Day Two:
Nijo Castle – which includes Nimomaru Palace and Honmaru Palace, various support buildings and several Japanese gardens. Nijo Castle (Nijojo) was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo Shogunate, as the Kyoto residence for himself and his successors.
The palace building, now known as Ninomaru (“secondary castle”), was completed in 1603 and enlarged by Ieyasu’s grandson Iemitsu. It survives in its original form and is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors and floors that squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them (a security measure against intruders).
Iemitsu also added the Honmaru (“main castle”) including a five storied castle tower to Nijo Castle. However, the original honmaru structures were destroyed by fires in the 18th century, and the present building was moved there from the Imperial Palace in 1893.
Ginkaku-ji – Silver Pavilion – a Zen temple at the foot of Kyoto’s Higashiyama (“eastern mountains”), built in the style of the Golden Pavilion with a famous rock and sand garden. The temple is formally known as Tozan Jishoji.
In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today’s temple. A few years later, the Silver Pavilion, modeled after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), was constructed. It is popularly known as Ginkaku, the “Silver Pavilion” because of the initial plans to cover its exterior in silver foil. Despite the intention to cover the structure with a distinctive silver-foil overlay, this work was delayed for so long that the plans were never realized before Yoshimasa’s death. The present appearance of the structure is understood to be the same as when Yoshimasa himself last saw it. The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa’s death in 1490. This “unfinished” appearance illustrates one of the aspects of “wabi-sabi” quality.
**Construction Notice: The main building of Ginkakuji is currently being renovated and covered by a scaffold. Works are scheduled to be completed by spring 2010.
The Philosopher’s Path (Tetsugaku no michi) – is a pleasant stone path through the northern part of Kyoto’s Higashiyama district. The path follows a canal which is lined by hundreds of cherry trees. Usually in early April these trees explode with color, making this one of the city’s most popular hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spots.
Approximately two kilometers long, the path begins around Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) and ends in the neighborhood of Nanzenji. The path gets its name due to Nishida Kitaro, one of Japan’s most famous philosophers, who was said to practice meditation while walking this route on his daily commute to Kyoto University.
Heian Jingu Shine – Largest Torii in Japan plus beautiful shrine and gardens. Heian Jingu shrine is famous for having the largest torii in Japan. Heian Jingu also features a wonderful Japanese garden.
Heian Shrine was built relatively recently in 1895 on the occasion of the 1,100th anniversary of the Heian Capital foundation. It is dedicated to the first and last emperors that reigned from Kyoto, Emperor Kammu and Emperor Komei.
The shrine buildings are a partial replica of the Imperial Palace of the Heian Period, but only about two thirds of the original buildings in scale. Several events are held on the shrine’s spacious inner court occasionally.
A nice garden is located behind the shrine’s main buildings. A visit is most beautiful in April, when the garden’s many weeping cherry trees are in full bloom. An admission fee applies only to visiting the garden.
Yasaka Shrine – is also known as Gion Shrine, is famous for its Gion Matsuri, one of Japan’s largest festivals. It is located at the eastern end of Shijo-dori and is one of the city’s most popular shrines. The many lanterns that decorate the shrine’s stage are lit after dark and bear the names of their sponsors, mostly Kyoto businesses.
