Japan Trip Day 3 1001 Kannons

I took a cab from the hotel to Kyoto’s main shopping district in the Shijo-dori – Kawaramachi-dori area. I got there about a half hour before the shops opened. The first thing I noticed was the sound from the walk signal, which sounded to me like a Blue Jay! I walked East down Shijo-dori. I stopped and had a $4 dollar coffee -- Ack!

I then reached the bridge over the Kamo River (right), which was a nice place to rest and take in the view. I didn't realize it then but I was just entering Gion - the most famous Geisha district in all of Japan. Since my trip, I have read "Memoirs of a Geisha" and I would like to spend some more in this famous section of Kyoto. I walked by the famous Minamiza Theatre and continued walking to the end of the street which runs into the beautiful Yasaka Shinto Shrine (lower right).

Many of the shops had traditional Japanese goods for sale, and I regret that I did not buy this beautiful red lantern I saw there. I thought I would have other opportunities to buy such a pretty lantern, but I was wrong. I was looking for something to eat. Along the way I found a shop selling ground coffee, filters and a filter holder for making coffee in the hotel room. I didn’t want to spend all my money just on coffee! Finally I found a store selling sandwiches and got one, and I took a cab back to the Royal Righa Hotel.

Kamo River by Gion
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Yasaka Shinto Shrine in Gion

Sanjusangendo Hall is where I found the amazing 1001 hand carved cypress statues of the Buddha of Compassion – Kannon or Guan Yin.

Kannon and Archers from the temple handout

Cameras were not allowed. However, the Kyoto National Museum has some extraordinary photographs. Here is an amazing front view of all of the Buddha's the hall where all of the marvelous statues were standing. The statues (side view) were all hand carved in cypress wood my many different artisans so that each Kannon is unique. You could really appreciate the labor of love these carvers must have had being honored with such holy task as to be able to sculpt the Bodhisattva Kannon. Later that week in Tokyo at Ayoyamaitchome Station, I met a woman at La Pusa restaurant that I told about my visit here. She looked a little surprised that I would mention her favorite Buddhist Temple in all of Japan as my favorite also.

Side view of 1001 Kannons from the temple handout

Outside the hall annual archery contests are held in January at the Yanagi-no-Okaji temple fair. Part of the fair includes the "Coming of Age" competition for the 20 year old lady archers in traditional dress. I imagine this must be quite a spectacle.


The street leading up the hill to Kiyomizu Temple was lined with many shops selling many traditional Japanese items for souvenirs. The bazaar-like street was packed with mostly Japanese tourists. There were countless troops of high school students in there uniforms. The girls all seemed to look neater than the boys, who were all in their two sizes too big Tenchi Muyo style nehru jackets. The only distressing view was the McDonalds restaurant at the beginning of the street. However, I did notice a bunch of the people on our bus returned with cokes and large order of fries. When I finally reached the gateway to the temple, I was confronted the amazing large gate (right) and the Kiyomizu Temple higher on a hill. My photograph does not do justice at how incredible these views really were. Kiyomizu was my favorite place in Kyoto to just hang and take in everything. One could easily spend a whole afternoon wandering around all the sites and people watching. From the number of people at Kiyomizu, this must also be a favorite of the Japanese. Directly below is a picture of two faux geishas that were at Kiyomizu Temple. The tour guide explained that there are always some these geishas at Kiyomizu. Real Geishas she informed me charge for the honor of taking photographs! Hiyomizu "Geishas" Main temple at Kiyomizu	The large gate at Kiyomizu Above are visitors drinking the purifying waters of Kiyomizu. To the left is a view of the one of the temple buildings from the highest point at Kiyomizu.
A view Kyoto from a top of Kiyomizu