To-ji – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

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.