The location didn’t hurt either. The convention was held in Takamatsu, a port city on the north coast of Shikoku facing the Inland Sea. The region is famous for producing pine bonsai, lacquer-ware and udon. Convention events were spread between two adjacent hotels at Sunport Takamatsu.

Sunport Takamatsu

Many vendors priced their trees on the high side with the expectation that some bargaining would precede the sales. This was particularly true for the more expensive trees. Less expensive items tended to sell closer to their posted prices.

Some people held off their purchases toward the end of the event in hopes of getting a better price. I tended to get what I could while it was still available. At one point I found a box of Kokufu books beneath a sales table – oh boy! In the time it took me to pick up half of the books, another convention-goer grabbed the other half.

By the end of the event, I had filled my bags with pots, tools, books and little quince slabs for displaying accent plants. It was the unpurchased trees, however, that left the greatest impression. What fun it would be to bring some of them home!

Takayuki Fukushima’s table

Junichiro Tanaka and Ken Fujiwara’s table

Peter Warren at Kunio Kobayashi’s sales tables

Antique stands

Antique root stand – likely priced well over $10,000

Little red and blue pots

Suiseki

Half of the vendors were situated in a tent right on the Inland Sea. The selection inside was great.

Detached vendor area

Trees for sale

Junipers for sale

One vendor filled two tables with nothing but shimpaku. They ranged from rough material to Important Bonsai Masterpieces.

Shimpaku – $1,800

Shimpaku – $1,800

Shimpaku – $21,600

Shimpaku, Important Bonsai Masterpiece – no price listed

Procumbens juniper

The quality really was amazing. Although S-CUBE set the high bar in terms of quality, many vendors offered outstanding trees.

Trident maple

Korean Hornbeam

Small deciduous tree in Koyo pot

Black pine

Assorted deciduous trees

Red princess persimmon – $190

A word about princess persimmons – although they look delicious, the experience of eating them is far from enjoyable. Like any unripe persimmon, princess persimmons are very astringent. So much so that after tasting one, my mouth wasn’t the same for a whole week. Has anyone else given these a try?

Demo tree, Kimura, Isobe

Shimpaku – before

Shimpaku – after

One standout difference was the number of translators. At one point, a Japanese Australian member of the audience – Megumi Bennett – took the stage to help out the English translator. This yielded one Japanese description, two Japanese to English translations, and one Japanese to Chinese translation all in the service of a single question. It was a start.

Lo Min Hsuan (bonsai professional from Taiwan), ASPAC official, Megumi Bennett, Shigeo Isobe, Masahiko Kimura

The audio-visual set-up was very well done. Lots of close-up camera work was great for conveying detail work to a large audience.

Close up of the chainsaw

The next day of the convention featured a double bill. Toru Suzuki’s pine demonstration occupied stage left while Shigeo Isobe’s azalea demonstration filled stage right.

At one point during Suzuki’s demonstration, the discussion turned to decandling and other more esoteric topics of pine bonsai maintenance. This proved challenging for a very capable Japanese to English translator who found her first exposure to bonsai on stage that day.

Harried translator and Toru Suzuki

Suzuki’s demo featured the styling and repotting of a clump-style Japanese black pine. Suzuki began work with a recent Daiju-en graduate, the talented Ken Fujiwara, but before long enlisted help from the Aichi-en duo of Junichiro Tanaka and Peter Tea. Together, the Daiju-en-happi-coat-clad team made quick work of the wiring.

Peter Tea, Junichiro Tanaka, Ken Fujiwara and Toru Suzuki work on a clump-style pine

I actually learned an important lesson during the repotting section of the demo about handling bonsai roots carefully. I’ll share the details when I have better photos.

Suzuki working on the roots

The pine was to be planted on a rock slab. When the time came for muck-work, Suzuki again called for help from the audience, enlisting assistance from a Hawaiian, Roy Yamashiroya, and a Californian, Dennis Makashima.

ASPAC visitors from Hawaii and California help with the repotting

Meanwhile, Isobe had turned a shrub into a wonderful azalea bonsai.

Azalea before and after

Satsuki azalea – after

After getting the muck into place, the assistants covered the muck with moss, creating a very nice slab planting.

Demonstration complete

Last year’s Asia-Pacific Bonsai and Suiseki Convention and Exhibit featured a high-priced, high tech, bonsai auction. Bidding was open to all convention attendees, so the trees went on display well ahead of the event. Some of the trees were awesome.

