matiasStella

formerly known as hoko-ji temple, gango-ji temple (元興寺) was the first buddhist temple in asuka. it quickly became the source of japanese buddhism and a center for many of the cultures from china to be introduced into japan. at the time, these unique cultural characteristics were known as asuka culture, and were subsequently propagated throughout japan.

gango-ji temple was later moved from asuka, a former capital of japan, to nara in the 8th century. gango-ji temple is one of the seven main temples of nara and was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1998.

yoshino and omine (吉野・大峯) are situated in the mountains of nara prefecture.  in recent history, mt. yoshino (吉野山) has become a popular tourist site for its thousands of cherry blossom trees planted throughout the mountain side.  situated at different altitudes, the four groves illuminate the mountain for over a month with their pink flowers when the trees are in bloom.  in fact, several japanese emperors throughout history are known to have visited the area during the cherry blossom season.  there have also been many poems and haikus have been written about mt. yoshino’s beauty.

they are called mama-chari (ママチャリ), the standard issued bicycles of japan.  these russian and chinese socialist throwback bikes are easy to spot.  a grocery basket up front and a child bucket seat in the rear, occasionally removed to allow for your high school girlfriend to ride along.

mama-chari basically stands for granny bike.  in america you don’t want to be caught riding one.  it can lead to name calling and bullying.  ;)

in japan, their existence is undeniable.  these grocery-getting chariots of steel announce their presence with a thunderous bell and a thrusting squall, leaving one confused and angered at the threat of injury.  the sidewalks are for bikes and the roads for cars, where is a pedestrian to stride?

uncommitted.

ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺) is a zen temple is kyoto, which happens to not be as popular as its related temple kinkaku-ji (金閣寺).  ginkaku-ji was established in 1482 by ashikaga yoshimasa (足利義政), the grandchild of ashikaga yoshimitsu (足利義満) who had kinkaku-ji built.  the nuance in the name of the two zen temples is that “gin” stands for silver while “kin” means gold.

ginkaku-ji was supposed to be covered with a silver foil, much like kinkaku-ji is covered by gold.  however there was a civil war raging in japan during this time period and funds were deemed better spent on other items.  thus the temple as we see it today has technically never been finished.  many japanese believe that ginkaku-ji stands in balance to the more flamboyant kinkaku-ji with its gold leaf coating.  i have even heard several japanese that because of its subdued or reserved nature, ginkaku-ji is more japanese in style than kinkaku-ji.

kamigamo shrine (上賀茂神社), formally known as kamowakeikazuchi shrine (賀茂別雷神社), was built in 678 in northern kyoto.  during its heiday the shrine was frequented by the royal family, as the shrine was dedicated to the preservation and pacification of japan.  the two conical mounds of sand that you see above are platforms built for the gods to descend upon.

the park called tadasu-no-mori (糺の森) surrounds kamomioya shrine (賀茂御祖神社), also commonly called shimogamo shrine (下鴨神社), in northern kyoto.  kamomioya jinja is actually one half of the much larger complex called kamo shrine (賀茂神社).  this is the lower shrine along the kamo river (鴨川), while the upper shrine is kamigamo jinja (上賀茂神社).  both shrines together serve to protect kyoto from evil forces that were believed to come down the kamo river from the devil’s gate (鬼門 – kimon).

kamomioya shrine is one of japan’s oldest shinto shrines and it houses the second highest ranking god in japan.  additionally, held on may 15th of every year, the aoi matsuri (festival) at kamomioya shrine is the oldest of the three largest imperial festivals in kyoto.

i really liked these houses from the minute i set foot in the village of ogimachi (荻町) in shirakawa-go (白川郷).  set in the shogawa (庄川) river valley in gifu prefecture (岐阜県) north of nagoya (名古屋), shirakawa-go is a village where houses with a unique style of architecture can be found.  this architectural style is called gassho zukuri (合掌造り) and serves the purpose of shedding and supporting the immense weight caused by the over 4 meters (13 feet) of snowfall averaged in this area of japan.  seeking to preserve its unique architecture called gassho zukuri (合掌造り), the villages of ogimachi (荻町) in shirakawa-go, and ainokura (相倉) and suganuma (菅沼) in gokayama (五箇山) were inscribed into the UNESCO world heritage list in 1995.

i decided to take a stroll in the less visited part of town with a friend of mine.  he didn’t want to go alone for safety reasons, but i figured it shouldn’t be a problem in japan.  ;)

i hope their fortune is a good one.