Golden week begins
Tomorrow, April 29, is a national holiday in Japan, that means, Golden Week starts!You may wonder what it is. Japan has a series of national holidays from May 3 through 5.It is a great boost of holidays in one week. If people can take the rest of the weekdays off, they can have more than seven days as holidays! (this year, 9 days at the maximum)
Japanese movie industry people are said to have named this series of holidays "Golden Week", because it brings them a lot of box-office revenue so it is "precious as gold" to them (I think).But now it seems that most people consider it as "Golden Week" because Japanese are so busy working long time every day that they are extremely happy to have such a long 'vacation' as if they got bars of gold!Anyway, holidays. Some people must be now waiting at the airport to board their planes to Guam, Hawaii or Italy or else (Japanese favorite visiting sites), but my husband and I are going to stay here and find some pleasure.So, have a great weekend (and holidays for Japanese)!
Ninna-ji
Like Mt. Yoshino, which I wrote about previously, Ninna-ji Temple is a World Heritage site.
the huge main gate
a Japanese-style garden in its fee-charged area of the precincts: so pretty
However, it is in order to see its sakura blossoms that I visited Ninnaji Temple today!
A the central Kyoto City, the cherry blossom season has been almost over; except for Ninnaji.
I had heard that cherries there bloom later than any other trees in the city, so I went there with the hope I can still enjoy the blossoms.
Oh, there. This cherry breed is called "Omuro-Ariake," which is late-blooming and is unique to this Ninnaji precincts.
There were some trees that had bloomed well, but the most blossoms had been scattered, making a "pink carpet" over the ground; it was beautiful in itself, so it's alright.
the bell tower
five-storied pagoda
Lastly, I'll show you a rare stuff:
Green blossoms of cherry! How interesting. The name of this breed is "Gyoi-ko."
OK, since late March, I have enjoyed this year's sakura so much. Did you? :)
Yoshino's cherry
Today with my husband I went to Mt. Yoshino, Nara pref., to the south of Kyoto.
There are many temples and shrines there, which were registered as the World Heritage sites along the whole mountain, but that's not all.
What makes this mountain remarkable is that it is covered by about thirty thousands of cherry trees, and in spring the pink-blossoms-covered view is so fantastic and it lasts almost all during April.
Though it was rainy, there were a lot of people who came all the way to enjoy cherry blossom viewing.
One of the shrines, Kinpu Shrine
Mt. Yoshino is covered by not only cherry but also
sugi (Japanese cedar). The Yoshino
sugi is also famous for providing quality timber.
Now, here comes the pink mountain surface!
When you have a chance to visit Nara in April, Mt. Yoshino is a must. (it is a bit far from Nara City, though)
Waterway & Temple
Through the Kyoto city runs a waterway from Lake biwa, the biggest lake in Japan which locates in the middle of main island Japan.
This waterway, which devides into some branches, was originally laid in the late 19th century to operate hydroelectric generation. Now it provides beautiful scenery both sides throughout the city.
At the east part of the waterway, cherry trees are planted along it. They bloom so brightly in the top season:
(Above) Cross a bridge over the waterway, and you'll reach a temple named Bishamondo Temple. This is also famous for blomming sakura in its precincts:
The cherry tree right above is over 100 years plus some decades old.
The teple also has a beautiful Japanese-style garden:
It is surrounded by maple trees. There must be a magnificent view at the season of red-turned leaves in autumn!
Umekoji-koen
Umekoji-koen (
Umekoji park) locates in the west of Kyoto Station, about 20 minutes' walk from there.
This park has a biotope in its fee-charged area called "
Suzaku-no-niwa (Suzaku Garden)."
Drooping cherry trees,
and a small waterfall are in Suzaku Garden too.
A flower bed at the entrance of the park
and other cherry trees are in the park's free-strolling area.
At this park, there are many people who enjoy viewing flowers and blossoms like me, who walk their dogs or themselves, who jog, play ball games, etc. Here is an oasis in this big city.
Kyoto-Gyoen
Kyoto-Gyoen is a large park that surrounds the Kyoto Gosho (the Kyoto Imperial Palace).
This park has thousands of and so many kinds of plants, flowers, and trees. Strolling in Kyoto Gyoen is a relaxing and refreshing oportunity, getting away from the hustle and bustle of the sightseeing tours in this city.
At this time of the year, you can enjoy:
momo (peach) blossoms (of blossom trees),
and
sakura (cherry) blossoms (of also blossom trees).
JUST BEAUTIFUL!!!
Kyoto-Gosho
These are some of the structures at
Kyoto Gosho (the Old Imperial Palace in Kyoto).
A carriage entrance,
the ceremony building over a large red gate,
the emperor's residence until late 19th century,
and the garden in front of it.
Every spot at this Kyoto Imperial Palace gives us so magnificent a view. You can surely enjoy it.
For further information on opening periods and visit application for Kyoto Imperial Palace, see
http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html.
Chion-in
Today I visited Chion-in Temple, in the east Kyoto. This temple was established by Honen, a famous monk in the 12th century who founded the Jodo Sect of Buddhism.
The main gate of the temple. Can you see how huge it is?
It is said to be one of the biggest wooden gate in the world!
In the precincts there are a lot of green and
sakura(cherry) trees, buildings including tea-ceremony houses and a bell tower. (sakura were not in well bloom, though)
Oh look! A bride with attendants taking pictures!!
(the bottom of the photo; the bride is the white one in the middle)
How lucky I am to encounter such a scene, because in Japan it is very rare to hold a wedding ceremony at a Buddhist temple, contrary to Shinto shrines, very common wedding venues.
The reason is, I think, that people are so familiar with temples as where they hold funerals that they may not think of holding a happy ceremony like wedding there.
That bride and her family probably are devout Buddhists.
Near the main gate there is a beautiful Japanese-style garden named
Yuzen-an.
It has a weeping sakura tree (
left) , so brightly bloomed.
At the back of the precincts I heard a Japanese nightingale singing; How sweet a spring tidings!
The cherry blossoms are about to bloom. Can't wait! :)
