Walking between temples

While walking in between temples in Kyoto I saw some traditional residences, some of which where Inns. On a future trip, I would like to experience one of these traditional inns. Some are affiliated with temples and offer zazen.

Gardening must be an important occupation in Kyoto

I was lucky to find a vegetarian restaurant on a street near a major temple. I thought I would have to trek across the city to another major temple area to find vegetarian cooking.

Near the restaurant I stumbled upon the Crane and Turtle Garden, designed in 1632 by Kobori Enshu. The area in front of the Main Hall is covered in sand, signifying the ocean. It faces monumental stones. The stones are arranged in small mounds representing islands. The sun was high at the moment I visited, so the photographs did not turn out well.

The garden had a gate dating from 1582. It was originally built at Daitokuki temple in honor of a general's mother. It was dismantled and reconstructed here in 1868.

The garden had a large pond that reminded me of Monet's garden in Vichy, France. Monet designed his water gardens inspired by his collection of prints of Japanese gardens.