Update: I wanted to say hi to my favorite temple in Kyoto. Since taking pictures is not allowed, I sat down and sketched the sanzon-seki stone arrangement. It is pretty cold today and I am warming up with a coffee and canele at Cafe du Mon next to the temple.
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What got me to Kyoto: “Doubt” – Apprenticeship, learning with the body and the mystery of the Japanese garden
There is nothing in the Japanese garden that you cannot see. This is the article that got me to want to go to Kyoto to start learning about Japanese gardens with my hands instead of my eyes. An article in the Pacific Horticultural Magazine by Mark Bourne, who has been an apprentice here for four years. … Continue reading What got me to Kyoto: “Doubt” – Apprenticeship, learning with the body and the mystery of the Japanese garden
Day 15 – Flying carps – Japan’s Koi-Nobori (鯉幟)
After having planted two 10m+ bamboo poles in the ground yesterday, we raised the Koinobori carps today with two monks of the temple. Since I stood nearest to the pole, I had the honour to raise them. From mid-April to early May, colorful carp streamers are fluttering in the wind all over Japan. They mark … Continue reading Day 15 – Flying carps – Japan’s Koi-Nobori (鯉幟)
Day 14 – My Jika-Tabi (地下足袋)
I am quite proud of my jika-tabi (地下足袋), the traditional Japanese shoes that fit like gloves on the feet. They are made of blue or black cotton, have a thin rubber sole and close in the back with metal tabs. Sometimes visitors approach me and say: かっこいいでしょう、地下足袋。。。 These look cool, these jika-tabi, right? And I can … Continue reading Day 14 – My Jika-Tabi (地下足袋)
Day 13 – Enryaku-ji and Hiei-san (比叡山延暦寺)
Some members of our company went to Hiei-san today to take part in the opening ceremony of a new part of the Enryaku-ji temple complex. Enryaku-ji is the head temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism and the place where Yousai, who founded Kennin-ji (建仁寺) in 1202 trained as a monk. On this picture you … Continue reading Day 13 – Enryaku-ji and Hiei-san (比叡山延暦寺)
Day 12 – Unexpected help
These two boys visited the temple today with their family. They were so genki (元気 - lively), it has been a long time since I have seen kids like that. Our head gardener had to stop them from climbing a tree! They seem to be like two characters from a novel or a manga. Anyway, … Continue reading Day 12 – Unexpected help
Day 11 – A free day (finally!)
I took my first free day after 8 days of work today. I went to see a lot of gardens. This is one picture I wanted to share with you tonight:
Day 10: Early morning tea house
I love the temple Kodai-ji most in the morning before the first visitors arrive. It is peaceful, the light is soft and everything looks and feels as if it is supposed to be there. Kodai-ji is famous for its tea houses, and this is my favorite one: Ihou-an (遺芳庵) the cottage of the lingering fragrances. … Continue reading Day 10: Early morning tea house
Day 5: Moss watering performance
Genba: Kodai-ji (高台寺), Kyoto Today was a great day - for many reasons: We had a good team leader today. It was warm and sunny. I learned to properly water the moss and stones and got to do it in the early morning. During the lunch break, we often receive sweets or senbei (rice crackers) from … Continue reading Day 5: Moss watering performance
Day 6 – In the Hojo Garden of Kodai-ji in Kyoto
My work days are crazy: I leave the house at 6:10 am and rarely come back before 8:30 pm, sometimes 9:00 pm. Then I take a shower, maybe go to the supermarket or do laundry. Then I cook some dinner and the bento for the next morning, and it has never happened that I ate … Continue reading Day 6 – In the Hojo Garden of Kodai-ji in Kyoto
90 Days in Kyoto 