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Kinkaku-ji or Rokuon-ji Temple was built by the third Ashikaga shogun, Yoshimitsu who entered the priesthood and lived here. He directed that it become a Zen temple after his death. It burned down in 1950 and was rebuilt 5 years later. It is covered in gold leaf five times thicker than the original and topped by a bronze phoenix. The three-storied structure contains three distinct styles of architecture: the first, second and third floors are the styles of a palace, samurai house, and Zen temple, respectively. |
The pond has many small islands. The harmony created by the pavilion, garden, pond and nearby Mount Kinugasa was palpable. |
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Todai-ji Temple in Nara near Kyoto. Built in 752 by Emperor Shomyo to house Nara's Great Buddha image. It is the world's largest wooden structure and contains Japan's largest Buddha. It was too dark inside to get a decent photo of the Buddha. Check out the golden "horns" on the roof. |
This bosatsu was sitting out in front of Todai-ji Temple. If you look closely at the photo on the left you can see him to the right of the entrance.
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Strolling through Nara Park. Founded in 710, Nara was Japan's first capital. Wooded hills, temple parks, and some of world's oldest wooden buildings grace this ancient city. |
Some of our group taking a rickshaw ride through Nara Park. |
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The approach to Osaka Castle. The original was built by Hideyoshi in 1586 and was the largest castle in Japan. The original was destroyed by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1615, rebuilt but struck by lightning a few years later. The remains burned in a fire in 1868. The present reconstruction dates from 1931. The keep is a local history museum and the related materials of Hideyoshi are displayed. |
The long walk up to the castle. It was very hot and humid that day. |
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I feel like I'm in an Akira Kurosawa film. |
A Buddhist monk outside Osaka Castle. |
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The castle was reconstructed by referring to a folding screen of the Summer Siege that is kept in the castle museum. Inside the castle they also had some finely detailed models depicting the siege. The folding screen is in the background. |
The view from the top of Osaka Castle. |
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