Toki No Wa Studio

Kyoto		September 3-9, 2009


Our hotel in Kyoto is across the street from the train station. It has a needle on top with a viewing platform at the top.

Kyoto train station (and shopping mall) as seen from our hotel room.		There is also a hotel attached to the train station. The bus depot is also located here. This was very convenient for hitting the trail each day.

Our first shrine was a small area that we never new the name of.		To the right is a gentleman sweeping the gravel.

The broom he uses is just about the only one that could be used to sweep "gravel".		After reaching Toji Temple, we began to explore. The pagoda allowed us to find our way, we kept seeing the top needle and knew we were on the right path.
		Men and women gardners were working the day we visited.
Another gravel sweeping broom.

The head covers were unique to us but just part of the uniform for them.		A lotus blooming. How splendid.

		Each temple or shrine had watering areas, fed by a trickle of water. Bamboo ladels are available to dip water for drinking or cooling off our hands and wrists. Excess water would go into the reservoir below.

The weather in Kyoto was hot and humid. We didn't pass up any chance to cool down.		Molly made us this book with blank pages to have stamps or caligraphy from each shrine or temple placed inside. We carried it wherever we went, just in case.

Denice sitting by the moat at Nijo Castle.		Nijo castle watering hole.

The stone walls are very think.		The interior gateway to the palace inside the castle walls.

Detail of the upper sedtion of the palace gate.		A wonerful brass bell in the yard.

The formal gardens was the location where I first felt like we were in Japan. A real Japanese garden.		This type of post knob was seen throught the large compound.

A view from a high spot in the compound. Rather a large complex.		This gate has more metal than wood. Looks very solid.

These trees, seen elswhere also, were cut off at the base and allowed to grow very straight and tall. Interesting.		Den\ice at the entrance of Fushimi Inari. The orange tori in the background is the first of over 1,000,000 seen on the shrine trail.

A fox with a key in it's mouth keeps an eye on Denice.		I liked this lantern.

The trail begins		Wow, this is a lot of Tori...

The trail splits, left or right?		We go left.

Denice rings the bell at the shinto shrine before saying a prayer.		Denice left a message on a wooden fox-like offering. "Bless our children Molly, Adam, wish for his good marriage to Heather".

The trail continues		So many Tori...

At the top is the shrine, devoted to unborn and lost children. We said a prayer.		On the trek down the trail, there were several rest stops. I was sweating so much that we stopped for a beer and a rest. The blur is my Japanese fan working overtime.
Nishi Honganji - The only temple we visited with this much clean and shiny decoration.
		This altar is well restored, it looks new.

Shoes are removed before entering any temple, the floor looks as though it has been polished by socks over the years.		Another beautifully restored altar.
		This lotus fountain is located across the street from Higashi Honganji.
Still hot in Kyoto, cooling off at the font.
The entrance to Higashi Honganji
		Entrance pillar base.

Yet another water font. Very welcome sight.		The front gate was carved out of a solid piece of wood.
Jim needs cooling off before we leave.
		Japanese folding fans serve a purpose.

One day we headed out in search of Ryozen Kwan-on , the first wonder we ran into after getting off the bus was this beautiful structure.		Close up of the spire.
We were able to get a map, in Japanese, at this shrine. The map helped us continually stay on track thoughout this area of Kyoto.
		Every turn would present a wonder of history.
		We met Zen-Etsu Morioka when we decided to purchase one of his tea bowls. Zen-Etsu is third generation potter of a famous family heritage in Kyoto.
This area was made up of the "best shopping" stores, some of the oldest buildings that remain over such a long history.

While waiting for the teabowl to be wrapped in it's wooden box		we were served iced tea. It was a very welcome treat, as hot as it was in Kyoto.
		Royzen Kwan-on is a shrine to the unknown Japanese soldiers of WW ll
We found Ryozen Kwan-on, how wonderful.

Close up of the main icon		The interior area was well preserved.
		We found a nice spot to rest and have lunch. It was air conditioned. That and a beer was rejuvinating.
Sake is on the altar as an offering.
		Such a serene spot.
The Golden Pavillion
Tourists
		Japanese paper umbrellas work along with paper fans as an essential tool against the intense sun and heat.

More inscriptions in our book that Molly made.

Ryoanji Temple - the most famous rock garden in Japan. The Japanese garden in Portland has a replica of this very rock garden.		The Bamboo forest, a natural wonder.


Nice and shady in the forest.
		Kawai Kanjiro
We arrive at Kawai Kanjiro's house.
		Stairway to the second floor. Note the beaded cord handrail.
With the shoji screen open, the garden becomes a central focus in this room.
		A simple Ikebana arrangememt.

Kawai's wheel in his studio at the rear of his house. Kiwai was a strong influence in the craft revival movement in the 1950's and 60's.		A piece by Kawai Kanjiro
A piece by Kawai Kanjiro
		At the back of his property is the climbing kiln.
		A view of the house from clay work area of the studio and kiln.
Looking through one of the chambers of the very large kiln.

A piece I "wanted" to buy at a local gallery but declined because it was so big. Beautiful!		Huge Tori entrance to a museum area of Kyoto.

At the Craft Museum, 3 potters were working		This woman was hand painting with cobalt. What patience and talent.
This gentleman was making small teabowls by hand.
		This potter was using the wheel to throw teabowls off the hump.

After the museum we walked to an area known as the Philosophers walk, had to cross this river first though.		Large Tori again.

Kiyomizu Dera, this temple veranda is supported by huge log beams.		Traditional Locals

Kiyomizu Dera has a VERY LARGE water font. It was fun watching the young work for their water.		One day while walking in Kyoto with Donna and Warren Cole, we stopped in at a wood block print gallery. They had a wood block and ink available for anyone to try. So we did.


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