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Unknown behind-the-scenes of Kinkakuji Temple

2016.07.04

Kyoto and Nara

We have released a few videos of Kinkakuji Temple on this website lately.
In fact, these videos were taken early in the morning before tourists enter, with exceptional permission by Kinkakuji Temple. So they are quite precious videos.
There is no Japanese who does not know this Kinkakuji Temple but its behind-the-scenes seems to be relatively unknown.
Therefore, I will introduce some facts learned through this filming and interview as follows.

 

#1 There are about 100 workers at Kinkakuji
#2 Every morning before the temple opens, cleaning of the whole garden and restoration of
    Kinkaku are done
#3 I thought that there were many cherry trees there but few. Instead, there are many
     maples trees so autumn might be the best season for visiting
#4 The gold foils put on the Kinkaku are five times thicker than normal ones and 200,000
    pieces are used in total.
#5 There is a grave of Jozo Kisho in front of the visitor reception. Jozo was a monk in Heian     Period, and it is said that he had psychic powers. A float called “Yamabushi-yama” for Gion     Festival represents that he starts ascetic training in Mt. Omine.

 

（H.S）

 

Walking in Pontocho Street, which has traces of geisha district in Kyoto City

2016.06.29

Kyoto and Nara

The Pontocho Street is very close to Shijo-ohashi Bridge in Kyoto,
and the street is packed with lots of latticed restaurants.
As I walked along the street, it is so hard to decide to go into one.
Here not only many foreign tourists but also the local office workers are often seen,
so the crowds might be natural.
And, from early to late summer, I highly recommend dinner at a breeze-enjoying floor.
By the way, “Pontocho” sounds cute, doesn’t it?
Town name that starts with “Po” is very unusual in Japan.
I looked up the etymology of the word and found that “pont” meant “tip” in Portuguese.
The truth is unknown, but this theory seems most probable. (H.S)

 


Passing in front of Minamiza(Kabuki theater), crossing the Shijo-ohashi Bridge,
you come to Pontocho.

 


For some reason, it is fun to walk through a narrow alley.

 


Japanese-style vermillion umbrellas attracted my attention.

 


Window decoration with Ikebana(flower arrangement) at a restaurant.

 


Pontocho was once flourished as a geisha district. Even now there are some “teahouses” which refer to places where geisha entertain their guests.

 

Evening stroll along Gion Shirakawa Street of Kyoto

2016.06.26

Kyoto and Nara

There are many places where I like in Kyoto, and here is one of them.
The Gion Shirakawa Street has been often used for locations for TV dramas and travel
programs. In particular, its atmosphere from the evening to the night is wonderful,
and you can feel like “This is Kyoto!” there.
I stayed at a Japanese-style Inn along the Shirakawa River once before, from the room
on the second floor, I could see the stream through the weeping willows and an egret
stands gracefully, which I felt the elegance and the aesthetic value of Kyoto’s own.
Also, I thought that the view could even be called as if it was Venice ( I’ve never been
there though) in Japan. (H.S)

 


The shop also looks as a traditional Kyoto-style house

 


Dedicated fences around Tatsumi Daimyojin Shrine.There are many ones by Maiko (young geisha) and people related to show business.

 


Shimbashi Street right next to Shirakawa Street was selected as an important traditional building preservation area. And you may meet Maiko in the evening if you are lucky.

Ryumon-baku waterfall in the precincts of Kinkakuji Temple

2016.06.19

Kyoto and Nara

There is a waterfall called Ryumon-baku after passing Shariden (Kinkaku / the Golden Pavilion) in the precincts of Kinkakuji Temple. A carp stone has been set which looks as if a carp climbing up the waterfall which represents a legend about the gateway to success.

Literally, this Ryumon-baku water fall might be too small to be called a “waterfall”. The area where the water from Ryumon-baku waterfall flows toward is Kyokochi Pond (Mirror Pond), which is in the center of the temple's garden. Because Kyokochi Pond represents the sea, so the name, Ryumon-baku waterfall might be perfect for its size of the image.

I find a similarity between the beauty sense of Ryumon-baku waterfall of Kinkakuji and bonsai. They both create the image of mother nature in the small scenery.

 

T.S

Visit to the location of a Japanese novel “Gobancho Yugiriro”(A House in the Quarter) in Kyoto

2016.06.02

Kyoto and Nara

Now I am reading the “Gobancho Yugiriro” by Tsutomu Mizukami,
who was born in Fukui Prefecture. (1919 – 2004)
I wonder what will happen to Yuko (the main character) from now,
and also I feel her inner strength even though she is only 19 years old.
By the way, when we went to Kyoto in February, we also visited the Gobancho,
where was the location of the novel.

 

The Gobancho is situated in the area called “Nishijin”.
It has a short street from north to south, but there are many alleys from east to west.
In around 1951, when the novel is set, it is said that there were about 200 licensed quarters.
At present, it is not a tourist spot but a quiet residential area as it’s off-street.

 

While walking along the street of Gobancho, it made me want to travel back in time
when the Gobancho was very crowded. (H.S)

 


The exterior seems to retain the look of that time.

 


The house features the lattice door.
There is also an amulet called “Shoki-san” on the latticework of the second floor,
which is very Kyoto townhouse like.

 


Famous restaurant as soft-shelled turtle dishes “Daiichi” is nearby.
The restaurant was founded about 300 years ago,
so it must have been watching the transition of Gobancho.

 


Speaking of Kyoto, the Japanese confectionery called Yatsuhashi(Cinanamon cookies) is
well known. There are many kinds of Yatsuhashi. Among them, a representative one is “Yuko”.
It was named from the main character Yuko Katagiri of the “Gobancho Yugiriro”.
Actually, Tsutomu Mizukami officially approved to use the name for the confectionery.
This means that perhaps Mizukami also used to like Yatsuhashi. 　

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