On my last day in Japan, I met an American couple when we were all waiting on a long line. They told me they were in China for vacation a year ago, "We visited Forbidden City, Great Wall... and many more new developments, like "bird nest", bridges, skydeck... It's amazing in China today... While our travel arrangement in Japan is very different. They guided us to temple and shrine, then shrine and temple, and more temples and more shrines, I mean, we went other places as well, but it seems like they are very excited to show us all their temples and shrines just like the way Chinese showed us their recent achievements..."
I was on a DIY trip and I followed my own guts. I didn't realize how big the part "temple and shrine" had played in my trip until that last day.
Kinkakuji Temple 金阁寺, Kyoto 京都
This is the most "luxury" temple I've ever seen in Japan.
Usually, paint is not necessary at all for a temple and colors stay just as nature, white paper walls, grey roof tiles, brown wood framings, green gardens... All the bright colors come with people and their wishes.
Ryoan-ji Temple 龍安寺, Kyoto 京都
Fifteen rocks in Zen Garden iconically represent the most famous Japanese Dry Landscape.
I sat there, like all the others, with no word, only mind...
[Tsukubai]
Temple @ Arashiyama 岚山，Kyoto 京都
Arashiyama has its charm even without foliage, because temples are there no matther which season it is.
Horyu-ji Temple 法隆寺, Nara 奈良
I think it has been 10 years since I first heard its name as an architect student. And the big argument about which one, Horyuji (Japan) or Nanchan (China) hosts the oldest wooden building existing in the world is still going on. Regardingless of whose the winner, it can't be more exciting to see a pagoda almost 1200 years old standing in front of you.
However, I travelled across the Pacific Ocean coming all the way here, but couldn't get any closer. Simple reason, I had only 780 yen cash in pocket after missed an ATM that morning in Osaka, and the ticket is 1000 yen, no credit card taken.
Can you believe that?!!
I stayed in this temple, more precisely stood near the ticket booth, for less than 10 minutes. Thanks for my telescope lens and my faith, I caught more than the rest of my money could offer me.
[to be continued...]
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