Kiyomizudera Temple, Maruyama Park and Heian Jingu Shrine in Autumn

The valley from the viewing terrace. Kiyomizudera

Okay, lets play a game. Can you spot the pagoda? And the people walking? We visited Kiyomizudera temple on the same day as Tofukuji. From Kiyomizudera, we followed the walking trail towards Nanzenji temple, passing through Maruyama Park, Yasaka Shrine, Chion-In and Heian Jingu Shrine.


The viewing terrace. See the people?

This is the famous view of Kiyomizudera temple, the photo of the viewing terrace that you can always see in any websites, brochures, adverts, magazines etc. The construction is awesome, when you view from bottom up. The day became gloomy again. It was around 1 in the afternoon and the sun decided so hid itself again. So tempermental.


The view of the small pagoda and the city from Kiyomizudera grounds

Kiyomizudera is insanely popular with the tourists and is always filled with them even if it is not a peak season. For this reason, I do not really like going to Kiyomizudera. I have only been there twice, thank god. When we reached the foot of Kiyomizudera street, we were shocked (and I thought it would not be possible to be shock given that we just came from Tofukuji which was also jam-packed!) to see the throng of people clogging up the street. Giler!


Work of art

This man was painting the view. Pretty good. One thing about Japan, the arts (all kinds like music, painting, photography, pottery, glass making etc) is hugely popular and the people embrace it and live it.


Maruyama Koen

We passed by Maruyama park on our way to Heian Jingu Shrine. The park is famous for its sakuras and also the maple trees.


Staying warm

Saw these two ducks trying to stay warm in the cold weather.


Overlooking the lake

Street artists will come here to perform for the crowd to earn a few bucks. Or some just do it for fun.


Are you looking at me?

At last we reached Heian Jingu Shrine. The main grounds of the shrine remains the same in every season due to the lack of trees and gardens. But there is the shrine's park next to it and for that you would have to pay to enter. That park is famous for its sakuras. When we reached there, we forgot it was the "Shichi go san" celebration for the kids and we were pleasantly surprised to see so many kids in cute little kimonos. This particular girl probably could not make heads or tails out of this celebration, I think she was just trying her best to walk in that kimono. I did not see her smile once, not even when her parents were taking her photos.


So adorable

This girl however was having the time of her life. She was too busy playing to notice anything else. Such a cute smile. She is three years old and her brother five. "Shichi go san" is held to celebrate the children's 3rd, 5th (only boys) and 7th (only girls) birthday. The kids will be dressed in kimonos (so adorable) and taken to the temple for blessings and photography sessions. The whole package is very costly. Go to Eddie's post for more info.


Again, so cute!

There she is again, playing slide-the-box-down-the-slope in front of the shrine's gate.