After a short delay, I’m back with some more old photos from my trip to Japan. These photos were taken in late summer 2012, marking almost two years since my trip. My goal is to go through, sort and edit them all before August hits – any longer and I fear they’d never see the light of day!
I had such a great time traveling across Japan that I do want to share them all – especially this series from Kyoto, which has so many unique temples. Unfortunately back then I didn’t realize the benefit in shooting RAW and these above were shot exclusively in JPEG in the bright afternoon sun. I’m no editing expert so I found it quite difficult to attempt editing these in post.. if anyone has tips I’m all ears!
Sanjusangendo Temple
Sanjusangendo (三十三間堂) is a temple in eastern Kyoto famous for its 1,001 statues of the Boddhistava Kannon, Goddess of Mercy. The temple hall is an astonishingly long wooden structure and the name itself, meaning 33 intervals, derives from the number of intervals between the foundation’s support columns. Inside the temple, you’ll find 500 statues of human sized armed Kannon standing ten rows deep. The statues are armed and fierce; the sight of so many, each with a different facial expression, is quite impressive.
While you’re in eastern Kyoto, don’t forget to also check out Ginkaku-ji pavilion, Kiyomizudera Temple and the historic Higashiyama and Gion districts. Kyoto is one of Japan’s most historic cities and it’s well worth checking out as many temples and shrines as possible, as they are all each unique. In fact, Kyoto’s historic value spared it from the list of target cities for the atom bomb. The city was spared altogether from air raids in World War II.
Read more: Travel to Japan
Want to know what else to do in Tokyo? Check out my full Japan series:
Tokyo
That Time I Got Naked with Strangers… My Japanese Bathhouse Experience
Tsukiji Fish Market Pt 1 Is the Tuna Auction Worth Visiting?
Tsukiji Fish Market Pt 2 (You Woke Up Late) The Other Stalls
How to Travel Japan Shinkansen & the Japan Rail Pass
Tokyo’s Most Famous Temple: Asakusa and Senso-Ji
Hotel Review Mornings at the Park Hyatt Tokyo
Tokyo Sights: Visiting the Imperial East Gardens
Kyoto
A Visit to Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto (Memoirs of a Geisha!)
What Does It Mean to Donate a Torii Gate
Sanjusangendo Temple and the 1,000 Statues of Kannon
Japan Eats
Sushi for Breakfast, Really? Sushi Daiwa at Tsukiji
Delicious Bakery Treats Mont Thabor & The Park Hyatt
Is Japan Vegetarian Friendly? Here’s What You Can Expect & Eat More Greens
Dessert Among Diamonds Mikimoto Lounge
How Good is Japanese Tonkatsu
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