Kodaiji art and nature

Kodaiji - one of my favorite temples in Kyoto

I was excited to visit there again for its beautiful light-up event, which takes place twice a year Spring and Autumn.

What you can see (blurry) in between trees is called "Gion-kaku" pagoda, and I figured it out that it's also called "Copper temple"!

The highlight of this event is projection mapping at the beautiful Zen garden, the theme of this Autumn is "Hyakki Yakou", a night walk of a hundred Demons. It was very quiet, still a bit spooky but very dynamic and cool!  

We started walking around the temple.

My favorite spot of Kodaiji is this great reflecting pond which is incredibly clear and calm (it was not windy at all), the water mirror was absolutely breathtaking!  

And they small bamboo forest - walking through the green bamboo was very spiritual, still refreshing and relaxing at the same time.


The night was crisp, and we decided to have some warm treat at a small cafe space at the entrance. Something hot and soupy - Matcha Zenzai (green tea red bean paste soup) was simply amazing after the temple walk!


I definitely recommend you to visit there for beautiful Autumn season, temple + art + nature + night view + sweets...what could we ask more?!


Kodaiji temple
526 Kodaiji Shimo-Kawaramachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto
Light-up till 11th Dec, last entry 21:30 
entrance fee: 600JPY

Get yourself pampered !

Do you fancy SENTO ( Public bath) ?

My recommendable Sento in Kyoto is  "GOKOYU（五香湯）.

Not only they  have a bubble bath, an electric bath , sauna and so on like normal bath houses around, but they also have a GANBANYOKU (Bedrock Bath).

Ganbanyoku is a sauna-like spa that you lie on warm natural stones.

The ultra red ray from the stones activate our autonomic nerves and let metabolism go well !

What makes this Gokoyu stand out is a  Ore Bad Gastein from Austria.
It is really effective for many diseases.
So relaxing and soothing !

Why don't you get your body fresh ? :-)

Awata Festival

Awata Shrine is in Gion Area which is not one of Kyoto's famous shrines though, it is popular in autumn for its tunnel of coloured leaves.
And it has a big festival in this month!


Oct. 9th (from 18:00)
-Awata Huge Lanterns-
 Various kinds of lanterns will parade around the shrine.

-Yowatari Shinji-
 Shinto priests and monks will welcome the divine spirit by walking around the stone called “Uryuseki” for three times.This Shinto ritual is a ceremony to give thanks to god of Awata who descended.


Oct. 10th (from 12:30)
-Shinkosai-
  It is held to give strength to shrine parishioners by parading around the area.
  On this day, more than 200 people will carry huge Mikoshi (portable shrines) around the town.       Also, group of people who hold long-handled spears will purify the parade road by the spears.       Although these spears weight about 40 - 60 kilogram and height about 7 - 8 meters, people who   hold them balance well while parading.

Oct. 15th (from 11:00)
-Reitaisai-
 Bugaku (court dance and music) will be performed on the stage.

Access: 7min walk from Subway Tozai Line "Higashiyama Station"

            5min walk from "Jingu-michi Bus Stop"