From The Kita Alps to Myorenji Temple in Kyoto
In nice clean clothes, we rode the Shinkansen (bullet train) part of the way to Kyoto and transfered to the bus, arriving in the afternoon. We were going to spend four nights in a Buddhist temple. How unique is that! Dubious at first, Myorenji Temple ...View image...is located in a quiet neighborhood within walking distance of Kyoto's main area. Myorenji Temple, part of the Nichiren Buddhist Sect, was founded 750 years ago and only takes guests who stay more than 2 days. The temple buildings are about 200 years old with a separate building for lodging. It was typical Japanese style with sliding shoji screens, simple tatami matted rooms, and a communal bathroom shared with the monks/priests still living here.
Beside the main temple, Myorenji has 8 sub-temples. With the luck of the draw, ex-Marine and I were given a gorgeous room with stunning partition paintings and the magnificent traditional rock garden right outside our room.
The rock garden of 16 arhats was created by a priest who directed the construction of the garden at the Katsura Imperial Villa. The terms may be trite but we were blown away by the chance to sleep and stay in Myorenji Temple.
When Kate told us we were going to stay in a Buddhist Monastery, ex-Marine and I were already considering changing to a regular hotel anticipating the worst. After mountain huts for a week, we were ready for a little more luxury. Instead Myorenji turned out to be a highlight.
The main elements of a rock garden are rocks and sand. The sand is raked in patterns that suggest rippling water while the rocks symbolize mountains. The gardens were raked every day to keep them in pristine condition. Rock gardens are also supposed to be viewed from a sitting position, not standing. Once all this was explained, I was able to see the beauty in one.
Myorenji Temple only had three drawbacks:
- There were no bathing facilities on the temple grounds. Once again, we clopped down the street to the public bathhouse, men on one side, women on the other;
- Daily morning services were held at 6:30 am and you could hear the drums from quite a distance; and
- The communal bathroom was close to our room and light sleeper, me, heard people coming and going (literally) at all hours through the thin shoji screens.
All minuses were a small price to pay for this opportunity. The entire Japanese Alp tour had turned out to be the cultural immersion I had hoped for.
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