Stone and Trees, Near Tofuku-ji Temple, Kyoto

Garden, Tofuku-ji, Kyoto

The dry landscape garden (karesansui) has great significance in Zen. The bed of small stones typically represents water (such as a sea), with mounds and large rocks representing mountains. The rocks are carefully chosen and many were brought from faraway locations. The overall impression can be something like an ink painting.

Small Courtyard Garden, Ninnaji, Kyoto

Warabe-Jizo (Child God) Statue, Sanzen-in, Ohara

Meal Delivery, Gion, Kyoto

Supplicants, Chion-in, Kyoto

Gate, Chion-in, Kyoto

The Sanmon of this temple near Gion is the largest temple gate in Japan. Nearly everything else here is of similar scale. A massive bell on the grounds is reported to weigh nearly 80 tons.

Trees and Sky, Koto-in, Kyoto

Beauty can be found in all directions here. Some is easily missed.

Teahouse, Koto-in, Kyoto

Established by a famed warrior who became a devotee of Zen (Hosokawa Tadaoki, 1563-1645), Koto-in is a beautiful but often overlooked sub-temple of the larger Daitoku-ji complex. Here begins ikasumi's brief spiritual sojourn in Kyoto.