CXXXV - Kyoto

The elaborate roof of one of the buildings in the Heian Jingu complex.

CXXXIV - Kyoto

In front of Heian Jingu.

(What does the sign say? My kanji aren't good enough yet!)

CXXXIII - Kyoto

A pretty red jinrikisha (人力車, "rickshaw") outside Kyoto's famous , Heian jingū (平安神宮, "Heian shrine").

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This is my entry for the 9th edition of Show Me Japan. Please check it out!

CXXXII - Kyoto

A small Buddhist cemetery.

CXXXI - Kyoto

So simple yet so beautiful.

CXXX - Kyoto

How can Japanese moss be so cute?

CXXIX - Kyoto

This building is named Togu-do (東求堂) , and it is the oldest building in Japan built in the Shoin-zukuri (書院造) style, dating back from 1487. It is one of the two remaining structures of the original villa (the other one is the Silver Pavilion).

Inside the Togu-do there is a wooden statue of Ashikaga Yoshimasa (足利 義政; 1435 – 1490), the shogun who built this property as a retirement villa, and arranged for it to become a Zen temple after his death. According to legend, the shogun carved the statue himself.

This building also contains a small room known as the Dojin-sai, which is a tea room believed to be the reference for all future tea room designs, personally designed by the shogun's tea master, Murata Shuko (村田珠光; 1423 – 1502).

Thank you

To those 1030 people who visited my blog, whoever you are..

THANK YOU!

I hope you've enjoyed my photos and have found the explanations somewhat interesting or useful, I'll do my best this coming year to post more regularly!

Please don't hesitate to leave comments, suggestions, thoughts.. they're always very much appreciated!

Happy New Year!

よい お年 を!☆

CXXVIII - Kyoto

This small charming waterfall is called Sengetsu-sei (洗月泉- "moon watching fountain") because the small trickle of water is designed to create ripples which run across the water of the pool below, pleasantly distorting the silver reflection of the full moon.

CXXVII - Kyoto

A saisen bako (賽銭箱, "offerings box").

Always located in front of a shrine, it is used to collect money that worshippers wish to offer, and the noise of the coins hitting the wooden bottom is believed to attract the kami (神, "spirits"), who will then listen to the worshipper's prayer.