Japan trip(7) Kyoto

The town bus take us around and reach at the big red gate for symbol of Japan.

Then we take a bus to Gingakuji Temple or Silver Temple and it 's a Zen templ which built in 1482 by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa ,model it after Kinkakuji ( Golden Pavillion )for his retirement villa and

this villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa dead in 1490.

As the retirement villa of an art obsessed of shogun, Ginkakuji became a center of contemporary culture ,

known as the Higashiyama Culture in contrast to the Kitayama Culture of his grandfather's time.Unlike the Kitayama Culture,which remain limited to the aristocratic circles of Kyoto, the Higashiyama Culture had a broad impact on the entire country.The art developed are refined during the time include the tea ceremony ,flower arrangement,noh theater,poetry, garden design and architecture.

This temple consists of the Silver Pavillion,half a dozen other temple buildings ,a beautiful moss garden and a unique dry sand garden.It it enjoy by walking along a circle route around its grouds, from which the gardens and buildings can be viewed.

Japan trip (6) Kyoto

Then we leave the Kiyomizudera Temple, walk along the road down to the street,you can see many shops and restaurants around especially dessert shops
which have more products such as sweets, pottery and pickles to the standard
set of souvenirs.

Then reach the street and have lunch at the restaurant near by ,after that catch a bus for visit next temple.

Japan trip 5 - Kiyomizudera Temple -Kyoto

Kiyomizudera Temple means Pure Water Temple is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan.It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otawa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto.
The temple was origially associated with the Hsso sect in 1965. In 1994,the temple was added to the list
of UNESSCO world heritage sites.
This temple is best known for its wooden stage that just out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below.The stage affords visitors a nice view of the mumerous cheerry and maple trees.
The main hall,which together with the stage was built without the use of nails,houses the temple's
primary object of worship, a small statue of the eleven faced,thousand armed Kannon.

Behind Kiyomizudera's main hall stands Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking.In front of the shrine are two stones. Successfully finding your way from one to the
other one to the other with darkness way,means eyes closed is said to bring luck in finding love.

The main hall of the temple.

This is the Otowa Waterfall is located at the base of temple's main hall.

It's waters are divided into three separate streams, and visitors use cups

attached to long poles to drink from them. Eash stream's water is said to 

have a different benefit, namely to cause longevity, sucess at school and 

a fortunate life. Howere, drinking from all three streams is considered greedy.