<八坂神社>
斉明天皇(さいめいてんのう)2年(656)に、創しされた古社で、厄除や開運招福、商売繁盛のご利益で知られる。7月に1か月かけて行われる祇園祭は八坂神社の祭礼行事で、初詣の賑わいでもおなじみ。
<円山公園>
京都市最古といわれれる公園で春は約630本もの桜が咲く花見スポットとしても知られる。七代目・小川治兵衛(おがわじへい)の庭園や、坂本龍馬と中岡慎太郎の銅像などにどころが多い。
<知恩院>
承安(しょうあん)5年(1175)、法然上人(ほうねんしょうにん)が、草庵(そうあん)を結び、専修念仏(せんじゅねんぶつ)の教えを説いた浄土宗の総本山。国宝の三門は現存する木造門で、日本最大級の規模。東山の湧水を引き入れた庭園もみどころ。
八坂神社は、阪急河原町駅から、歩いて15分くらいかな?外国人観光客だらけで、特に、祇園は人気ですからね。
日本三大祭りの一つですよね、祇園祭は。神田祭と、祇園祭は、縁がなくて・・・。
天神祭は、小さい頃、両親も若かったので、連れてってもらえました。年齢を重ねると、人込みの多いところは、ちょっと苦手になりますよね。
円山公園に、ちゃんと坂本龍馬と中岡慎太郎の銅像ありましたよ。ついついパシャリ。
知恩院も、参拝させてもらいました。除夜の鐘で有名ですよね。
<Yasaka Shrine>
Founded in the second year of Empress Saimei’s reign (656), this ancient shrine is renowned for its blessings in warding off misfortune, bringing good fortune and happiness, and ensuring business prosperity. The Gion Festival, held over a month in July, is Yasaka Shrine’s annual festival event and is also famously bustling during the New Year’s first shrine visit season.
<Maruyama Park>
Considered Kyoto’s oldest park, it is also renowned as a cherry blossom viewing spot where approximately 630 trees bloom in spring. It features numerous attractions, including the garden of the seventh-generation Ogawa Jihei and bronze statues of Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro.
<Chion-in Temple>
Founded in 1175 by the monk Honen, this head temple of the Jodo sect was where he established his hermitage and preached the doctrine of exclusive Nembutsu practice. Its Sanmon gate, designated a National Treasure, is one of Japan’s largest surviving wooden gates. The garden, fed by spring water from Mount Higashiyama, is also a highlight.
Yasaka Shrine is about a 15-minute walk from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station, I think? It’s packed with foreign tourists, especially since Gion is so popular.
The Gion Festival is one of Japan’s three major festivals, right? I never got to experience the Kanda Festival or the Gion Festival… But when I was little, my parents were young and took me to the Tenjin Festival. As you get older, crowded places become a bit of a hassle, don’t they?
At Maruyama Park, the bronze statues of Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro were definitely there. I couldn’t help but snap a photo.
I also paid my respects at Chion-in Temple. It’s famous for its New Year’s Eve bell, right?