Kyoto Details
Jul 16, 2014 6:44:11 GMT
Post by DianeMP on Jul 16, 2014 6:44:11 GMT
Greetings from Oregon! I've been away for a bit. Thank you again to everyone who commented on my Tokyo Details post. In Kyoto, as in Tokyo and everywhere else, I'm obsessed with details when taking pictures. Only occasionally do I remember to back up and get a shot of the whole scene! Sorry about that...
In November, 2013, I was briefly in Japan and was only able to visit two cities, Tokyo and Kyoto. The second was, for me, a sort of candy box of Shinto shrines - in a good way. Kyoto is the old capital of Japan and home of some of the most significant Shinto shrines in the country. Over time, the indigenous Shinto beliefs have "cross-pollinated" with the Buddhism brought from China centuries ago. Shinto beliefs are animistic and revolve around harmony with nature. From Japan Times comes this rather amusing introduction to the differences between the two religions:
It's a very good article, if you want to know more about the subject. First, a few scenes around town...
The entrance hall of the garishly spectacular Kyoto Station, finished in 1997. I am standing in the lobby of the hotel where I stayed. A Japanese friend told me that there was a big uproar in Kyoto about the finished product, because Kyoto is a more modest and traditional city than, say, Tokyo. Architecturally, it's kind of a massive mess, but that's just my opinion. More...
The top of the station, on the opposite side from the first shot (see the stairs?). I did wonder what happens to all that glass during an earthquake...
No idea what this cute sign says, but I think it was over a department store.
Kyoto Tower, which I thought was very cool. It's right across from the station. I am standing in a square that seemed to be a major meeting point for teenagers. Also, young business men and women getting off the train would stop there to have a smoke and - like everywhere else - massage their iPhones!
Outside a small restaurant in a traditional part of Kyoto.
Restaurant in a back alley. There were actually three of them crammed into this tiny L-shaped alley and it seemed hundreds more on the narrow streets of the neighborhood.
On a pedestrian bridge over a creek running through the neighborhood. It was raining that evening.
Another alley, more tiny restaurants.
Sorry about the erratic sizing, I prefer the smaller size for my rather lo-res work!
To be continued...
In November, 2013, I was briefly in Japan and was only able to visit two cities, Tokyo and Kyoto. The second was, for me, a sort of candy box of Shinto shrines - in a good way. Kyoto is the old capital of Japan and home of some of the most significant Shinto shrines in the country. Over time, the indigenous Shinto beliefs have "cross-pollinated" with the Buddhism brought from China centuries ago. Shinto beliefs are animistic and revolve around harmony with nature. From Japan Times comes this rather amusing introduction to the differences between the two religions:
Most in Japan may know Buddhism has something to do with controlling lust and anger, and is associated with funerals and graves, while Shinto involves venerating nature, and weddings. But many people have trouble making theological distinctions between the two or even telling a Buddhist temple from a Shinto shrine.
The following is an attempt to explain why Japanese often get Buddhism and Shinto mixed up...
The following is an attempt to explain why Japanese often get Buddhism and Shinto mixed up...
The entrance hall of the garishly spectacular Kyoto Station, finished in 1997. I am standing in the lobby of the hotel where I stayed. A Japanese friend told me that there was a big uproar in Kyoto about the finished product, because Kyoto is a more modest and traditional city than, say, Tokyo. Architecturally, it's kind of a massive mess, but that's just my opinion. More...
The top of the station, on the opposite side from the first shot (see the stairs?). I did wonder what happens to all that glass during an earthquake...
No idea what this cute sign says, but I think it was over a department store.
Kyoto Tower, which I thought was very cool. It's right across from the station. I am standing in a square that seemed to be a major meeting point for teenagers. Also, young business men and women getting off the train would stop there to have a smoke and - like everywhere else - massage their iPhones!
Outside a small restaurant in a traditional part of Kyoto.
Restaurant in a back alley. There were actually three of them crammed into this tiny L-shaped alley and it seemed hundreds more on the narrow streets of the neighborhood.
On a pedestrian bridge over a creek running through the neighborhood. It was raining that evening.
Another alley, more tiny restaurants.
Sorry about the erratic sizing, I prefer the smaller size for my rather lo-res work!
To be continued...