March 21st, Sunday, 2004


Rokuonji Temple (Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion))

Affiliated with the Shokokuji school of the Rinzai sect. Built in 1397 as a country villa for Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408: 3rd shogun of the Muromachi period). His son had the villa converted into a temple named Rokuon-ji. A three-storied structure with a four-sided roof meeting at a point the Golden Pavilion was destroyed through arson in 1950 and rebuilt in 1955. The pond garden also laid out in 1397 is a Special Historic Site and Place of Special Scenic Beauty. Sekkatei the Teahouse is celebrated especially for the nandina-wood pillar supporting the alcove. Nandina grows very slowly so a pillar of this circumference came from a venerable tree. In December 1994 the temple was registered as part of the World Cultural Heritage.

Nijo Castele

Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu built Nijo Castle in 1603. Until 1867 it served as a military base and the centre of government in Kyoto. Ninomaru Palace (a National Treasure) in the secondary compound of the castle includes six buildings. Illustrations on inner sliding doors are attributed to painters of the Kano school. Decorative carvings metal work and other ornamentation display the artistic essence of the Momoyama period. Ninomaru Palace garden is said to have been created by Kobori Enshu. Fire destroyed the original Honmaru Palace (Inner Palace) in 1788. The present structure (Important Cultural Property) was transferred from Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1893. In December 1994 it was registered as part of the World Cultural Heritage.

Kyoto Craft Center (for Souvenir)


Time Table