A G: Japan Day 2 - Kyoto Day 2 by Aaron, Kinkaku, Ginkaku, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera Temple 京都金阁寺，银阁寺，二条城，清水寺

Kyoto City Tour

~by Aaron

Japan Day 2, Kyoto Day 2:

hotel 三条城, Kinkaku 金阁寺， Ginkaku 银阁寺，

Nijo Castle 二条城， Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺

It’s our second day in Japan and we still think everywhere is awesome. The Kinkakuji was built by a famous shogun. The Ginkakuji was modeled after the Kinkakuji! The Nijo Castle is made of the castle and a 5 story castle keep nearby. Our final stop of the day was the Kiyomizudera Temple.

The first gate 总门
Entrance to the Kinkakuji 金阁寺

Kinkaku 舍利殿, also named the Golden Pavilion 金阁

Keep the tickets. The blessing phrases are printed 御守（护身符）.

Kinkaku 舍利殿

Rang a wish bell

Lit up candle

Rang a wish bell

Kinkakuji garden
金阁寺花园

coins toss against

rocks for luck

The statues in Kinkaku 1st floor

金阁寺一休

Kinkakuji 金阁寺 was established by Shogun Yoshimitsu Ashikaga 足利义满将军 as a villa in 1397. After the shogun’s death, the villa was converted into a temple according to his will in 1408. All the buildings were ruined except the Kinkaku 舍利殿. The Kinkaku survived from the ancient days, which was burnt in 1950. The Kinkaku we see today is a replica. The garden, however, remains as it was in former days. The Kinkaku 舍利殿 can also be called the Golden Pavilion 金阁. The pavilion has 3 floors. Each floor was built in a different style. The entire building is unopened to everybody, but the first floor windows are normally open. This allows people to see part of the inside of the Kinkaku. The second and 3rd floor are both covered in gold. Facing the mirror lake, with its golden walls and surrounding trees reflection in the water, the Kinkaku brought peace and beautiful scene to all the visitors. People toss coins against some rocks for luck.

Front: the sand garden of Ginkakuji Temple 银阁寺
Back: the 2 storied Silver Pavilion 银阁
The pile of sand simulating Mount Fuji 观月台,
and the silver colored sand with waves simulating the ocean 银沙滩

The sand garden of Ginkakuji Temple 银阁寺 in the rain
The pile of sand simulating Mount Fuji 观月台,
and the silver colored sand with waves simulating the ocean 银沙滩

The pond of Ginkakuji Temple 银阁寺

The garden of Ginkakuji Temple 银阁寺

The garden of Ginkakuji
Temple
银阁寺

The Ginkakuji 银阁寺 was built as a retirement place for the shogun in 1460, grandson of the Kinkakuji builder. It consists of the Silver Pavilion, 6 other temple buildings, a moss garden and a special sand garden. The trees were very straight like a pencil. The retired shogun started living inside during 1482 until his death in 1490. His will made the Ginkakuji a temple. This is how it got its name:

The Silver Pavilion used to be covered in a layer of black lacquer. This made it shiner and when moonlight was reflected off the lacquer, the color of silver appeared.

Left: Ninomaru Palace, Right: Karamon Gate唐门 Entrance to Nijo Castle 二条城

The gardens of Nijo Castle 二条城

View from Tower of Nijo Castle 二条城天守阁

The tower was burnt, and not been rebuilt

Deep moat of

Nijo Castle
二条城护城河

Deep moat of

Nijo Castle 二条城城墙，护城河

The Nijo Castle, or Nijojo, 二条城 was started in 1603 by the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu 德川家康. It was finished 23 years later by the his grandson. It was the house for the shoguns of the Edo Period 江户幕府 (1603 to 1867). The paintings hanging on the walls are beautiful. Each room has some paintings. To protect them from fading, some of the original paintings was kept in the museum and replaced with the replicas. Many weapons were used to defend the castle. The entrance contains a device for dropping spears on the enemy. Holes for arrow to go through are everywhere along the side. We walked in the castle, which is famous for the paper sliding doors. The pathway creaks on purpose to let the inhabitants hear anybody walking inside (a precaution for murderers). After 1867, it was used as a royal palace before donated and opened to the public.

Tokugawa Ieyasu 德川家康

The Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺
night，day

The Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺

in fall

The Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺

after rain

Three Storied Pagoda 三重塔

The Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺

Entrance of
the Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺

Built over the hillside,
offers impressive view of the city,
even after the rain

Tall pillars support
the main hall

Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺 was founded back in 780. The buildings were made without nails, and are still standing today! The main hall has a large building supported by tall pillars. It was built just out over the hillside and offers impressive view of the city. It’s famous for its 3 channels of water fall into a pond，the Otowa Waterfall. You can catch and drink the water. Each of the 3 parts grants a different wish. One gives success at school, another long life, and the final a happy marriage. It’s also called the Pure Water Temple because of this. Don’t drink all 3 or else you are said to be greedy.

Grant my wish：
Step 1, Line up

Grant my wish：
Step 2, Catch the water

Grant my wish：
Step 3, Drink the water
Mission accomplished!

The busy street in front of
the Kiyomizu-dera Temple
清水寺

Other temple on the way to
the Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺

The street in front of the Kiyomizu-dera Temple 清水寺
Famous for its stores and restaurants
清水三年坂

These places were all very fun. The Kinkakuji was a whole village for the shogun, but only the Golden Pavilion remains today. Ginkakuji is famous for its buildings, a moss garden and a special sand garden. I drank from the success in school and long life in the Kiyomizu dera Temple. Our second day in Japan was excellent.