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Southern Higashiyama is the most important sightseeing district in Kyoto. It contains everything from dazzling temples, to preserved lanes, to the city’s main geisha district. Composed almost entirely of traditional wooden buildings, it’s easy to feel as if you’ve slipped back in time while making your way up the stone paths, passing by shops selling a variety of goods from traditional crafts to more local treats.  Whether it’s incense, figurines, accessories, Kyoto sweets, tea, or souvenirs, you’re bound to find it on one of these streets.  Stylish cafes abound as well

Kōshin-dō temple

Yasaka Kōshin-dō (in its full name Daikoku-san Kongō-ji Kōshin-dō) is a small temple located in Higashiyama. The temple is dedicated to Kōshin-san a nickname of its main worship object Shōmen Kongō, a blue, guardian warrior and to the "three wise monkeys". They represent the Kōshin faith.

Wedding photos

In Kōshin belief, Kōshin-san is thought to help all those who strive in their livings, with all their efforts to be good persons. He is also thought to punish the bad.Kukurizaru is the round, ball shaped talisman made of cloth, representing the good faith monkeys.

Kushindo emblem

In many places at the temple hang color balls representing Kukurizaru, a monkey with bound feet and hands. In Kōshin belief, it represents the control of the playful and desire-driven creature everyone has inside his body.The folk faith says that to have a wish granted, you must sacrifice one desire. If you put your desire inside one of the color balls that represent the monkey Kukurizaru, Kōshin will help you to make that desire vanish and because desires are what keep wishes from coming true, your wish will be granted and you will also become a better person.

It is also said that when you feel a desire coming you must put your hands together and recite the Buddhist sutra: On deiba yakisya banta banta kakakaka sowaka. Kukurizaru and Kōshin-san will hear and will come to help you.There are old traditions and beliefs regarding monkeys in Japan. Monkeys are considered kind spirits protecting us and our homes from evil spirits and harmful intentions

The three monkeys in the attitude of "not hearing, not seeing, not talking" are a part of the Kōshin faith

The statue in Yasaka Koshin-do Temple is said to help those who touch or rub his statue on the part of the body where they are suffering an affliction

Symbol of Higashiyama Yasaka Pagoda (Hokan-ji

Temple)

This pagoda is in Hokanji temple, and there are only this pagoda and a few buildings in the narrow precincts. So "Yasaka Pagoda" is usually the popular name of the temple. The pagoda is 49 meters high, and is the third highest wooden building in Kyoto after Toji and Kofukuji. It is the landmark around this area.

It is said that this pagoda was built in 592 by Shotoku-taishi, a prince in that period. The historical fact is not sure, but it is sure that the temple had existed before the transfer of the national capital to Kyoto in 794.This pagoda had been destroyed by fire and rebuilt several times.Current pagoda was rebuilt in 1440 by Yoshinori Ashikaga, the 6th Shogun of Muromachi government.  It is sometimes opened to the public

Shop front on San-nen Street Path near Kiyomizu-dera

Matcha  is finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea

MatchaKyoto green tea ice cream  

Mat

cha

parfa

it

Matcha Warabi Mochi, Japanese Green Tea Jelly

Jinrikisha, which literally means

human-powered vehicle

Pulled by a man, rarely a woman,

it's a "hunk", an ikemen who transports you:

muscular, tanned, charming, and always at your service to help

you discover the hidden treasures of the area that he knows inside

out. It's like having a personal,

professional guide

For 2 people, a 15-20 minute ride (1km to 1.5 km) is

usually around 3000 円 or 4000

円

Torii gate

Maiko

Kyoto A Kyomai performance by Maiko

The statue of Izumo no Okuni by Shijo Bridge in Kyoto

Okuni  (born ca. 1572) was the originator of kabuki theater. She was believed to be a miko at the Grand Shrine of Izumo who began performing this new style of dancing, singing, and acting in the dry riverbeds of Kyoto.

It was during her performances in Kyoto that she also became

known for her performances of

nembutsu odori (or nembutsu dance) in honor of the Amida

Buddha

Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu Nicoleta Leu InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Traditional Music of the Japanese Geisha by Hideo Osaka Ensemble 2017