Wednesday 3 October 2012

Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto's bursting with temples and one of the more impressive ones sits in the east part of town. A temple has occupied the grounds since 778 (that's right, only three digits), but most of the buildings that are there now date to about 1633. Hey, old enough for us.

The most famous view of Kiyomizu-dera, its impressive wooden platform overlooking a lush landscape of trees.


The imposing front gate, always busy with pied piper school kids parading by.

The colorful details of some of the temple features and then, in contrast, the understated look of other buildings in unfinished wood.

Deities wearing little aprons. Why, we're not sure. There are theories about protection and the deaths of children.

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