Day 8 - Travelogue - Kyoto Part 2 - Kennin Ji Temple and Evening at Kyoto Station

Back to Day 8 - Kyoto Part 1 - To Fushimi Inari Shrine and The Mountain Summit

After spending the morning at Fushimi Inari, I headed back towards Gion.  I caught a direct train from Fushimi-Inari Station to Gion-Shijo Station in Gion on a different train line.  In Gion, I wanted to visit Kennin Ji Temple.  It was early afternoon by this time and I was getting hungry despite having a snack.  I knew there was an outlet of Kamakura Ramen here that would be a good place to get lunch.  Kamakura has really tasty ramen in a broth that swims with cabbage and veggies.  If find it super tasty.

Yet another tanuki statue.

Kamakura Ramen.  I tried it for the first time in their Shibuya outlet.  Love at first taste.

You order your meal from a machine out front.  English menu.  I had the top left set I think.  Ramen, rice, and gyoza.

My Kamakura Ramen.  It is good and has lots of Napa cabbage.

After eating, I was ready to head off to  Kennin Ji Temple which wasn't too far away.  On my last trip to Kyoto I was exploring the area around here and passed by the temple, but didn't realize the significance of the temple.  I did catch my first and second snorlax here in Pokemon Go though (see this post).

Main Hall at Kennin-Ji. It stands apart from the rest of the temple.

Kennin-ji Temple is a prominent Zen Buddhist temple located in the heart of Kyoto, Japan. Founded in 1202 by the monk Yousai, it is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto and one of the most historically significant temples in Japan.  Kennin-ji Temple has been a center of Zen practice, learning, and artistic expression. One of the temple's major highlights is its stunning architecture, which includes beautiful gardens, traditional Japanese buildings, and intricate artwork. It continues to be a vital center of Zen practice and learning, offers regular meditation sessions, lectures, and workshops, as well as a variety of cultural events and festivals.

Perhaps the most famous feature of Kennin-ji Temple is its ceiling mural, which depicts two fierce dragons locked in battle. This mural, which measures 11 meters by 15 meters, is the largest of its kind in Japan and is considered a masterpiece of Japanese art. It was painted by the artist Koizumi Junsaku in 2002, to commemorate the temple's 800th anniversary.

Another major highlight of Kennin-ji Temple is its beautiful Zen garden, which was designed by the famous Japanese landscape architect, Kobori Enshu. The garden is a serene and tranquil space, filled with meticulously arranged rocks, gravel, and moss. It is the perfect place for quiet contemplation and meditation.

In addition to its architectural and artistic treasures, Kennin-ji Temple has also played a significant role in Japanese history. During the 16th century, the temple served as a meeting place for the influential Japanese warlord, Oda Nobunaga. It was also the site of several important historical events, including the signing of the Treaty of Mampukuji in 1278, which ended a long-standing feud between two rival Zen sects.

This pair of golden screens is a national treasure (replica here) that shows Fujin and Raijin. On the left is Raijin a Shinto thunder god. On the right is Fūjin, one of the elder Shinto gods carring a bag of wind.

The Zen rock garden.

The garden again.

A hall.

An altar room with an offertory box in the foreground.

The twin dragon ceiling painting in the main hall.

There are many rooms and murals to look at in the main temple complex.  It is all connected by wooden walkways and you need to check your shoes when you first enter, so you are walking around in your socks.  You do get slippers to take the longer walk to the main hall where the twin dragon painting is.

I love this painting.  I spent a bit of time admiring it from different angles.

The garden again with the Zen islands.

Another dragon painting.

Another garden.

More painted screens.

Garden with fall leaves.  They were floating down in the wind when I was here.

An inner garden.

After visiting the temple, I walked a few streets in Gion and headed back to the hotel by bus.  I had done a fair bit of walking today, with the mountain excursion, and wanted to rest my feet.

Gion street.  This is in the southern part, but the northern part has some interesting features with old streets along canals.

 I saw a supermarket near the hotel on the bus ride back and popped in to pick up some breakfast for tomorrow morning and a late evening snack.  I found corn chips with Gundam, Witch From Mercury theme, an instant udon noodle bowl (big size), some strawberries, an apple, butter filled buns with raisons, some tea, craft soda, and beer.

That night, I headed back out to Kyoto Station.  I had considered going to another temple for night illuminations, but decided against it to save my feet.  Instead, I would visit Kyoto Station, which is its own attraction with malls, parks, and views.

Kyoto Tower out in front of the station.

Kyoto Station is a modern transportation hub located in the heart of Kyoto city, Japan. The station serves as a gateway to Kyoto and is one of the busiest stations in Japan, connecting travelers to various destinations throughout the country. It is a hub for Japan Railways (JR) trains, including the Shinkansen bullet train, as well as for local buses and subway lines.

One of the main attractions of Kyoto Station is its impressive architecture. It was opened in 1997 and designed by architect Hiroshi Hara, who also designed the Umeda Sky Building in Osaka. The station is a remarkable piece of architecture, featuring a futuristic design with a soaring atrium, a rooftop observation deck, and an extensive underground shopping complex. The station building stands 15 stories tall and has a unique design that incorporates traditional Japanese elements with modern technology. The building's striking façade is made of glass and steel, creating an impressive sight both during the day and at night.

