Visit Kyoto Imperial Palace

 

Located almost at the center of Kyoto, the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho京都御所) used to be the residence of the Japanese Imperial family until 1869, before the capital was moved to Tokyo. The site includes one of the most important halls called Shishinden, where the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa Emperors held their enthronement ceremony respectively. The current building was rebuilt in the Heian period style (9th century) and the Emperor’s and Empress’ Throne are placed inside.  Inside the Imperial Residential Palace, the actual living quarters of the Emperor, there were 15 rooms. One of them was the sleeping chamber and the room where the Sacred Sword and the Seal (two of the Imperial Regalia of Japan) were kept.  We can appreciate the seasonal beauties of the Japanese garden long been enjoyed by the Imperial family.

 

-What is the Imperial Regalia? 

-The origin and the history of the Emperor?

-Why Kyoto was chosen as the next capital city after the Nara period?

-See where the famous Meiji Emperor spent his childhood.
 

 

Toji Temple with 3D mandala and the highest pagoda in Japan <UNESCO World Heritage site> 

 

Toji Temple is famous for its Five-story Pagoda (Japanese National Treasure) which is a symbol of Kyoto.  With a height of about 55 meters, it is the tallest old pagoda in Japan, though it is actually the fifth reconstruction.  

 

Located at the South edge of the capital city, Heian-Kyo (present-day Kyoto), two temples, To-ji (East Temple ) and Sai-Ji (West Temple) were planned to be built to protect the state.  

 

 

Kukai (空海: also known by the posthumous title Kobo Daishi, and as a founder of Koyasan ), a great religious leader and scholar was put in charge of Toji by the Emperor Saga.  They shared cultivation and tastes, and Emperor Saga agreed to Kukai's insistence on making Toji a fundamental studying and training center for Shingon Esoteric Buddhism.  

 

Kukai said that Shingon Esoteric Buddhism cannot be conveyed vocally.  Therefore, usually, the mandala (in plain picture form) is an essential tool.  In order to understand the essence in a more clear, more direct, and easier way, he decided to make a multidimensional mandala with 21 Buddhist statues suitably arranged inside of  Kodo (Lecture Hall). 

 

 

No building from Kukai's time is surviving today, but a group of statues housed in the Kodo (Lecture Hall) remains.  Many of them are Japanese National treasures.

 

 

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      6 hours    ¥30,000 / person ~ 

2-3 people  ¥45,000  

For rates for additional people, please message me using the inquiry form below.