This and the next photo show how the Japanese make the most of the tiny spaces
available to them for gardens.
Photo taken 2017/10/14
This and the photo above were taken while walking through Kyoto streets.
Photo taken 2017/10/14
Some of those who had no bare ground at all, at least in front of their house,
for a garden had pot plants.
How fortunate we are in Australia!
Relative to Japan, even a small flat generally has plenty of space for a
garden.
Do we appreciate that fact?
Photo taken 2017/10/14
The main railway station building in Kyoto is, in itself, one of the
attractions of the city; deservedly so.
On the day of our visit there was a series of apparently school orchestras
giving performances in one part of the building (seen here at the far end)
and a wedding in another part.
There is a walk near the top of the structure from which good views can be
enjoyed over Kyoto.
Photo taken 2017/10/14
A 180°+ panorama of the viewing deck in the upper part of the station
building.
Photo taken 2017/10/14
One of the school orchestras performing in the amphitheatre part of the Kyoto
railway station.
Photo taken 2017/10/14
A wedding taking place in the opposite end of the Kyoto railway station at the
same time as the school orchestra performances (above photo).
Photo taken 2017/10/14
This area is best known for its Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park.
The very well designed entranceway to a restaurant.
How much thought and skill went into planning and executing this work of art?
Rough stone has been skilfully used for the wall and for boulders placed for their aesthetic values, and dressed stone has been used in the steps.
Is the little space on the left of the steps aimed at providing parking for a
very small Japanese car, or perhaps for several bikes?
Photo taken 2017/10/15
An entrance to a shrine or temple.
It has some obvious similarities and differences to the entrance above.
A very Japanese use of topiary trees, tiny garden spaces, and very skilfully and tastefully done stonework.
Unfortunately the hand rail looks out of place.
It is probably an
acceptance of modern needs, legal and practical requirements, and realities.
Photo taken 2017/10/15
The bamboo grove is in the grounds of a temple (Tenryu-ji) and the temple
grounds are well worth visiting even without seeing the grove.
Tenryu-ji Temple grounds
The dry stone garden and a temple building of Tenryu-ji.
Photo taken 2017/10/15
What can I say? Tenryu-ji temple garden.
I recommend looking at the high definition image.
Photo taken 2017/10/15
A forest of grass: the famous bamboo grove of Tenryu-ji Temple.
As can be seen, it is a major tourist attraction (granddaughter Anna at
bottom right).
This is certainly not the only bamboo grove in Kyoto, my wife and I came
across several others; but this one was by far the most crowded.
There must be something about the Kyoto climate and soil type that suits
bamboo very well.
Photo taken 2017/10/15
We crossed the Katsura-gawa River on the way from Tenryu-ji Temple to the
Arashiyama Monkey Park.
This is a small branch of the river that ran around a small island (on the
right).
Again, the skilful use of plants and stone is conspicuous in the very limited available space.
Photo taken 2017/10/15
This is a great place for kids to get up close to, and feed monkeys.
My granddaughter, Anna, is watching a monkey under the seat on the right,
there is another monkey in the centre.
There is no public transport from the foot of the hill up to the Monkey
Park, it is a fair climb, although there is nothing difficult about it, the
trails are good.
As a bonus, there is a good view over the Kyoto Basin.
The city of Kyoto, so typically for Japan, is on fairly flat land surrounded by steep, forested, hills; the Monkey Park is on one edge of the Basin.
Photo taken 2017/10/15
People are encouraged to go into this shed and feed the monkeys through
the wire, for safety.
My granddaughter Elizabeth in the foreground.
There was steady rain much of this day, but it did not stop us from doing
everything we intended.
Umbrellas seem to be a necessity in Japan.
Photo taken 2017/10/15
A restaurant on a channel off the Katsura-gawa River near the Arashiyama
Monkey Park.
A very aesthetically satisfying blend of water, forest, garden and building.
Photo taken 2017/10/15
Rubbish for collection
Denece and I went for a walk before the rest of the group were ready to go
out on the morning of the 16th.
We headed toward where a couple of temples were marked on a map to the west
of our accommodation, but found that they were not open for visiting.
However, the area was very interesting and attractive anyway.
This is the way household rubbish was put out for collection in this part of
Kyoto.
The nets are apparently to stop crows picking holes in the plastic bags.
The boxy car in the distance was a very popular shape; maximum internal
space for minimum length ‒ to suit very limited space for parking in
Japanese homes.
Photo taken 2017/10/16
A streetscape near one of the temples showing how the Japanese like to landscape, not only the grounds of temples (or homes), but also the roadsides.
Every square metre needs to play its part.
Photo taken 2017/10/16
Denece and I came across this bamboo grove near a simple little shrine on our
morning walk.
It did not seem to have any particular significance to the local people, it
was just in land that had apparently had no economic use (except perhaps for
harvesting the bamboo?).
Photo taken 2017/10/16
What appeared to be a small and very crowded grave-yard.
It is interesting that it was right up against private homes.
Note the bamboo in the background.
This is the last of the few photos from our morning walk.
Photo taken 2017/10/16
