle.62 views
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On the southern end here, Amanohashidate upside down looks like a flying dragon (hiryu 飛竜). 62 views
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