Hello Fedifriends in #Japan 🙂

Would you like to meet for a beer?

My wife and I are going to be visiting #Tokyo, #Kyoto, and #Osaka in a few weeks time. It would be lovely to meet you, have dinner / drinks somewhere local, and see your beautiful cities.

DM me for dates.

We did this on our recent trip to Europe and it was lovely chatting with new friends.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/06/meeting-my-fedifriends-afk/

Manpuku-ji's beloved 'kaipan' (開梛) is a fish-shaped board struck to alert monks to mealtimes, lectures and daily tasks.

Because fish do not close their eyes (and appear not to sleep), they became a symbol of hard training and dedication at temples.
#Kyoto

🐉...
The layout of Manpuku-ji's structures and grounds is said to represent the abstract body of a dragon...the buildings and corridors its limbs, the paths its spine and scales, and the pond its gaping mouth.

#萬福寺 #Manpukuji #zen #Kyoto

The ball in the fish's mouth represents 'bonnō' (煩悩), bad mental states (such as greed, jealousy and ignorance) that cloud one's mind.
Hitting the kaipan helps the fish 'spit out' the 'bonnō', the sound reminding the monks of their spiritual duties.

#Japan #Kyoto #Manpukuji

Manpuku-ji's beloved 'kaipan' (開梛) is a fish-shaped board struck to alert monks to mealtimes, lectures and daily tasks.

Because fish do not close their eyes (and appear not to sleep), they became a symbol of hard training and dedication at temples.
#Kyoto

Kyōto's most famous image of Hotei can be found at Manpuku-ji (萬福寺). 110.3cm tall and covered in gold leaf, the statue was created in 1663 by Han Dōsei (范道生).
He sucks worldly desires from the mouths of the faithful and replaces them with virtues he keeps in his sack👀
#Kyoto

🐉👣THE DRAGON'S BODY🐟🔔

Manpuku-ji (萬福寺) in Uji, home to the Ōbaku Zen sect (黄檗宗), was founded in 1661 by the Chinese monk Yinyuan Longqi (隱元隆琦 aka Ingen Ryūki 1592-1673).

It is considered to be Japan's greatest Chinese-style temple.
#Kyoto #京都 #Manpukuji #萬福寺

Actually both Kazariya and Ichiwa have some wonderful decorations and good luck charms on display.

#Kyoto #京都 #Imamiyajinja #今宮神社 #Japan

Right up to the end of WWII the store ran an honor system, with guests paying what they could for a plate of aburi-mochi (あぶり餅). Nowadays it costs 500 yen for 11 skewers of mochi and a pot of tea.
And it is worth every penny🙌🍡✨

#Kyoto #京都 #あぶり餅 #一和 #一文字屋和輔

The offerings of aburi-mochi became intrinsically linked to the god of pestilence, and Ichiwa began serving the skewered rice cakes to eager pilgrims, who believed eating aburi-mochi would offer them protection from disease for a year (when they would return).
#Kyoto #京都 #Japan

Hello Fedifriends in #Japan 🙂

Would you like to meet for a beer?

My wife and I are going to be visiting #Tokyo, #Kyoto, and #Osaka in a few weeks time. It would be lovely to meet you, have dinner / drinks somewhere local, and see your beautiful cities.

DM me for dates.

We did this on our recent trip to Europe and it was lovely chatting with new friends.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2025/06/meeting-my-fedifriends-afk/

Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival 2025 takes place now from November 1 to 9. Here are some photos I took in past editions.



Meiji Hall of Heian Jogakuin (St. Agnes’ School, 1895) & St.Agnes Church (1898)



#architecture #kyoto #church #photography

Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival 2025 takes place now from November 1 to 9. Here are some photos I took in past editions.



Meiji Hall of Heian Jogakuin (St. Agnes’ School, 1895) & St.Agnes Church (1898)



#architecture #kyoto #church #photography

Statue of #Raijin, the god of thunder, enshrined at Sanjusangen-do, also known as Rengeo-in, in Higashiyama, #Kyoto, #Japan. Created during the #Kamakura period and designated as a national treasure.
#BuddhistArt #Buddhism

Happy weekend from Japan!

Autumn is upon us - so here is a set of seasonal photos from Seiryoji Temple in the Sagano area of Kyoto. Great spot for viewing the foliage 🍁.

#photography #streetphotography #naturephotography #fotografie #japan #japanlife #kyoto #kyotolife #photographersofmastodon

Happy weekend from Japan!

Autumn is upon us - so here is a set of seasonal photos from Seiryoji Temple in the Sagano area of Kyoto. Great spot for viewing the foliage 🍁.

#photography #streetphotography #naturephotography #fotografie #japan #japanlife #kyoto #kyotolife #photographersofmastodon

6) SNAKE🐍 (S.S.E)

Nittai-ji (日體寺) houses 'Myōken in the Direction of the Snake' (巳の方の妙見さん).
Also known as the 'North Star Myōken' (北辰妙見尊), the statue was originally enshrined at the 'Gion Intersection' (祇園石段下) until the area's redevelopment in 1885.
#Kyoto

9) September (九月) = Nagatsuki (長月 'The Long Month')
10) October (十月) = Kannazuki or Kaminazuki (神無月 'Month of the Gods')
11) November (十一月) = Shimotsuki (霜月 'Month of Frost')
12) December (十二月) = Shiwasu (師走 'Priests Running')
#Japan #Kyoto #traditionalcalendar

⛩️🧳THE GODS RETURN👋🏘️

November in the traditional calendar is called 'Shimotsuki' (霜月 the 'Month of Frost'), but as this is also the time the gods arrive home from their annual trip to Izumo-taisha, it is also known as 'Kamikaerizuki' (神帰月 the 'Gods Return').
#Kyoto #京都

9) September (九月) = Nagatsuki (長月 'The Long Month')
10) October (十月) = Kannazuki or Kaminazuki (神無月 'Month of the Gods')
11) November (十一月) = Shimotsuki (霜月 'Month of Frost')
12) December (十二月) = Shiwasu (師走 'Priests Running')
#Japan #Kyoto #traditionalcalendar