Shimpaku

Red pine

Black pine

Japanese maple

Shimpaku

The auction also featured antique pots and stands. I was tempted to bid and very curious how much these items would fetch.

Antique pot

Pots and stands

The auctioneer was an experienced bonsai auctioneer and pot expert. Microphone duties fell to the talented bonsai professional Isao Omachi of Sendai.

Auctioneer and Omachi

The auctioneer opened the auction in the traditional fashion – he barked, “Sei-no!” and we clapped three times: clap-clap-clap, clap-clap-clap.

The event then got off to a rocky start. The auction followed the conventions of the Japanese bonsai community. Rather than offering set prices and soliciting bids, the auctioneer asked if we had bids, and bidders named their offers. The Japanese in the room followed this convention while some of the westerners indicated bids with gestures. Adding to the fun, translators provided English and Chinese versions of the bidding. This is where the high tech kicked in. Video projections of each tree filled a huge screen above the stage with graphics showing prices in Japanese yen, US dollars, and Chinese yuan.

Suiseki

Antique pot

The projection system worked very well, and the translators kept pace without making mistakes. Bidding, however, never really took off. Throughout the convention, many discussions had focused on the anticipation of rich Chinese buyers making the event a huge success. As over half of the registered attendees were Chinese, hopes were high. At the auction, however, most bids came from Japanese professionals. As a result, few lots sold beyond their actual value.

Shimpaku on the block

Of course, the numbers were much higher than any I’ve seen in California bonsai auctions. Good trees here went for good money.

Satsuki azalea

The numbers in these photos don’t all correspond with the final bids – the trees were removed and the screens cleared right as bidding stopped.

Red pine from Korea – one of the demonstration trees

I didn’t end up bidding, but I thoroughly enjoyed the event. I’ll say more about the rest of the convention next week.

I always appreciate the different approaches bonsai professionals take with their gardens. Some gardens are filled with exhibit-ready trees while other gardens are filled with project trees. Some focus on a certain size or variety of tree while others include bonsai of every description. At a glance, it’s clear that the focus at Aichi-en is on pine bonsai. White, red, and black pines fill the majority of the garden, and there are more large trees than medium or small sized bonsai. Trident and Japanese maples comprise the bulk of the deciduous trees, but these sit beside quince, ume and hornbeam among other deciduous varieties. There are junipers, cryptomeria, and many other trees whose names I do not know.

From the roof of Mr. Tanaka’s bonsai workshop, one can get a sense of how many trees fill his garden.

Aichi-en from above

More garden and the family house

Tanaka keeps some trees on the workshop roof.

Rooftop garden

Many of the garden’s project trees were kept on the rooftop. The nicer trees were situated closer to ground level.

Root over rock Japanese black pine

Black pine

Pine

Red pine

Black pine

Most of the kifu-sized trees shared a staggered table near the house.

Kifu bleachers

In fall, the colors were wonderful.

Bonsai Fall color

Up close, the trees were wonderful. Two of the garden’s Zuisho were outstanding.

Japanese five needle pine – ‘Zuisho’

Zuisho bonsai

Considering the small size of Zuisho needles and branches, these are remarkably full trees.

The same tree from above

The Japanse maple beside the front gate turned a wonderful shade of red.

Japanese maple

The pieris below sits right inside the front gate.

Pieris bonsai

I snapped these shots during short breaks or early in the morning – those precious moments when I was free to appreciate the trees in the garden. Back in the workshop, I appreciated the trees one at a time. The black pine below was one of the last ones I worked on at Aichi-en. I removed all of the old needles and some of the new from the strong areas. In weak areas, I removed some or all of the old needles. I also cut a few small branches where more than two emerged from the same place. It was very basic pine work, but it made the tree look a lot better.

Cascade Japanese black pine

New, old, and dead needles

After removing old, dead and some new needles

Fall work complete

That’s the story for a single pine. With all of the pines in the garden, that’s a lot of tweezer work.

Jojakko-ji was the hilliest of the temples I visited. Winding paths led higher and higher up the mountain until I could see Kyoto in the distance. The temple was founded around the end of the 16th century by Nisshen, 16th Head Priest of Honkoku-ji. Jojakko-ji’s website offers a step-by-step primer on the temple.

