The Backpack Adventures

Located in 68 Susukinobaba-cho, Saga-Tenryuji, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City in Kyoto Prefecture, Tenryuji ( 天龍寺 )  is one of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kyoto City. Tenryuji  ( 天龍寺 ) Tenryuji History Tenryuji was built under the instructions of shogun Ashikaga Takauji in 1339 in memory of Emperor Go-Daigo who had passed away that year. The temple's name tenryu  literally translates to the "dragon of the sky". The name came from a dream of Ashikaga Takauji's younger brother Tadayoshi. The temple was completed at around 1345 and the eminent Rinzai Zen master Muso Soseki was appointed as its founding abbot after which the temple prospered as the most important Rinzai temple in Kyoto. With that, the temple's land grew to as big as 33 hectares.  Muso Soseki Now going back to Muso Soseki ... He was known as the most famous monk of his time. Aside from being a Rinzai Zen Buddhist, he was also a teacher, calligraphist, poet, and garden designer. Although he has

Located in Kyoto City in Kyoto Prefecture, Keifuku Randen Tram is a historic tram line that is considered the last tram line in the prefecture. Keifuku Randen Tram Keifuku Randen Tram History Originally owned and operated by Arashiyama Electric Tram Railway , the single track 7.2-kilometer Randen Tram line opened in 1910. This tram line connected Kyoto City center (Shijo-Omiya Station) to the Arashiyama area. The tram line was then acquired by the Kyoto Electric Light Company in 1918. the company then improved the line by double-tracking its track from 1925 until 1928 completing what is currently known as the Arashiyama Line.  Here comes our Randen! Are you ready to board the Randen? Heading to Arashiyama Station ! Passed by a parked Randen tram Right on track! Arashiyama Station of the Keifuku Randen Tram line Here are places to visit near the tram stations. Keep this in mind! In 1925, Kyoto Electric Light Company opened the Kitano Line. The

Located around Umekoji Park and Kyoto Station , Kyoto-Umekoji Monument Street is a project that promotes walking around the park and the Kyoto Station areas. Kyoto-Umekoji Monument Street Kyoto Umekoji Monuments Street Details The Kyoto Umekoji Monuments Street is a part of the Kyoto Umekoji Minnaga Tsunagaru Project which started in February 2015 under the initiative of the Council for  Area Development and Management of Kyoto-Umekoji. Its main purpose is to create a vibrant atmosphere and improve the convenience of strolling around the Kyoto Umekoji Area.  As its name implies, Kyoto-Umekoji Monument Street is a series of mini-monuments scattered  around the walking route from Kyoto Station then through and around Umekoji Park , and then back to Kyoto Station again. Here are the monuments that we saw on our 2018 visit : Eco-chan - The city's environmental mascot South American Fur Seal W7 Series Shinkansen Chin-chin-densha (retro streetcar of Kyo