Stairs at Ryoanji (龍安寺)
Ryoanji is best know for its zen rock garden–perhaps the most famous karesansui (枯山水) in the world. However, there is much more to see at Ryoanji, including a lake, these stairs, and other objects and paths.
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Koyasan tip
Kongōbu-ji (金剛峯寺) on Koyasan
Japan’s temples and shrines, to me, are far more special alone. New Year’s Day crowds can be interesting too, but visiting a temple or shrine with loads of tourists isn’t usually my thing.
Here is a tip if you are on Koyasan. Some temples, like Kongobuji, close at 5. Dinner at most of the lodgings is at 5:30 or 6. Most people head back to their lodgings before 4 to relax before dinner. You are better off relaxing during the middle of the day when the places are crowded and experiencing the temples between 4 and 5 (or early in the morning) when they are empty.
Such was the case when I walked up through this gate to Kongobuji after 4 p.m. (passing many tourists scurrying back to their temple lodgings). I was the only one there!
Fukuoka from the highway
Fukuoka, Japan
I took a bus from near Hakata to the Fukuoka Dome area. Today’s photo is out the left window of the bus as we sped along the highway (福岡高速環状線). Out my window to the right was Hakata Bay. The sky was preparing for the incoming typhoon.
Koyasan prayer banners
These paper slips hanging from the train station (either Gokurakubashi or Koyasan, I don’t remember which) ceiling on Koyasan contained a variety of thanks and wishes. The person who hung the one on the left wanted to lose 3 more kilos while the person to the right was merely thankful and grateful for their Koyasan experiences.
Shimenawa (Shinto rope) @ Meiji Jingu
Meiji Jingu (Tokyo, Japan)