Niomon gate

Great roots

Memorial stone

Mossy hillside

Although the maples at Jojakko-ji were a week or two shy of peak color, there was still plenty to be seen

Tahoto (two-storied) Pagoda

Atop Jojakko-ji – Kyoto in the distance

Grave

Stone figures

Moss and maples

It took a while for me to find the next temple. Numerous pedestrian paths clogged with tourists wind through hills, houses, shops and an intimidating bamboo forest. I passed this bamboo gate just above the bamboo forest.

Bamboo gate

Fortunately, I made it to Tenryu-ji, Temple of the Heavenly Dragon, before dusk settled in. The entrance was understated. Once inside, I found an animated group pitching coins into a pond, trying to land the offerings in the lap of a frog atop a frog.

Good luck!

Pond with frogs and yen

Further inside the complex, I saw people strolling along a covered walkway that connected the various temple buildings. I couldn’t for the life of me find my way inside.

Tahoden

Rounding yet another aged temple building, I beheld Sogenchi Garden.

Sogenchi Garden

The garden was beautiful – and famous. I’d seen it in many Japanese landscape books. Turns out it is quite old. It was designed in the 14th century by Musou Soseki. It was the first Special Historical Scenic Area named by the Japanese government and has since been recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The main hall was located right next to the garden.

Main Hall

The current main hall was built in the late 19th century. Over the years, the temple has been struck by fire 8 times, most recently in 1864. Set square against the pond, it offered great views of the garden. But I still couldn’t find a way in.

Maples across the pond

Great stone work

Famous red pine reaching across the water

Tenryu-ji has taken advantage of the Internet. They have a website and a twitter feed that features great photos of the garden throughout the year – it’s worth a visit.

Sogenchi garden and Main Hall

I left Tenryu-ji happy to have seen the garden, but puzzled at having missed the entrance to the temple buildings. As I headed toward Togetsu-kyo Bridge, Arashiyama’s tourist hub, I found more and more tourists. I headed against traffic for about half an hour before I saw the entrance to the temple. Turns the garden entrance and temple entrances are at opposite ends of the complex. Out front, I discovered one of my favorite stone arrangements.

Stone garden in front of Tenryu-ji

Once inside, I traversed the covered walkway and peered inside the temple buildings. Having finally seen the place inside and out, I spent my remaining time appreciating the garden.

Sogenchi garden from the main temple hall

So ended my two-day visit to Kyoto’s gardens. The next day I woke early to help with the setup at Taikan-ten. Before returning to my hotel in Otsu, I walked through downtown Kyoto and passed, again, the winding streets below Kiyomizu-dera where I found a shrine illuminated by scores of lanterns.

Yasaaka Shrine

Thanks for visiting Kyoto with me. I will return to the regularly scheduled bonsai blogging next week. Happy New Year!

Arashiyama is a neighborhood on the western edge of Kyoto with many temples and related tourist destinations. It appeared to be a popular destination for Japanese in town to see the fall color. As I walked the skinny streets through farms and modest residential neighborhoods on a day that threatened, but failed to deliver rain, I passed thousands of visitors pointing cameras and exchanging “wows” at every red, pink, orange, and yellow tree we passed. It was as if the whole town was on holiday, and for the most part, it was. I rode a Kyoto City Bus to the end of the line and began my tour at Daikaku-ji Temple.

Daikaku-ji Temple

Daikaku-ji began life as the detached palace of Emperor Saga, but was converted to a temple in 876. Elevated walkways connected a number of buildings in the complex and offered a great view of the gardens.

Elevated walkway and garden

Detached buildings

Flower display at main garden

Seiryo-ji Temple

Awesome fall color greeted me at Seiryo-ji, a 1000-plus year-old temple a short walk from Daikaku-ji. Also known as Saga Shakado, the temple grounds feature a beautiful pond with a picturesque island.

Great color

Colorful maples and moss

A sheltered walkway led visitors through the garden about 4 meters from the ground. The views were super.

The view from the garden’s covered walkway

Island with lantern and pagoda

In search of the next temple, I walked a ways up a shop-lined street and found a large gate, Toriimoto.

Toriimoto

Asking several passersby where I could find Adashino Nenbutsu-ji and receiving several answers, I walked for some time up and down this street, often consulting my map, until I happened upon a staircase that led to the temple.

