A rainy day in.. Kyoto and Uji


Well it does not always go the way you want. Today was a good day, just a bit wet.

Daigo-ji


Our first stop was a temple on the south edge of Kyoto. It was nice an sunny when we arrived but the weather changed halfway in and was a bit wet.


The sakura were spectacular and there was a slightly different tree with bunches of blossom which was absolutely stunning.


My favorite shot...But you can see the weather coming


more traditional sakura shot


Old Dojon in the temple grounds


An old world heritage pagoda.





A slightly decrepit, but full of character gate


The rain started. Light at this stage but quickly became heavy. This was a nice spot.


The gardens and space were pretty. Not the best we have seen and the guidebooks "45 minute steep climb" to get to the rest of the complex at the top of the mountain did put us off. So nice, better than average, but yeah we have seen a few temples now and were not that excited.



Tofuku-ji

With the weather turning and carrying our umbrellas this time, we headed off to explore tofuku-ji. And we loved it.


Again a large complex but with some stunning gardens.


Rain falling from the temple roof


The massive Sammon gate


A covered passageway..on a rainy day. We liked that. And the green..the colour's were vivid and vibrant.


Trees of green


the green nearly glowed. The photo does not really show it. Quite mystical


The first beautiful garden that we saw


and another angle


OK...REALLY liked it


Dry Zen garden


This shot captured the greens


Rain


Walking...not singing...in the rain


Turn around and shoot the other way

Tofuku-ji Hojo Garden


Another stunning Zen garden


The northern, chequerboard garden


Chequerboard garden


Chequerboard garden


A different layout in the western garden


I tried a new technique in this shot, trying to frame the picture with the near buildings.


more shots


quite peaceful


Wider shot


More framing


Uji City

Uji is a city on the southern edges of Kyoto. When we arrived we were already a bit damp and not really in the mood for it, so don't judge the town by our experience.

Uji is known for Tea. It has the most famous tea in Japan and there were many tea shops selling tea at ridiculous prices.

Uji is also known as a major location in the famous book called "Tales of the Genji".


The Amida (Phoenix) Hall at the Byōdō-in temple. Build in 1053, it is featured on Japan's 10 yen coin. It was very pretty and quite delicate. The rain though was dumping down on us so we did not stay long. BTW this is another UNESCO site. I think we are addicted to them.


A great shot by Pam


And a final view.


A famous bridge (reconstruction) from the novel "Tales of the Genji" with a statue of the author Murasaki Shikibu in the foreground.

"At Uji, some miles to the southeast of Kyoto, the Eighth Prince lived quietly with two daughters. One warm spring day, looking out over the garden, they made poems on the mallards, which were swimming about the pond. In earlier years, he had considered these small creatures as uncertain existence, which only lived in vain on the surface of water. Now, after his wife had died, he felt something like jealousy towards them chattering happily to each other wing to wing. He had renounced the world and taken charge of bringing up his daughters. He thought that life was uncertain, which had affected the way of thinking of his daughters since their childhood." - From Tales of the Genji Webbook at UNESCO



And home to Nagoya....



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