Arashiyama - updated

Note: you can click on the photos for larger version.  (I continue to loathe this technology and when I have time, I'll see if I find wordpress any more intuitive for decent layout.)

I am reading Ruth Ozeki's A tale for the time being on my new Kindle (technology I do enjoy for travel). It's a great book to read in Japan. She has a bit to say about time - how now is so transient and immediately after becomes then. Feels particularly relevant when trying to blog. My visit to the subject of this blog (Arashiyama) seems aeons ago now but it is only just over a week.It is quite a large area famous for temples, shrines, bamboo, and climbing to get views.

I start each day with a trip through the railway station. I am beginning to get lost less. Always hordes of people and noise - announcements, hubbub etc.

After quite a long but quiet journey,the bus stopped at Arishiyama, famous for temples, bamboo, shrines and climbs to spectacular views.  (I wasn't planning on doing too much of that!)
First stop was Tenji Temple.


 

   

The bamboo walk to the  Jibutsu-do Villa didn't disappoint.  

 

 

A sign explained, "The Villa’s entire history originated here at “Jibutsu-do” shrine. Oh-kohchi Denjiro was already a box-office movie star at the age of 34 (1931). His long-cherished dream of building this shrine, since he was 27 when he experienced the calamitous earthquake of Tokyo in 1923, eventually came true. During working at the studios, he often visited this humble shrine and found inspiration through meditation and prayers.  His inspiration eventually led to the completion of the “Tekisui-an” tea room and “Daijo-kaku” Temple. His creativity ranged from the artistic creation of movies to the planning and building of Japanese gardens.  It never ceased until he passed away in 1962 at the age of 64."  

I was really blown away by the stonework here and - in fact - everywhere I went.



The views and planting were a joy.

  



 





 And the tea house was a serene place to have a rest. .







After that, one was meant to go on a two-hour walk for fabulous views.  Fortunately the walk proved difficult to find.  I came across some friendly young men who were also trying to find the way. Signs kept saying something like "Do not walk" and they were as confused as me but headed on undeterred. "We're Dutch!" they explained, giggling.

This way?

The website mentioned a cemetery...

Ah this will do...

Ring bell, clap hands..

 

make a wish/say a prayer?

All templed out, I headed for home and found out what they meant by the bamboo forest.  It felt a deep forest, with  lots of junctions and I wish I'd taken a photo of one of the frequent signposts because I couldn't  make head nor tail of them and got lost but not panicky as there were lots of tourists.  (Many Japanese seem to enjoy dressing in national costume, hiring ricksaws etc for a really special day out.)

 I was hoping to find the railway station with a public footbath but got hopelessly lost.  Eventually an English fellow rescued me with his ipad and google maps.  (It inspired me to try to get my wifi router working and I've succeeded - if I  remove and reinsert the battery every time I want to use it!)