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Kongorikishi, or Nio, are a pair of demon-looking protectors found at the entrance to many Buddhist temples in Japan. The one pictured here can be found at Seiryo-ji Temple (Shaka-do) in the Sagano area of Kyoto. I’ll show you his partner in protection tomorrow.
In the Arashiyama area of Kyoto we rented bikes and road mostly north into the Sagano area. The last line of homes before running into the mountains (just east of Adashino-Nenbutsu-ji (化野念仏寺)) consisted of some fine ones with a thatch roof. Farming was still going on in the surrounding neighborhood. That some properties also included cherry trees in full bloom put a smile on my face.
Are you beginning to get the idea as to how someone who isn’t even all that interested in the beauty of a cemetery might just find the one at 化野念仏寺 to be quite beautiful and peaceful? If you ever get bored of this vantage point (but how could you?) just turn around to behold a bamboo forest.
As mentioned in yesterday’s entry, beyond the bamboo stair path in 化野念仏寺 lies a modern, upper cemetery which had a wonderful atmosphere about it. I’m dying to go back and see it again, no pun intended.
While there are several, nice, public bamboo-viewing points in Kyoto, most are crowded with tourists. The one pictured, above, is not crowded, nor is it public. You can only get to it by paying an admission fee at Adashino Nembutsuji. This Buddhist temple is best known for its thousands of small, stone Buddhist statues. Don’t look at them and then head for the exit thinking you’ve seen it all. Keep moving to the back of the grounds until you see the stairs pictured.
After climbing the stairs you will find yourself in a large graveyard surrounded by bamboo (竹林), trees, and mountains. I found it to be about the most beautiful and peaceful place I’ve ever encountered. It didn’t hurt that I was the only one there. Still, I wouldn’t mind the cemetery at Adashino Nenbutsuji being my eternal resting place.
For directions and current prices see this page.
As mentioned previously, we rented bikes near the Arashiyama train station and road around the area and up to Sagano (嵯峨野). Along the way we traversed the famous path through the bamboo forest. It was take-your-breath-away fantastic. I road down one bamboo path with my camera taking a video the whole time. I’ll share that video with you in a later entry.
Can you see the one blossoming flower in the above picture? You may need to click on it to expand it to full size.