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Hounen-In Temple is located alongside of so-called "the Philosopher's Walk" (哲学の道; Tetsugaku no Michi), which is a pedestrian path between Nanzen-ji (南禅寺) and Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺) having cherry-blossom tree-lined canal. Tetsugaku no Michi was named because a well-known philosopher and Kyoto University professor, Kitaro Nishida (西田幾太郎) took a walk giving his daily meditation. It is a very popular for tourists and locals, especially during cherry blossom season.


Honen (法然) was the religious reformer and founder of the first independent sect of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism called Jodo Shu (浄土宗). Honen-In was the place where Honen and his disciples trained. When you enter the gate, you will see the sculpted sand formations and there is a pond garden. This is a small temple with clear and quite air. Their website; http://www.honen-in.jp/



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Murakami Kaishido is a famous and long-established confectionery shop together with French restaurant in Hanzomon (半蔵門). What makes Kaishindo unique is about their system. Suppose you are a first-time guest to them and you want to buy cookies or have a dinner, you wouldn't be accepted unless you have a reference from their existing clients. It is called "Ichigen-san Okotowari" (一見さんお断り; first-guests cannot use services without reference).


BUT lunch is open for everybody with a reservation. I had a lunch there a few years back. It is located in front of Britsh Embassy near the moat around the Imperial Palace, providing the authentic French meal. Attached is their well-known dessert called Kaishindo jellies. By the way, there is a small confectionery space and you can buy cookies during lunchtime but different kinds from the above-mentioned.

Their website in Japanese; Kaishindo.restaurant


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Gingaku-ji Temple ("Temple of the Silver Pavilion") is one of Zen temples in Kyoto which represents Higashiyama Culture (東山文化) of Muromachi Era (室町時代). It was built in 1482 by Ashikaga Yoshimasa (足利義政), the eighth Muromachi Shogunate. It meant to be his retirement villa, however, after his death, this property became a Zen temple called Jisho-ji (慈照寺), a branch of Rinzai Zen (臨済宗).

Its construction's design was emulated the Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺; "Temple of the Golden Pavilion") which had been commissioned by his grandfather Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (足利義満).
Yoshimasa's original intention was to cover the temple with silver-foil overlay, though, his plan remained unfinished which, as a consequence, leads to illustrate one of the best atmosphere of Japanese "wabi-sabi" (わびさび).

Ginkaku-ji is very famous for its Japanese garden. Approaching the entrance with hedges, it's already beautifully presented and the sand gardens which we would see first are awesome. I like this Temple very much and every time I come to Kyoto, I place it at the top of my list.





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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A Happy New Year from Catch Japan♬
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　2012年　今年も　よろしく　お願いします。

　　　　　　　　　　　Have a Happy Holiday Season from CATCH JAPAN♬♬♬