Kyoto

This is the view that greets one when stepping out the back door of studio Morio. There is a huge Japanese symbol on the hill the means "big" There are various symbols on a few of the hills that surrounds Kyoto city. I believe that they were used as land marks and ar maintained today as a tradition.

There are 2 rivers that run south from the mountains north of Kyoto. They meet in a central part of Kyoto to form a single river. The point where they meet is known is "The Crotch"

This is the Western river just north of "The Crotch"

Kyoto was the capitol city of Japan for hundreds of years until being moved to Tokyo in the 1800's. Because it was spared from major bombing during WWII Kyoto has a lot to offer historically and culturally. The old Imperial Palace is located in central Kyoto. There are many temples, shrines, and other important historical sites through out the city.

"The Golden Temple" Gin-kaka-ji - One of the most famous temples in Kyoto. The upper portion of the temple is covered in pure gold foil.

The Imperial Garden is a sectioned off area with in the Imperial Palace complex. The garden is supposed to be the master piece work of one of Japan's most famous garden designers. The grounds were outsanding. Even though spring was just barely getting started the entire garden complex as absolutely beautiful. It was not hard to imagine just how wonderful it would all look when the cherry trees are blooking and through out the summer.

The outside grounds of the Imperial Palace. The plum trees were just begining to bloom.

There are numerous gates around the palace complex. Each of the gates was used for specific "types" of people. The largest and most ornate of the gates for to be used for the emporer only. Absolutely no one else was allowed to go through that gate. The gate pictured was to be used by the other royalty that were lower than the emperor.

 

The entrance to the garden

In front of the retired emporers residence with in the garden complex. Now only heads of state from other countries are allowed to stay here,

 

A thatched bridge. Wood - bamboo - and moss. 

While the entire grounds were amazing, the ancient trees that were every where caught my attention more often than the man made structures.

 

All that green is moss - not grass. I love moss.

 

 

 

 
  

 

 

 

 

These are palm trees wrapped up to protect them from the cold.

 

 

 

 

A random monument in a temple's grounds

Along the Eastern side of Kyoto along the mountains

 

Bamboo forest in Eastern Kyoto

 

Along a river Gorge in Eastern Kyoto

 

 

The Great Bhuddha at Nara. This statue is outrageously huge. So big, that an average size adult male can fit through one of the holes of its nostrils. There is a large beam in the back of the temple that has a whole through it to replicate the size fo the nostril opening.

A very simliar Bhuddha from a different temple. Where? I cannot remember.

The scale of the Nara Complex is extremely impressive. The site of this temple is close to 1000 years old. This actual structure is around 300 years old? I think.

 

Ancient timber frame.

 

These frightening statues are inside the outer gate of the Nara temple complex.

 

Hideously big.

 

These statues are in the back of the temple.

 

Really big!

 

I really enjoyed the vast varieties of Bhuddha figures that could be found around the temples and cemetaries. The various other statues were also very interesting.

This must have the been the newest of the Bhuddha figures I came across.

 

 

 

 

This a very unusual Bhuddha figure. Perhaps one of my favorites. Nice fro! 

 

 

 

This temple was just down the street from studio Morio. I visited it early in the morning a few times. It was very peaceful wandering around the temples, shrines, and cemetaries as the sun was coming up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a path behind the temple that led through a huge cemetary and connected with a larger temple. I really enjoyed seeing the large pagodas. Very imperessive!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my most favorite areas I got to visit was the really old cemetaries on the west side of the city along the base of mountains. Thick moss grew every were.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a Shinto shrine directly across from the 2 Bhuddhist temples down the street from Studio Morio. It's grounds occuppied the entirety of a huge wooded hill in the middle of the western part of the city. The shrine is one of the very oldest in all of Kyoto. At least 800 years old.

 

 

 

 

On the way out of Nara I stopped by to meet and visit with Akihiro Ohkama. One of the most well known and respect soft glass "Satake" bead artists in Japan.

Osaka Castle. My camera's battery was dying as we approached he castle. I missed the opportunty to take pictures of some of the stone work that surrounds the complex. Literally some of the biggest slabs of stone I've ever seen constructed into massive walls that make up the entrance of the castle. I'll have to get those pics next time.

 

 From the top of the castle. Osaka is a imppresive city.

Oustanding architectual structures fill the center of Osaka

 
  

 

Osaka Castle's moat. It is so hard to properly convey the size moat that surrounds the castle

 

I don't really know where I was when I took this picture. The guy pictured is a dancer and he was performing a crazy "robot' like dance. This performance was one of the many attractions in this building that was set up to resemble late 1800's Osaka during the Meiji period.

The bright lights and big city of Osaka. I didn't even try to photograph the masses of people that scurrying around. The crowds were thick.

I finally got to visit Fool the Hermit and meet it's wonderful staff. If it were not for Hirono-san and his store I can't imagine that I would have ever had the opportunity to visit, exhibit, and teach in Japan. It was a real pleasure to finally spend some time with him. 

Fool The Hermit

is the best place in the world browse and purchase my art work. The selection is outstanding and it well represents the progression of my work over the last 5 years.

A final farewell before boarding the bullet train "shinkansen" and heading back towrds Narita to fly home.

Heading home after a long 2.5 weeks. Somewhere over the Pacific.

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