Hiked along the slope of the Eastern Mountains of Kyōto (東山), first up to the little-known Himukai Daijingū (日向大神宮), a little Shintō shrine whose grandiose name borrows from the ancient and most-revered Ise Jingū after which its architecture is modeled. Then to the iconic Zen Buddhist temple Nanzenji (南禅寺), and along Philosophy Road (哲学の道) to the Silver Pavilion Ginkakuji (銀閣寺). Then as now there was a shortage of silver, even to the Ashikaga Shōguns, so the pavilion was never gilded, but with its similarlity to the Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji and topped by a phoenix, it is nevertheless charming. Sakura cherry blossoms at their best all along the way, with other spring flowers like magnolia and early-blossoming purple azaleas, made for a long and aesthetically pleasing hike.

#Japan #Kyoto #mountains #spring #sakura #cherry #blossoms #magnolia #azalea #flowers #Shinto #shrine #Buddhism #Buddhist #temple #hiking #architecture #phoenix #photos #photography

@religion

South of Kyōto City, the major Shintō shrine closest our house is Nagaoka Tenman-gū (長岡天満宮), associated with the presence of the statesman-scholar Fujiwara Michizane (菅原道真) over a thousand years ago in the Heian Period. He was not the only case of being exiled wrongly by the Imperial court, followed by natural disasters, interpreted as the work of his angry ghost, then being deified as the Shintō kami Tenjin (天神) to supplicate his spirit. Thus the shrine is also called Nagaoka Tenjin (長岡天神). Students facing high-stakes exams have traditionally prayed at the many Tenjin shrines to this god of learning. Today, the large shrine grounds provide a place to walk and commune with nature as well as to worship and to hold hopeful events. Now is peak cherry blossom season, so here are four scenes where I often go for contemplative hikes.

Publications on Japan: https://japanned.hcommons.org/japanology

#Japan #Kyoto #Shinto #shrine #spring #cherry #blossoms #nature #hiking #photos #photography

@religion

Nikko Tosho-gu shrine is the most beautiful #shrine we have seen in #Japan . It has the famous "three monkey" carvings in many places and the buildings are plastered with gold. What is the most beautiful #temple or #shrine you have been to?
#Travel https://backpackandsnorkel.com/Nikko/

Hachiman shrine in Fukagawa, by Utagawa Kunisada, 1857 #Japanese #Art #JapanseArt #Ukiyo-e #night #shrine

San Chao Kiew Tien Keng
ศาลเจ้ากิ้วเที้ยนเก้ง (สะพานหิน)
at Sapan Hin in the light of the rising sun... #shrine #Phuket

Snow at Itsukushima 厳島之雪, by Kawase Hasui, 1932 #Japanese #Art #JapanseArt #Ukiyo-e #shrine #snow

A lovely video from
@irori_jpn about the city of #Higashiosaka, and featuring some camera work from yours truly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZLqPRjlKlg

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Aoizaka: Beauty Tuning Shamisen, by Utagawa Kunisada, 1857 #Japanese #Art #JapanseArt #Ukiyo-e #shrine