Jingo-ji

This past Sunday a small group of us Kyoto JETs (Dan, Joanna, and I) set out to hike a trail detailed in Dan's 'Lonely Planet' book on the Kansai region. I hesitated to agree to the trip at 12:30 pm that day when Joanna called to see if I were in. I had grand hopes of relaxing, reading, and maybe studying some Japanese. But accepting and dropping everything else was the best decision I've made since arriving in Japan. The hike was insanely awesome; Jingo-ji (a Buddhist temple) could not have been more hallowed and peaceful; and the watering holes along the winding river were sublimely refreshing during a streak of 90+ degree weather.

Dan, Joanna, and me as we were beginning to set out. And here's the view we were working with. Not bad. This could almost be Virginia if it weren't for the Japanese rooftops peeking through the greenery.

Obligatory portrait shot:


We passed through secluded communities and villages in which we found no more than a handful of residents. Surprisingly, vending machines were everywhere to be found, even down steep hills and halfway up an ancient mountain leading to Jingo-ji! I'm becoming addicted to ¥100 iced coffee and espresso shots from these machines.

This food shop below was in the middle of the woods. Coming upon it, I began to wonder: who knows how long it's been here. --Not the actual structure or building I mean, but the site of the noodle shop. Monks in the 9th c. had to eat, too, you know! It would have been only a 100 meter walk from the front of the temple to get a hot bowl of ramen.


Here are a few of Jingo-ji. They wouldn't allow pictures inside the buildings, but the main hall was so beautiful it was hard to agree to the policy. The man inside the main hall (not sure if he was a priest...) had lit incense, which complemented the dimly lit corners of the hall replete with ancient Buddhist tracts and other writings in beautiful, black kanji. The entrance:

I loved these trees. So straight.

Soon after this picture was taken we came upon the swimming holes. They were large pools in the river that widened at random points. Rocks calling out to be climbed surrounded the pool. I enjoyed the small climbs, but jumping or diving was dangerous due to the shallow water. But that didn't stop one Japanese man from taking the plunge... head first. We were scared for his life, and for his son's, who had, moments earlier, been beckoned from family below and urged by his father above to jump. At least that's what it seemed like, since I don't speak Japanese very well.



After a little bit more hiking we came to a clearing and a cliff. Below we could see our passage back into Kyoto, a train stop, which was a number of miles away by that point. And it was 7:30 pm and we were in the middle of nowhere. But it only took 15 minutes to travel back to Kyoto Station and then to Sanjo Keihan for dinner. Best weekend trip yet. Maybe ever.