A Vending Machine That Chants Sutras — And Other Reasons to Love Kyoto -

There are tons of posts and blogs about Kyoto. To be honest, I avoided going there because of over-tourism, but I got a chance to visit there this time. Looking back, I lived in Osaka for 20 years, and I visited Kyoto many times. I loved the vibes of mixed historical sites and modern, simple culture. I went back to there last time almost a decade ago. Today, I’m going to share what I thought about Kyoto. Let’s get started.

1. Kyoto Station

My wife and I went to Kyoto from Tokyo Station by Shinkansen. We didn’t book our seats for the Shinkansen because there would be fewer passengers on Friday afternoon, but it was a bit of a mistake. We had to head to the platform to secure our seats. I recommend that you should book it in advance. It takes around two hours or so to get to Kyoto Station. The building is quite modern, was designed by Hiroshi Hara, one of the famous architects in Japan, also he was also known for designing the Sky Building in Osaka.

While in Kyoto Station, I felt so spacious and airy. The only downside was that it was too crowded to get around freely. If you have time, you might want to go for a walk at this building. There are a lot of restaurants and shops. Well, it’s not today, let’s go to ride a taxi. There might be a long line to wait for the taxi, but don’t worry about it. You won’t wait there as long as you might expect. It’ll take around 20 min to get it.

https://www.kyoto-station-building.co.jp

2. Rokkakudo (六角堂）

Rokkakudo is located in a busy area. What does “Rokkaku” mean? The roof’s shape of the main building is a hexagon in Japanese. It was built in 587 by Shotoku-Taishi (聖徳太子), Prince Shotoku, who is a well-known figure among Japanese people. You can look at the shape by taking an elevator, which is next to the building. There are also important cultural properties. Looking at the rare shape of the architecture, it feels a bit of different from other temples. Can you imagine that it was already built 1400 years ago?

https://share.google/EOtu6FMdpEh4UJJQK

3. Shijyodori (四条通り): Shijyo Street

Just so you know, I want to tell people who might not know this, people in Kyoto are sophisticated when it comes to fashion. In my opinion, they look minimal on the surface, but deep down, it has trends in their material and shapes of closing. A long time ago, the Japanese emperor was in Kyoto. As many new things and stuff brought him, so people affected, I’d say. When you walk around this street, you will find how fashionable they are. There are a lot of unique apparel shops. You never get bored.

4. What Kind of Vending Machine Chants Sutras!?

*I think people who came up with this idea are genius.

This vending machine is extraordinary. I wrote my articles about the vending machines, and I know how wonderful Japanese vending machines are, but I’ve never seen this type before. I tried it, and it chanted sutras! There is this amazing machine in Chion-in (知恩院). It chanted the sutra “南無阿弥陀仏” for around 30 sec. It is a surreal moment because it’s a blend of technology and Buddhism. It might taste special for common water. You definitely give it a shot. Well, after drinking sacred water, there are a lot of places you should visit. Let’s have a look.

*If you have a chance, look at my previous article about vending machines in Japan below.

How to Enjoy Japanese Vending Machines!

Amazing Japanese Vending Machines Part 2

Sanmon(三門)

Nightingale Hallway (Uguisubari-roka: 鶯張り廊下）

*This is an alert system that tells you when burglars break into this property. They can’t walk without making sounds. You hear the sounds when you walk the hallway. It’s said that the sounds are similar to the singing of Nightingales, but it was a bit different sound than I expected for me.

Daishoro (大鐘楼)

*It is known as one of the biggest bells in a Japanese temple. You are supposed to ring the bell only in April and on New Year’s Eve. It was built in 1678. It’s a must-see.

Yuzenen (友禅苑)

*There is a beautiful pond surrounded by stones and trees. This type of garden is called chisen kaiyushiki (池泉回遊式), one of the famous Japanese garden styles, so you can find different beautiful scenery in season.

Imobou (いもぼう)

*This restaurant offers traditional Kyoto cuisine using Ebi imo (海老芋). Ebi(海老) means shrimp, and imo (芋) means taro. It is named after the shape of taro that takes time and effort. Not only the traditional simmered Ebi imo and cod, but also other dishes were delicious. It’s not that fancy, but it’s the taste that you never forget.

いもぼう平野家本店
https://share.google/nI5ndHt1HFy43bGHj

Actually, there are a lot of must-see places in Chionin (知恩院). You can spend a whole day. Further details are below.

https://www.chion-in.or.jp/en

5. Todukuji (東福寺)

*This sanmon (三門) is a national treasure as the biggest and the oldest gate in Japan. It was rebuilt in 1425.

*This place is famous for autumn leaves, but you can enjoy visiting other seasons.

*This wooden bridge is called Tsutenkyo (通天橋). The best season is autumn. From the bridge, you can see the fiery reds blend beautifully with the golden yellows of autumn leaves. That being said, during the season, there are a lot of people. You might want to visit in other seasons, and I think you can have plenty of time to see around.

*Hojoteien (方丈庭園): There is a house surrounded by four gardens. Each garden has a concept. I’m not an expert in gardening, but I can feel the sense of zen and modern design. Watching the photos on the internet and in person is way different. It’s worth it.

6. Nijojo (二条城)

*Nijojo is a castle, and a symbol of the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was bull in 1603 by the leyasu shogun. The glory has lasted for almost 260 years until Yoshinobu shogun closed the shogunate in 1867. Later, this castle was used by the emperor’s family as a second house. There are world heritage sites that you can’t take photos inside, so leave your smartphone for a while and focus on your surroundings. You can hear the sounds of a nightingale in the hallway here, too. You might notice the architecture, lamps, and wall paintings are not old at all. You can give a glimpse into how the shogun lived there. I’m sure it will be unforgettable. Sometimes, the best memories aren’t in your smartphone; they are in your mind.

To Conclude

How was that? Actually, I underrated Kyoto because I knew it, but that was a big mistake. There are still a lot of places worth visiting. It has changed everything since I last visited there, but I relearned that Kyoto has unique vibes. There are a lot of time-honored traditions that has been for a thousand years. On the other hand, there are modern areas here and there. This mix feeling is quite appealing, I’d say.

Thanks for taking the time to read my article to the end. Oh, last but not least, don’t forget to book your ticket to return to Tokyo if you take the Shinkansen. There were no Nozomi tickets on the weekend afternoon if you wanted to buy them on a whim. Actually, we barely got a ticket for a slower train… See you next in my article.

Kazu. K

I worked at a trading company for many years. I live in Tokyo with my wife. Love skiing, traveling, IPAs, wine , X-treme sports, fashion, and learning English and Chinese.

A Vending Machine That Chants Sutras — And Other Reasons to Love Kyoto

1. Kyoto Station

2. Rokkakudo (六角堂）

3. Shijyodori (四条通り): Shijyo Street