Kyoto – Page 2 – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

The Tō-ji Cherry Blossom Illumination in Kyoto (Tō-ji, Part 3 of 3)

Susan Spann Blog July 2, 2021June 27, 2021Japanese culture, Kyoto, Kyoto temples, sakura, Tō-ji, Tō-ji temple, Toji Temple

n April 2019, while finishing the 100 mountain climbs that became the basis for CLIMB, I visited Kyoto with my friend (and fellow author) Laura VanArendonk Baugh. By chance, our day in the ancient capital coincided with the final nights of the annual sakura (cherry blossom) illumination at Tō-ji, the UNESCO World Heritage temple that also happens to be one of Kyoto’s oldest sacred sites.

The Gardens of Tō-ji (Part 2 of 3)

Susan Spann Blog June 30, 2021June 27, 2021Japan, Japanese temples, Kyoto, sakura, To-ji, Toji Temple

Tō-ji sits a few blocks south of Kyoto Station, near the former entrance to the ancient capital. In addition to its remarkable history and architecture, this 8th century temple is home to a lovely garden, with graveled walking trails that lead across the grounds and around an expansive pond.

Visiting Tō-ji: a Temple Tied to Kyoto’s Ancient Past (Part 1 of 3)

Susan Spann Blog June 28, 2021June 27, 2021Buddhist temples, food, Japan, Japanese culture, Kyoto, To-ji, Toji

In 794, Kyoto (then renamed Heian-kyo) became the capital of Japan. At that time, the official entrance to the city was in the south (the direction visitors came when approaching from the former capital of Nara). A pair of guardian temples stood on either side of the entrance, at the start of an enormous, broad, flat road that led from the official city entrance all the way to the Imperial Palace in the northern part of the city.

CHAPTER 20: On Mount Inari

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Blog, CLIMB Photo Companion December 26, 2020January 16, 2021100 Summits, Climb, Fushimi inari, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Inari, Kyoto, Shinto

Fushimi Inari Taisha winds up the slopes of Mt. Inari like a coiled dragon made of vermilion gates; while many visitors go no farther than the first station, Mom, Laurie, Kaitlyn, and I made the hour-long trek to the summit, as a “training climb” that would let me assess our potential pace for the upcoming (and far longer) climb of Fuji.

A Precious Moment At a Snail’s Pace

Susan Spann Blog November 1, 2018hiking, Kyoto, philosophy, snail

The 100 Summits Project has taught me many things–most of which, I’m saving for the book, but a few of these lessons bear repeating here, as well as in the larger story. Case in point: the snail’s pace. I saw this lovely fellow climbing down a wall on Mt. Daimonji, in Kyoto, about a week ago.

Climbing Mount Inari (Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto)

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Blog July 16, 2018#100Summits, 100 Summits, Fushimi inari, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Inari, Japan, Kyoto

Yesterday morning, I completed the second non-solo ascent of my 100 Summits Project: Mount Inari (Fushimi Inari Taisha) in Kyoto. The day before, I traveled from Tokyo to Kyoto via shinkansen (bullet train) with my mother, stepdad, and family friends Laurie and Kaitlyn Bolland (as well as my son) to begin several days of hiking and R&R in advance of our planned ascent of Mt. Fuji later this week. (While the weather may not cooperate on Fuji, we’re hoping the predicted storms pass by and we get the chance to climb.)

A Visit to Eikan-do, part 2: The Pagoda

Susan Spann Blog March 30, 2018March 29, 2018Eikan-do, Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji, Eikando, Kyoto, pagoda, view

No visit to Kyoto’s Eikan-do would be complete without a visit to the hillside pagoda – though many visitors miss the amazing view because the path to the pagoda (and the fact that it’s open to the public) isn’t always obvious. The path lies past the dragon fountain, at the edge of the steep hillside incline at the back of the temple grounds.

A Visit to Eikan-do (Part 1)

Susan Spann Blog March 28, 2018April 6, 2018Buddhism, Eikan-do, Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji, Japan, Kyoto, philosopher's path, temples

Eikan-do Zenrin-ji sits on the southern end of the famed “Philosopher’s Path” that runs along a canal in Northeastern Kyoto. Founded during the mid-9th century, Zenrin-ji is the head temple of the Jodo-shu Seizan Zenrin-ji sect of Buddhism in Japan, and although it’s a popular tourist spot, it’s also very much a living, functioning Buddhist temple.

Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion, Part 2

Susan Spann Blog February 9, 2018June 24, 2018architecture, golden pavilion, Japanese architecture, Kinkakuji, Kyoto, temple

The Golden Pavilion, Kinkakuji, ranks among Kyoto’s most popular attractions, though many visitors know little about the temple’s history or architecture. On Wednesday I blogged a little about the Golden Pavilion’s history (to read it, click here), so today I thought I’d share a little about the architectural details.

Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion, Kinkakuji (Part 1)

Susan Spann Blog February 7, 2018February 5, 2018golden pavilion, Japan, Kinkakuji, Kyoto, Zen temples

Kinkakuji ranks high among Kyoto’s most popular tourist sites, and with good reason. Its famous golden pavilion, which stands on the edge of a peaceful lake, is a lovely and well-maintained example of Buddhist architecture. But many visitors don’t realize that “kinkakuji” (temple of the golden pavilion) is not actually the temple’s real name.