After leaving Hiroshima later than planned, we arrived in Kyoto at nearly 11 pm and headed immediately to our guesthouse. Located in Gion, Kyoto's old, unofficial "geisha district", our guesthouse was easy to find and conveniently located near the subway station. While visiting Japan it is common for Westerners to pay high prices for the experience of staying in a ryokan, or Japanese inn. Ryokan are most notable for their tatami mat floors on which guests sleep. Interested in the ryokan experience, but not wanting to pay the high price, we were pleasantly surprised to find the bedroom of our guesthouse fitted with tatami mats and futon mattresses.
The entrance to IchiEnSou Guesthouse.
Paper walls and sliding doors
The tatami mats with futon mattress—more comfortable than one would imagine!
The next morning appeared without rain and we were eager to get out and explore Kyoto. After grabbing breakfast at the local convenience store we were headed to the subway station when—out of nowhere—three geishas strolled by in their colorful kimonos and ubiquitous, round hairdos. I had just enough time to snap a quick picture from behind before they popped around the corner and out of sight. I would soon find out the elusiveness of a geisha isn't that far off from the invisibility of the ninjas.
See a geisha... check, check, check!
The Fushimi Inari Shrine was at the top of our list of sites in Kyoto. Made famous by its nearly 10,000 vermilion-colored torii gates, the shrine has made appearances in several movies including, Memoirs of a Geisha. The shrine is located at the base of a mountain in an area known as Fushimi-ku and is dedicated to the god, Inari. Because Inari is the god of business, each torii gate has been donated by a Japanese business owner in hopes of fortune and success.
Located at the base of the mountain is the main torii and shrine. Further up the torii-lined path sits the inner shrine (a two-hour hike) and situated at the top of the mountain are tens of thousands of mounds used for worship. The mountain-side scenery was ripe with life including the deafening cries of a million cicadas in the treetops. Walking through the torii tunnels was a unique experience as the natural sunlight was almost completely blocked by the canopy above. Daylight turned to darkness in some areas and I imagined the eeriness of completing the hike at night. After a short journey, we decided to forego the complete walk to the inner shrine and headed back to Gion for a city stroll.
Entrance to Fushimi Inari Shrine
Hundreds of prayers were written on white cloth and tied to a frame.
Considered a messenger, the fox is often found in Inari shrines and usually carries a key in its mouth representing business success.
A second-hand kimono tent at the base of the shrine!
Entrance to the 10,000 torii gates.
The name of each business is located on the backside of their donated torii.
A unique fork in the road...
The famous torii tunnel
Monk shoes outside of the shrine.
Female shoes outside of the same shrine. Not sure what title to give the females...
Souvenirs!
The Japanese cat, Maneki Neko, is thought to bring good luck and can be found throughout Japan at the entrances to shrines, restaurants, stores, and homes.
Of course, souvenir shops near the shrine would be incomplete without wooden torii gates in every size!
1 comments:
I want to go there too.
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