GK_Kyoto10

Skiing on the Zugspits

We spent Thanksgiving 2010 (Nov. 25 - 28) in Kyoto, Japan. Our friends, Meg O'Rourke & Brad Smith, joined us on this adventure. The fall foliage was absolutely SPECTACULAR! After spending the past 8 1/2 years on Okinawa, experiencing Autumn again was just good for the soul.

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Day 1 - Kitano-tenmangu Shrine and Tenjin-san Market

Many of the beautifully styled roofs at the shrine.

Decorative lanterns illuminate the grounds.

Meg & Brad enjoy sampling the many tasty treats at the market held here on the 25th of each month.

We had to dig out the winter coats for this trip.

The trees added such beauty to every scene.

All 4 colors can be seen here: green, yellow, orange & red.

She was demonstrating some traditional craft, but we're not sure what it was.

At the shrine, you can light a lantern & say a prayer.

Despite Meg's coat & scarf, Brad shows that it really wasn't as cold as we expected.

Water fountains were placed throughout the shrine for hand cleansing.

One of many items for sale at the market.

Classic Japanese items for sale at the market.

Great price for a wide selection of Obis.

Gary was so busy taking beautiful pictures that we had to pose AROUND him to get a shot with him

Whether they were on the tree or on the ground, the leaves added amazing color to everything.

Red bridge on the grounds of the shrine.

Gary & Karin pose at the foot of the bridge.

As the sun went down, a few cups of hot green tea kept us going.

Day 2 - Toji Temple (the 5 story pagoda) & grounds followed by Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine (whose grounds have 10,000 Torii Gates)

A reflection pool sits in front of the pagoda.

Japanese Maple trees surround the pagoda.

A Japanese lantern decorates the reflecting pool.

One of many clothed statues around the grounds. Anyone else feel like some jazz music?

Japanese maples are all over the grounds.

A temple building with a large statue of Buddha inside.

One of Kyoto's oldest (founded in 711 AD) and most revered Shinto shrines, Fushimi Inari serves as the headquarters for all the 40,000 shrines dedicated to Inari across Japan.

Originally the god of rice, Inari now governs the modern equivalent: success and prosperity in business. Fushimi Inari Shrine draws thousands of businessmen and tradespeople seeking blessings for their enterprises, especially at the first prayers of the New Year.

Fushimi Inari is noted for its remarkable sight of some 10,000 small torii (shrine gates) that arch over a long path up the hill behind the shrine. It takes about two hours to walk along the whole trail, and there are nice views of Kyoto from the top.

Donated and inscribed by businesses and individuals thankful for their prosperity, the long tunnel of torii is one of the most iconic visions of Kyoto.

Oh no! The path diverges. You can see how closely the gates are placed to one another. People purchased miniature Torii gates & placed them at small shrines throughout the grounds. You can see the unique inscriptions carved on each of the gates. Artsy shot! A little more space was placed between this section of gates. These gates are all over the 2 1/2 kilometers of pathways that lead up & down the mountainside. A path leading up the mountain. You can differentiate the older gates from the newer ones by the fading paint. Lots of little Torii gates are seen at small shrines along the pathways. Each Torii gate is personally inscribed by the family or business that purchased it. A really cool dragon fountain at one of the many little shrines along the pathway. Just a little Foxes are believed to be the messengers of Inari. The keys that some of them hold in their mouths are for the rice graneries. Sign advertising the cost of purchasing your own Torii gate. One of many temple kitties seen along the path. Gary, Brad & Meg climbing some of the NUMEROUS stairs along the path. This photo shows just how steep some of the stairs were along the path. People from all over come to visit this shrine. I can't imagine hiking this pathway in a Kimono! There's always room for new Torii gates as the old ones rot away. A stack of new gates ready to be inscribed & installed along the path. Meg is dwarfed by the Torii gates. The light pouring in through the gates made for some great photo opportunities.