2010.11.23

On the first day of Kyoto tour. I looked around Rakusai, located in the west side of Kyoto. Nina-ji is a temple built in 888. The gate in the front is called Nio-mon. As one of the Three Great Gates in Kyoto, the structure and the size are magnificent.

As you go through San-mon, another name of Nio-mon, on the left is the garden. The south garden is constructed with white sand, pine tree, cedar tree, and the red colored leaves. The view is amazing.

The north garden is more radiant with the red and yellow from colored leaves and the green pine. There is a pond too.

In Nina-ji, a five-storied pagoda stands that has equally sized roof for each story. This style is from the Edo period’s architecture. It is one of the tower that represents modern times along with Tou-ji.

Kon-do is registered as World Heritage. It matches with the crimson colored leaves.

Within 5 minute walk from Nina-ji is Ryuan-ji.

Next to Ryuan-ji’s San-mon is chisenkaiyushiki garden, which is known for colored leaves.

The path has become a tunnel of colored leaves.

Ryuan-ji has the famous Karesansui, which introduced the word rock garden to the world. Unlike kaiyushiki that you walk around the garden, for karesansui you sit and enjoy the sight. It is recommended to feel the beauty of rocks and sand that represent mountains and water.

Stone gardens are highly valued in other countries.

The sun has set and it has become dark. Usually shrines and temples close at 16:00 to 17:00 but during fall season, many places have light up at night. Kitano Tenman-gu had light up, which is near Ryuan-ji, so I decided to go there.

In front of the main shrine stands Sank-mon. It represents the amazing Momoyama architecture.

The main shrine shines with the gold decoration.

Red and yellow colored leaves that have been lit up amazed many people.

Kyoto is a place where you can enjoy the colorful leaves. Tomorrow, I will see the sight of Kiyomizu-dera, and Higashiyama.

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