The Backpack Adventures

Located in  1 Kinkakujicho,  Kita Ward, Kyoto Prefecture in Japan, Kinkakuji ( 金閣寺 ) is a Zen Buddhist temple in the Shokokuji School of the Rinzai sect. It is famously known to English-speaking countries as the Golden Pavilion .  Kinkakuji Kinkakuji Details Formerly named,   Rokuonji   ( 鹿苑寺 ),  Kinkakuji is actually a  sharply  or a Buddhist hall containing relics  from  Buddha.  Kinkakuji 金閣寺 - Kyoto City Kinkakuji was built in 1397 and served as a retirement villa for Ashikaga Yoshimitsu , the third shogun of Kitayama-den. The villa also functioned as an official guesthouse. Emperor Gokomatsu and other members of the nobility once resided in the villa. The history of Kinkakuji Entrance to the Golden Pavillion, the 総門 /  Salmon  Gate The 舎利殿 (金閣) /  Shari-den after it was burnt.  After the death of Yoshimitsu, his will indicated that the villa is converted into a temple. It was named Rokuonji which was derived from Rokuon-in-den (Yoshimitsu's name for the n

Located in Higashiyama Ward in Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture in Japan, Kiyomizudera ( 清水寺 ) is an independent Buddhist temple. It is part of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage of Western Japan. Kiyomizudera Kiyomizudera history Officially called   Otowa-san Kiyomizudera , the temple was founded in the year 798. Its present buildings were constructed in 1633 under the order of Tokugawa Iemitsu. The name Kiyomizu came from the Japanese words  kiyo  清 which means clean or pure and  mizu  水 which means water. It got its name from the waterfalls within the complex. Kiyomizudera - Kyoto City A vintage photo of Kiyomizudera   (photo from www.gutenberg.org) Nio-mon gate A closer photo of the Nio-mon gate Kiyomizudera is famous for the main hall that has a large veranda that is jutting on the side of a hill and is supported by tall wooden pillars. It is said that it was built without the use of a single nail. The veranda offers an impressive panoramic view of the temple complex