Kyoto day 2: afternoon tour

After lunch, veggie tempura, rice and a delicious soup with massive chunks of fresh tofu, we boarded the bus again for our afternoon tour.

4. I honestly can't tell you the name of this Shinto shrine, there are just too many to keep track of, but the building and surrounding gardens were absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait to find time to return during cherry blossom season!

As is typical of Shinto shrines, and actually in many of the entrances to the Buddhist temple as well, there is always a place to wash your hands and mouth.

5. Sanjusangen-do (National Treasure Hall).

Housed inside this temple are 1001 golden statues of Buddha.  1000 of them are standing statues- about 4 feet tall, with one gigantic seated Buddha in the center.  These statues are all arranged on a tiered platform.  Each statue of Buddha looks slightly different but all have many arms in many different poses- this is to show that Buddha can help all many people in all different kinds of ways.  There are also several heads coming out of his larger head, to show that Buddha can hear all people who want to follow his teachings. In front of the Buddhas are the guardian deities carved out of wood with intense expressions- Thunder God and Wind God.   (we were not allowed to take photos inside, so these are postcards).


6. Kiyomizu Temple- Built on the hills overlooking Kyoto, this complex included Buddhist temples and Shinto Shrines- right next to each other.
The photos I want to share with you came from the Jishu Shrine- a place where Japanese come to pray to the god of love and matchmaking!
The two stones below are about 10 meters apart and if a person can walk with their eyes closed from one stone to the other then their love wish will come true.  (People were trying to do this- if you have to be led by someone to find the second stone, it means that you will need help finding love.  It was just so darn crowded!)