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji sits in a area where bodies were often discarded. Today the temple, established in 811, contains over 8,000 statues that memorialize the souls of the dead. On occasion the statues are lit with candles – an event I’d like to see some day.

Statues memorialize the souls of the dead

Pagoda at the center of Adashino Nenbutsu-ji

Bamboo forest at the edge of the temple grounds

1,000s of statues

Moss and lichen make for unmistakable age

Colorful maples brighten the scene

The path leading to and from the temple

Gio-ji Temple

Gio-ji is famous for an intriguing story (Tale of the Heike) involving discarded concubines, and for its beautiful moss garden. I saw no signs of concubines.

Moss garden at Gio-ji

Stone lantern

Maples and moss

The sky above Gio-ji

Danrin-ji Temple

Danrin-ji is Japan’s first Zen temple. It was founded in the ninth century in Sagano. In the 14th century, construction of Tenryu-ji began on the grounds and at some point the temple moved to its current location.

Pagoda at Danrin-ji

Fall color

Stone lantern near Danrin-ji

Nison-in Temple

Nison-in, formally known as Ogurayama Nison-in Kedai-ji, is famous for its statues of Shaka and Amida. Once designated as one of the “Four Auspicious Temples” in Kyoto, it served as the location where candidate High Priests received purple robes, symbolic of the highest rank in Buddhism (Temple brochure).

The entrance to the temple

Temple gardens

More fall color

The view through the main gate

Awesome color

Tomorrow: Temple Week, Day 7 – Jojakko-ji and Tenryu-ji

I caught as many gardens as I could during the daylight hours on my first day in Kyoto. Eager to see more, I found a temple that was open at night – the Kiyomizu-dera. Kiyomizu means clear or pure water. The Kiyomizu-dera temple takes its name from Otowa waterfall. The water has been channeled into three streams from which visitors can drink to gain the water’s wish-granting powers. (It’s too early for me to comment on its efficacy.) The temple dates from 778 and the current building, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from 1633. No nails were used in the construction of the building (details compliments Wikipedia).

The temple is also home to the garden of Jojuin, “The Garden of the Moon.” Many visitors walk right past it. If you get the chance, I recommend waiting in line for the chance to see it. No photos were allowed when I visited, but you can catch a tiny glimpse of the garden on the Kiyomizu-dera website.

The crowds at the temple entrance reminded me of Disneyland at night.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Pagoda near the temple

View of Kyoto from Temple porch

Cool/creepy forest behind the temple

Glowing forest

Awesome udon – or maybe I was really cold and the noodle soup was just the thing. I can still taste it!

Maples lower down on the mountain had yet to change color

The street below the temple were lined with shops vending food and souvenirs. Oh how I miss Kyoto’s supple mochi!

Tomorrow: Temple week day 6 – Arashiyama

Daitoku-ji is a Kyoto temple dating from the early 14th century. Over time, 22 sub-temples have been added to the complex making the 56 acres that comprise the grounds a super destination for enjoying Japanese gardens. A number of Daitoku-ji’s gardens are only open a few weeks each year – others are usually open to the public. Some allow photography, some limit photography, and others allow no photography at all. Here is a glance at the sub-temples I visited in  November.

Obai-in

I walked right in to the first garden I passed, Obai-in. Later I found out it’s rarely open to the public. Although they don’t allow photographs in the main gardens, they do allow photographs in the courtyard just inside the entrance. It turned out to be one of my favorite gardens of the day, and I didn’t see anyone inside until I was on my way 0ut. Here are some shots from the entrance area.

Stone lantern

Stones and moss beneath maples.

Obai-in dates from the 16th century – these rocks have been sitting here for a while

Stones and pine bark in moss

Path and gate to the side garden

Ryogen-in

I was very excited to visit the next temple I came to – Ryogen-in. I’d seen photographs of the temple’s five gardens in many Japanese landscape books. The main garden is called Isshidan.

Isshidan

The moss mound is known as Tortoise Island – the white sand, the sea

The tall stone symbolizes Mt. Horai

Path leading between gardens

My favorite of Ryogen-in’s gardens is Ryogin-tei. In many ways, It might be my favorite garden anywhere. A few stones are arranged toward the back of a sea of moss. Some shrubs and a single tree complete the scene. It is the oldest of Daitoku-ji’s gardens, created by a famous artist of the time, Soami.

