2 small but old shrines in Kyoto

上御霊Kamigoryo-jinja shrine, established in 863, Heian era.

In those days the contagious disease occurred at the capital of Kyoto, and it was thought that the cause was a curse of the dead souls. It is said that this shrine was built to quiet cursing souls. 御霊Goryo means cursing souls.

So It's a little bit frightening name but one of my favorite place because I was born near by the shrine. It's very small but old, downtown but quiet, refreshing place for me.

 

Flea market is held on 18th every month from 9:00.
https://goo.gl/maps/ub6Wq

 

Another shrine is 今宮Imamiya-jinja shrine. The photo is the shrine with chochin(lanterns) lighted in the evening. It's very fantastic!
https://goo.gl/maps/PZZRw

If you go to Imamiya shrine,why don't you eat あぶり餅Aburimochi(toasted rice cake coated with soybean flour)?
https://goo.gl/ZDSkj3

Nearby Imamiya shrine is 大徳寺Daitokuji temple. Why don't you visit Daitokuji? From hear you enter Daitokuji.
https://goo.gl/maps/QKY6Y

Kyo-yasai(vegetables)

This is Kamonasu eggplant, typical summer vegetable of Kyoto. It is very big eggplant. Its diameter is about 10cm.

We cut it into round about 2cm wide, fry it by oil and eat with miso paste. The name of the dish is 加茂茄子の田楽Kamonasu-no-Dengaku. It is a typical summer cuisine of Kyoto. Photo of the dish is to be seen in this site, http://bit.ly/1GA80dZ

Kyoto original vegetables are called 京野菜Kyo-yasai(vegetable), say kamonasu, 万願寺唐辛子manganji-togarashi(green pepper), 九条葱kujo-negi(green onion). 

If you want to see or buy these vegetables, you should visit 八百一本館Yaoichi-honkan greengrocery shop. Yoichi-honkan has various kinds of Kyo-yasai.
https://goo.gl/maps/x9wOa

Interestingly he has a vegetable garden which produce vegetables at his housetop. You can eat Kyo-yasai cuisine which uses vegetables produced in the garden, seeing the garden at French  restaurant Savory. Why don't you enjoy Kyo-yasai?
http://bit.ly/1GTTvnD

Savory's menu is here, http://www.kyotoyaoichihonkan.com/restaurant02_menu.html

Ojizo-san at the street corner

Ojizo-san is the guardian Buddha of children. There are many Ojizo-san statues at the street corners in #Kyoto.

Foto is a Ojizo-san in Iwakura area. It is a hand made and pretty one.

https://goo.gl/maps/y390K

卍(manji) mark of foto is the symbol of Buddhism. In Japan the map symbol of Buddhist temple is 卍. 

https://goo.gl/maps/XPwtt

In many places downtown of Kyoto city, around Aug. 24, Jizo-bon fest is held for children. Children enjoy games and songs and presents. But the origin of Jizo-bon comes from Buddhism. I found the video in youtube. Please see it. It is very interesting that the children turn a big rosary.

http://bit.ly/1Ft0bVE

West and East Honganji temple

Because there are many temples in Kyoto city, there are also many buddhist altar fittings shops and canonical robe shops. Especially around Nishi(west)-Honganji and Higashi(east)-honganji temple there are lots of shops.

Foto is a buddhist altar fittings shop near Higashi-Honganji temple. Big Buddha statues are put in front of the shop. But I think they are not for sale.  https://goo.gl/maps/Ksujz

Nishi-Honganji and Higashi-Honganji are the head temples of a Buddhist sect of the Jodo- Shinshu that is biggest sect in Japanese Buddhism. It's a pity that Higashi-Honganji is now under restoration. But Nishi-honganji is seen as a whole.

 

Food sample

Do you think this dish is real food? No. This is a sample made by resin. So you cannot eat it. But does it seem to be delicious? Especially cucumber seems to be realer than genuine one.

Ramen Iicho shop, I recommend

Ramen is very popular food especially in Kyoto. This is IIcho Ramen. Delicious!

https://goo.gl/faZbmD

Iicho ramen shop is open from 11:00 and 17:30 but on Thu.

Ramen-Nami(regular size)is 650yen.

There are many ramen restaurants in Kyoto. Especially Ichijoji is a ramen street.

You can eat variou kinds of ramen around Ichijoji.

http://goo.gl/ZanGBW

https://goo.gl/maps/UGCuh

When you eat ramen, it's good to slurp ramen making sound like "ZUZUZU". So you will feel more delicious. 

Don't be shy. Learn how to slurp ramen by this video.

There will be a new world of taste.

 

http://bit.ly/1TJy4fK

In some shops you can order "Negi oome"(more green onion topping) or "Men katame"(noodle al dente). 

Why don't you try it.

Small Tenjin-san and family crest

There are many famous temples and shrines in Kyoto City. But I found a small shrine at the street corner.

https://goo.gl/maps/qrVLy

This is a small Tenjin-san shrine dedicated to SUGAWARA Michizane, AD 845-903, a noble in Heian era. Tenjin-san means the god of thunder and the god is Michizane. But he is also famous for the god of study.

This mark, http://bit.ly/1LkAo7a, named 梅鉢Umebachi is a family crest of Michizane. This seal models a plum flower. Ume means Japanese plum.

There are many family crest, named kamon in Japanese, like http://bit.ly/1TyZQLK . By the way, my family crest is umebachi same as Tenjin-san.

Green tea and the field

Foto is green tea fields in Minamiyamashiro village. There are many tea plantations in the southern part of Kyoto pref. 

Tea fields are usually in the mountainous area and have very interesting and beautiful shaping.
 
https://goo.gl/maps/L1R8E

Pillars seen in the field are fans for protection against frost. They protect the tea from damage of frost.

Ippodo tea shop 

If you like to drink Japanese green tea, I recommend you to go to Ippodo tea shop at Teramachi Nijo. You can buy and drink tea there.

shop site: http://bit.ly/1fiKGdO

Ippodo is a very old tea leaf shop in Kyoto. We, Kyoto people often buy Ippodo tea as a gift for someone so that Ippodo has a brand name.

Ippodo's location: https://goo.gl/maps/3ixm9

5 min on foot from Kyoto Shiyakushomae sta. of the subway.

The Japanese garden

The Japanse garden of  the Nishimuras in Kamigamo district. 

https://goo.gl/lbv6LO

The Nishimuras has been the shinto preast family of Kamigamo shrine.Kamigamo shrine is one of the oldest shrine in Kyoto. It  is the world culture heritage.

http://www.kamigamojinja.jp/english/index.html

The area around the Nishimuras garden has been selected as the Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings. Myojin brook and the earthen wall of Japanese houses match very well.