The Backpack Adventures

Ryoanji ( 龍安寺 ) i s one of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. It is l ocated at 13 Ryoanji Goryonoshitacho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City in Kyoto Prefecture,   Japan . Ryoanji   ( 龍安寺 ) Ryoanji History The land where the Ryoanji now stands was once part of an estate owned by the Fujiwara clan in the 11th century. A temple named Daiju-in and the Kyoyochi Pond was built there sometime in the 11th century under the orders of Fujiwara Saneyoshi. Ryoanji's famed zen garden Hosokawa Katsumoto Then in 1450, the land was acquired by Hosokawa Katsumoto who was a powerful warlord during those days. He built his residence there and founded the Zen temple of Ryoanji. Sadly, the temple was destroyed during the Onin War. Hosokawa Matsumoto passed away in 1473 leaving the task of rebuilding Ryoanji to the hands of his son, Hosokawa Matsumoto who finished the task in 1488. The Main Hall as seen from across the Kyoyochi Pond Ryoanji's facade (Kuri) is covered with fo

Located at Kinkakujicho, Kita, Kyoto City in Kyoto Prefecture, Kinkakuji ( 金閣寺 )   is one of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto.  Kinkakuji   ( 金閣寺 ) Kinkakuji History Famously called the Golden Pavilion, Kinkakuji is one of the most famous temples in Kyoto City (and probably in the whole of Japan ). The temple was built in 1397 as a retirement villa for Ashikaga Yoshimitsu . It was then converted into a temple after his death according to his will. Kinkakuji - Kyoto City Ashikaga Yoshimitsu To date, Kinkakuji is one of the most visited temples in Kyoto City. Regardless of the season, this place is always jam-packed with tourists, and very rarely would you see this place free from a crowd.  Check out the crowd The weather was better now compared to our first visit Closer view of the pavilion Gotta love those little "islands" in the pond. I was lucky enough to visit Kinkakuji twice already. The first was in 2014 and then recently t

Located at Bakurocho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City in Kyoto Prefecture, Kitano Tenmangu Shrine   ( 北野天満宮 ) is one of the most important of the several hundred shrines across Japan that are dedicated to Sugawara no Michazane who was known as a great scholar, poet, and politician. He is associated with Tenjin who is a Shinto god of education. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine   ( 北野天満宮 ) Kitano Tenmangu Shrine History Kitano Tenmangu Shrine was built in 947 to appease the angry spirit of Sugawara no Michazane whose death in exile was said to have brought drought and plagues to Japan. Years after its construction, the shrine became an object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period. In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers, called heihaku , to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan in the belief that they'd get the message across. In 991, Emperor Ichijo added three more shrines to the list. This includes Kitano Tenmangu Shrine . Kitano Tenmangu Shr