Ryogin-tei

The iconic stones at the garden’s center

The garden’s lone tree

It’s a very small garden

Korin-in

A short walk brought me to Korin-in, the family temple of Saemonno-suke Hatakeyama, Lord of Noto prefecture circa 1520.

Entrance area

Korin-in’s main garden expresses the idea of paradise. “An azalea bush and stones are the symbol of the Elysian mountain,” says the Temple brochure.

The heavenly scene at Korin-in

Looking toward the entrance

Many gardens featured “windows” like the one pictured above. Some gardens, like Hoshun-in, only allowed photography through such a window.

Side garden

Mossy garden between buildings

Hoshun-in

Hoshun-in features two gardens, Kagantei and Donkokaku. Donkokaku is one of Kyoto’s famous rokaku (pavilion) including Kinkaku, Ginkaku and Hiunkaku. No photography allowed. The following shots show Kagantei through the “window” at the garden’s entrance.

Kagantei Garden

Main Hall and Kagantei at Hoshun-in

Hoshun-in entrance garden

Daisen-in

Daisen-in is one of the most famous sub-temples at Daitoku-ji. The small rock garden follows the flow of water through a dry scene around two sides of the temple. No photos are allowed, however you can take a virtual tour online. From the brochure: “If you would like to be served green tea while looking at this garden, please try to say ‘O-cha kudasai,’ and you will have another unforgettable memory.” Out front is a crazy white pine.

White pine in front of Daisen-in

Koto-in

The last temple I visited in the Daitoku-ji complex is Koto-in. The temple was established in 1601 at the behest of Hosokawa Tadaoki, a military leader in the campaign that led to the Tokugawa shogunate. Tadaoki devoted his later life to the study of Zen. His wife, somewhat incongruously, was a devout Catholic.

Garden entrance

Looking toward garden entrance

A common sight in Kyoto in fall

The trees they were looking at

Approach to the main garden

The main garden – super use of color

Stone path

Wash basin

What color!

The view from the tea house

Another view from the tea house

Tomorrow: temple week continues with Kiyomizudera at night!

Upon telling friends that I was heading to Kyoto, I received a lot of suggestions about which gardens warranted a visit. “Kinkaku-ji,” “The Gold Temple,” or “The Golden Pavilion” came up a lot. Common sentiment: “Yeah, a lot of people go there and it’s really busy, but it’s worth it.” Having now visited, I wholeheartedly agree. The place is stunning.

Kinkaku is properly known as Rokuon-ji Temple, but it is better known by the phrase that refers to the famous gold building set alongside a reflective pond. It was built as a villa for Kintsune Sainoji in the 1220′s, and like so many old villas in Kyoto, it was converted to a temple long ago. Kinkaku received a facelift in 1987 and remains bright and shiny to this day.

Simply walking along the path to the garden, I knew I was in for a treat. Massive trees and splendid Japanese maples in fall color lined the way to the ubiquitous kiosk where I paid a few hundred yen to enter.

Large tree with great roots

Old and moss-covered trunk

The biggest of the bunch right outside the garden’s entrance

Japanese maples

Maples and moss – a great combination

Once inside, a brief walk through a courtyard and passage through a Chinese style gate reveals the Kinkaku.

Kinkaku – the Golden Pavilion

I couldn’t have asked for better weather. The air was still, allowing the Kyoko-chi pond to provide a great reflection of the bright gold building on its shore.

Kinkaku is formally known as “Shariden.” The first floor is built in palace style (Shinden-zukuri), and is named Ho-sui-in (The Chamber of Dharma Waters). The second floor is built in the style of a samurai house (Buke-zukuri) and is named Cho-on-do (The Tower of Sound Waves). The third floor is built in the Karayo or Zen Temple style and is called Kukkyo-cho. A bronze phoenix adorns the roof. The second and third floors are coated in Japanese lacquer and covered with a thick layer of gold leaf. (Notes courtesy Rokuon-ji Temple brochure and Wikipedia.)

The grounds are equally beautiful. A path leads visitors around the pond, alongside the Golden Pavilion, and up a small rise before leading back toward the entrance.

Path along Kyoko-chi Pond’s southern shore

Kyoko-chi Pond

Ashihara Island

Small pine island

A beautiful setting for a not-so-subtle building

Like so many tourist destinations in Japan at the height of the fall color season, I was not alone.

