More glimpses of unfamiliar Japan

  Though I usually try to post about less familiar sights in Japan, sometimes I go to the very popular places, especia;y when I have oversea...

The Gardens at Kennin-Ji Temple Kennin-ji in Gion was the first Zen temple established in Kyoto in 1202. My wife grew up in a house lit...

Raked Gravel and Rock Considered quintessentially Japanese, gardens with raked gravel and rock are ubiquitous in Japan. Generally called...

Left-handed Fudo Myo Fudo MyoO, one of my favorite deities, is usually portrayed holding a rope in his left hand and a sword, named Kuri...

2019 Fall Colors Walk Day 1 Kyoto I missed my traditional autum colors walk last year because of a bout of pneumonia, and this year in m...

Not much I can say about this post other than the title...... The first was one of the large umbrella often found at shrine or temp...

This is a detail from Twin Dragons on the ceiling in Kennin-Ji in Kyoto. It was painted in 2002 to commemorate the 800 year anniversary of...

Genbu Shrine is located north of the Imperial palace in Kyoto and was one of the 4 shrines for protection of the palace. It was built i...

Kenkun Shrine, also known as Takeisao Shrine, is located on a small hill, Funaoka Yama, in the northeast of Kyoto. With its roofs of cedar b...

The shrine is tucked away a little to the west of Shimogamo Shrine, though it was originally located on the bank of the Kamo River nearby. T...

Shimogamo Shrine is a major shrine complex in Kyoto and a UNESCO World heritage site. The proper name is Kamomioya Shrine, and Shimogamo me...