Japan | Kyoto Temple Tour

Kyoto's temples are like poems left behind by time. Daitoku-ji Temple in northern Kyoto is made up of many small temples. On the day we visited, only the Kōmyō-in Temple was open. This Zen temple is famous for its simple rock garden. The two stones in the main garden represent wisdom and convenience. To achieve liberation, both are indispensable, like the wings of a butterfly. Without one, it cannot fly. Higashi Hongan-ji Temple, next to Kyoto Station, is an important temple of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism in Japan. It was built by the daughter of the founder, Shinran Shonin. The most famous features are the two halls, the Goei-do Hall and the Amida-do Hall. It is said that when the temple was destroyed and rebuilt, there were many obstacles. In the end, female believers cut their hair to make ropes and prayed, weaving them into thick nets to move the timber. The temple was finally rebuilt in 1895. The 1,001 Kannon statues in Sanjusangendo Hall are truly awe-inspiring (photography is not allowed inside). The thousand-armed Kannon statues are arranged neatly, each with a unique expression, lifelike and vivid. Standing among them, it feels as if countless eyes are watching you, evoking both reverence and emotion. This tranquil yet powerful atmosphere is beyond words. Mount Hiei is the birthplace of the Tendai sect of Buddhism in Japan. Its first temple, Enryaku-ji, was founded by the monk Saicho. Surrounded by forests, the air here is fresh. To reach the summit, there are two cable cars. We took the first one and then hiked for 40 minutes to reach the Enryaku-ji West Pagoda. Along the way, red maple leaves and green pines interspersed, and the ancient temple stood quietly. Walking through the temple, listening to the wind rustling through the treetops, it feels like a conversation with a thousand years of time. The temples here, large and small, are either serene, magnificent, awe-inspiring, or peaceful. Kyoto, with its history and Zen, soothes the hearts of every visitor.