One guess what they were looking at.

Behind the temple, an old pine with a great first branch peeked out between two buildings.

Check out that first branch!

Super pines like these covered the shoreline and most islands in Kyoko-chi Pond

Enjoying the fall color

An isthmus along Kyoko-chi Pond

Behind the temple buildings, garden workers were busy sweeping leaves from a surprisingly steep hillside.

Sweeping leaves

Roots holding the hillside together

After leading visitors past the Pavilion, the path revealed shrines, statues, the spring that feeds the pond, and a small waterfall.

Ryumon taki waterfall

Stone figures and offerings

Japanese maple

Dry creek

Maples and moss again

A second pond,  An-min-taku, surrounded a small island with a stone pagoda called Hakuja-no-tsuka (the mound in memory of the white snake).

Hakuja-no-tsuka

The roof of the recently renovated tea house, Sekka-tei, was already covered with light green moss and lichens that provided a nice complement to the orange maple foliage.

Sekka-tei Tea House

Even the walk away from the temple provided great views. At one point I looked over my shoulder to see Kinkaku rising above pines and red maples.

Kinkaku, matsu, momiji

Tomorrow: Notes from the Daitokuji Temple complex.

Kyoto’s Ryoan-ji is best known for its stone garden – a rectangular plot roughly 25 meters by 10 meters featuring several clusters of stones set in a sea of white sand. There is a total of 15 stones, but only 14 are visible from any given vantage point. The stone garden was built near the end of the 15th century. Today, it is one of the most famous zen gardens in the world and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Just beyond the walled stone garden lies a wonderful, if under-appreciated, garden featuring meandering paths and a large pond. To get a feel for how the garden is arranged, check out the virtual tours at Kyoto Gardens.org. Thanks to Tom for the tip!

The simple yet beguiling design of the garden makes it a wonderful place for quiet reflection.

My first view of the garden – wow!

Or simply reflection. The crowd, while polite, offers quite a buzzing contrast to the spare garden.

Enjoying solitude together

The stones themselves are great. Some sit just above the surface of the sand, others are propped up on small mounds surrounded by aprons of moss.

The largest stone and its mate

Most of the sand has been raked along parallel lines save for the ripples around each stone island.

Ripples around stone island

Islands in the far corner

Contemplating stones and/or texting friends

The karesansui (dry garden)

Mossy, maple-covered gardens flanked the sides of the building from which we appreciated the dry garden.

Red leaves on green moss

The lush garden behind the temple

Ryoan-ji’s stone washbasin boasts a unique design. It’s lower than many similar basins, and features four Japanese characters or kanji. These are meaningless when read alone, but when combined with the character formed by the basin’s square opening, “kuchi,” (mouth) they become “I,” “only,” “plenty,” “know.” From the temple brochure:

Tsukubai, the stone-wash basin for the tea room, has a unique inscription, ‘I learn only to be contented.’ He who learns only to be contented is spiritually rich, while the one who does not learn to be contented is spiritually poor even if he is materially wealthy.

Wikipedia’s interpretation: “what one has is all one needs.”

Ryoan-ji’s Tsukubai

Tourists and maples

Leaving the zen garden is a peaceful experience. The garden is large, and save for the path between the entrance and the dry garden, it is mostly unoccupied.

The outside of the garden wall

Accents in the moss

Large moss-covered stone

Beautiful moss

Several kinds of moss growing together

Little side-paths meandered through curious spaces planted with different species at each bend in the road.

Large pieris

Neatly trimmed azaleas

Pom-pom tsugi forest

Japanese maples were generally a sign that one was approaching the lake. Another abandoned path led to an islet in the middle of the pond.

Stone path to islet

Main path to garden – “Kirei-ne?” (Beautiful, yes?)

Nandina berries reveal the season

Huge wisteria overhanging the pond

Venerated tsugi trunk wrapped in protective bark

Posts supporting the tsugi on Bentenjima, the islet in the middle of Kyoyochi pond

“Ee koyo” (Good fall color)

The pond dates from the 12th century. It originally attracted mandarin ducks, earning it the nickname “Oshidoridera” (the temple of mandarin ducks). I saw a heron on Bentenjima, but no ducks.

Kyoyochi pond

Japanese maple

Tsugi forest behind the temple complex

Kyoyochi pond

Persimmon next to pond

Next stop: Kinkaku-ji