The station's central atrium is a popular attraction for visitors. It spans the entire height of the building and features a giant staircase that leads up to the rooftop observation deck. The observation deck offers panoramic views of the city and is a great place to take in the cityscape or to watch the sunset.

Another notable feature of the station is the underground shopping complex, called "Porta." It houses over 200 shops and restaurants, selling everything from souvenirs to fashion, and is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Additionally, the station's north and south exits are connected to large department stores, making it a convenient shopping destination.

The giant staircase that leads up the to roof.  It is lights up and actually does long animations in full color with musics.  There is often a crowd at night watching the animations from the bottom of the stairs, me included.

Floor level of the main atrium coming down the stairs by escalator.

Way up high near the park and various restaurant floors.  There are shops and restaurants on both side of the stairs.

I went for tonkatsu for dinner and went to a restaurant here at the station.  When I got there, I saw this sign for a large prawn and pork tenderlion cutlet meal set.  It looked good so I had a short wait and got a table.  There were many travelers in this restaurant.

Giant shrimp and pork tonkatsu special.

The actual meal of battered pork and shrimp.

The meal was delicious and the shrimp was actual gigantic, juicy, and tasty.  The pork was tender with that crunchy outside coating.  I could have had more, but it was enough.  You also got pickles, miso soup, and white rice too.  After dinner I went out to Yodobashi Camera which is nearby.  I walked there on the street, but many of these malls stores are connected underground to Kyoto Station - a big plus if it is raining or snowing.

I saw a Pikachu vending machine!

In the Yodobashi Camera, I wasn't really look for electronics, but toys and models. I don't usually buy electronics in Japan - not cheap either.  I did look for cell phone cases and accessories which are very plentiful in Japan.

More Demon Slayer.

I found their camping section, which was interesting to see the prices, but I lucked out on the food.  Take a look at all the different kinds of canned food.  Nothing like that in North America.

These are camping meals or emergency rations.

More camping meals - mostly freeze-dried.

Instant soups.  These are way better than cup a soup.

I bought a few of the freeze-dried items as I taste test on my blog and I've always had an interest in preserved foods and MREs (see this post).  After this, I went back to my hotel, had a good shower, and got ready for another day of sightseeing.  It was good that my hotel was only one stop away on the subway.

I took the underground tunnels from Yodobashi Camera back to Kyoto Station and saw 7-11 vending machines!

Back to Day 8 - Kyoto Part 1 - To Fushimi Inari Shrine and The Mountain Summit

To Day 9 - My First Visit to Nara for Deer, Pikachu Donut, Daibutsu Temple, Kasuga-Taisha, Kohfukuji Temple 

The Japan Trip 2022 Posts

1. Planning My Tokyo 2022 Trip Highlights and Attractions (for Anime and Regular Tourists)
   
2. Highlights From My December 2022 Trip to Japan (with links to daily pages)
3. Day 1 - The First Night In Tokyo
4. Day 2 in Tokyo - Visiting Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Taking a Taxi 
5. Day 2 in Tokyo - Evening with Godzilla and Christmas Lights
6. Day 3 - Back to Shibuya for New Parco, Nintendo Store, Pokemon Center, Miyashita Park 
7. Day 3 -  Views From Shibuya Sky, Shopping at Tokyu Hands and Don Quijote
8. Day 4 - Nezu Shrine, Ameyoko, Ni No Kashi Candy Store, Yamashiroya Toy Store, and Ichiran Ramen in Ueno
9. Day 4 - Sensoji Shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo Midtown Christmas Illuminations, and Pokemon Store and Cafe Nihonbashi
10. Day 5 - Yokohama, Giant Gundam at Gundam Factory, Landmark Tower Shopping, Harry Potter Christmas Trees
11. Day 6 - Yokohama , Nissin Cup Noodle Museum, World Porters Mall, Landmark Tower Shopping Area
12. Day 7 - Kyoto Part 1, Kiyomizudera and Yasaka Shrine
13. Day 7 - Kyoto Part 2, Kodaiji Temple Night Illuminations and Yasaka Shrine at Night  
14. Day 8 - Travelogue - Kyoto Part 1 - To Fushimi Inari Shrine and The Mountain Summit 
15. Day 8 - Travelogue - Kyoto Part 2 - Kennin Ji Temple and Evening at Kyoto Station
16. Day 9 - Travelogue - First Visit to Nara for Deer, Pikachu Donut, Daibutsu Temple, Kasuga-Taisha, Kohfukuji Temple 
17. Day 10 - Osaka - Seeing Osaka Castle, Pokemon Center, and Dotonbori 
18. Day 11 - Seeing Himeji Castle, the Most Beautiful One in Japan, and the Umeda Sky Building
19. Day 12 - Osaka Aquarium (Whale Sharks!), Den Den Town, Shinsekai, and MOS Burger
20. Day 13 - Travelogue - Back to Tokyo - Akihabara - Shinjuku at Night
21. Day 14 - Underground to Ginza, Shopping, Ginza GoldFish Aquarium, and Tokyo Skytree
22. Day 14 - Tokyo's Underground Labyrinth 2 - Walking From Tokyo Station to Ginza
23. Day 15 - Travelogue - Museums Close Monday - Ueno Park - Narita - Flight Home

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