Arashiyama Bamboo forest.
The Arashiyama bamboo forest is one of the popular destinations in Kyoto . A grove of Sagano bamboos on either side of a walking trail creates a serene and mystic atmosphere.
It was raining when we visited the bamboo forest and it was very crowded too. At a quieter time, the place would be a peaceful and meditative place. The sound of the wind blowing through the grove can be very mystic. It is a symbol of connection between nature and Japanese aesthetics. It is a kind of spiritual escape for the locals particularly with the associated temple.
Bamboo is a symbol of resilience and strength and was a favoured spot of the aristocrats in ancient times.
Several private and public grave yards were seen in the vicinity of the bamboo groves.
Some pictures…
The passage between the bamboo groves
From the bamboo grove, we proceeded to the Kiyomizu-dera temple, another Kyoto landmark…
The Kiyomizu-dera temple
Kiyomizu-dera (Pure Water Temple) is an ancient Japanese temple located in Mount Otowa in Kyoto and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Legend
It’s founding is shrouded in legend and says that a monk Kenshin had a dream that led him to the site of the temple where he discovered a golden stream and and tracing its source reached an ascetic Gyoei Koji who was practicing under a waterfall. Kenshin made a wooden statue of Kannon the God and enshrined it there marking the beginning of this temple. The waterfall known as Otowa falls is still part of the complex.
The Temple
As we entered the temple, a flight of stairs with a decorative gate welcomed us.
The entrance
A decorated bell fry adorned the landing
Bell fry
A wooden walkway with beautiful lanterns lead us to the main hall of the temple.
The walkway with beautiful lanterns
The temple is best known for its main hall which has a large veranda supported by tall pillars that juts out over the hillside offering beautiful views. The cherry and maple trees below on the hillside breaks into colour in autumn offering amazing views . The peculiarity is that no nails have been used in the construction. The pieces are wedged together like in a lego set.
The verandah jutting out over the hillside with the trees bursting with colours in autumn
A view of the trees on the hillside from the verandah
It houses the temple’s primary object of worship, that of Kannon (Avalokiteswara) with eleven faces and a thousand arms.
Avalokiteswara (Kannon) God of compassion
Behind the main hall is the Jizo shrine dedicated to the well being of children
The Jizo shrine
The three storied Koyasu pagoda stands among the trees and is believed to bring easy and safe childbirth.
Koyasu Pagoda
Beneath the main hall is the Otowa falls with three channels of water falling into a pond. visitors can drink this water which has wish granting powers.
The Ottowa falls
Like in other temples in Japan, a vibrant shopping area awaited us outside. Largely consisting of eateries, the shops looked very attractive and colourful. We spent some time here before proceeding to the bus on our way back to our hotel.
Some pictures…
The vibrant shopping area
Hope you all enjoyed the sightseeing destinations in Kyoto. Kyoto has a lot to offer in terms of cultural experiences which will be a different episode.
See you next week at Owakudani, the volcanic zone we visited enroute Kyoto…
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