自転車で金閣寺から妙心寺へ

自転車で金閣寺から妙心寺へ

This route takes in four of the best temples in Kyoto:

Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion), Ryoanji Temple, Ninnaji Temple, and Myoshinji Temple.

For more information, in Japanese (with a link to an English page), here is a page on cycling the area of western Kyoto that is dotted with many temples.

Ride Kinkakuji, ride.


© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Golden Pavilion

Kyoto Myoshinji Path

妙心寺

Myoshinji Temple is one of Kyoto's lesser known gems.

It is a city within walls, a zen temple in which it is possible to spend the night and practice zazen.

Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it is not nearly as popular as nearby Ryoanji Temple or the Golden Pavilion.

There are more than 40 sub-temples, each of which serves as a residence for the monks and their families.

You can cycle through on the uneven stone paths.

© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Myoshinji

Kyoto Myoshinji Temple Drain

妙心寺の下水

While cutting through Myoshinji Temple en route to an area north of Ninnaji Temple, we saw this drain in front of a sub-temple.

Neatly framed by stone, the grated iron is held in place by gray cement.

Two early spring leaves of unknown origin lie on the upper left corner.

The stone of the path itself is large, rectangular slabs. The smaller, rounder stones at the top of the photo differentiates and denotes the entrance to the sub-temple.

© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Myoshinji Temple

Cycling to Myoshinji Temple

自転車で妙心寺へ

Kyoto's Myoshinji Temple is a sprawling complex in western Kyoto that dates to the 14th century.

Its Myoshinji school of Zen Buddhism is the largest within the Rinzai sect. Within the walls of Myoshinji are 47 sub-temples. It is literally a city within a city.

What is so special about Myoshinji though is that it is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and - except for special events in certain sub-temples - is free.

You will not find the crowds that throng the Golden Pavilion or Kiyomizu Temple, or even Daitokuji, another zen temple. High school and college students ride their bikes through on their way to school. Local people walk their dogs.

Unlike heavily touristed sites, it has a laid back vibe.

Information

64 Myoshinji-cho, Hanazono, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto

© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags

Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Myoshinji Temple

Cycling Toei Kyoto Studio Park

Toei Kyoto Studio Park

Kyoto's Toei film studio has since 1975 been part theme park, part film studio.

In that year, with the film industry fleeing Kyoto for Tokyo, the Toei Kyoto Studio Park was born.

It is located not far from Koryuji Temple, JR Hanazono Station, and is on a stop on the Keifuku Line.

It is a good day out, especially for those with kids in tow.

There are many performances, lots of information on the bygone film era, actual sets where samurai films are still filmed.

More Information

Kyoto Studio Park
10 Uzumasa-Higashi hachigaokacho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto 616-8586
075 841 3381

Hours: March-November 9:00 am - 5;00 pm; December-February 9:30 am - 4:00 pm; Closed December 27-31, 2010

Entrance Fee: 2,200 yen adults; 1,300 for junior and senior high school students; 1,100 yen for children older than 4.


© CycleKyoto.com

CycleKyoto Home Page

Tags
Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Toei Kyoto Studio Park