Central Kyoto - Kyoto - page 168

( 壬生寺 ; 841-3381; Nakagyō-ku, Bōjō, Bukkō-ji Kita iru; 8.30am-4.30pm; 10min walk from Ōmiya
Station, Hankyū line) Mibu-dera was founded in 991 and belongs to the Risshū school. In the
late Edo period, it became a training centre for samurai. Mibu-dera houses tombs of pro-
shōgunate Shinsen-gumi members, who fought bloody street battles resisting the forces
that succeeded in restoring the emperor in 1868. Except for an unusual stupa covered in
Jizō statues, visually the temple is of limited interest. It is, however, definitely worth visit-
ing during Mibu kyōgen (comic drama) performances in late April, or the Setsubun ( CLICK
HERE ) celebrations in early February.

TŌ-JI
( 東寺 ; 691-3325; 1 Kujō-chō, Minami-ku; admission to grounds free, kondō & treasure hall ¥500;
8.30am-5.30pm, to 4.30pm 20 Sep-19 Mar; 5min walk from Tō-ji Station, Kintetsu Kyoto line) One of the
main sights south of Kyoto Station, Tō-ji is an appealing complex of halls and a fantastic
pagoda that makes a fine backdrop for the monthly flea market held on the grounds.

| TEMPLE

This temple was established in 794 by imperial decree to protect the city. In 823 the
emperor handed it over to Kūkai (known posthumously as Kōbō Daishi), the founder of
the Shingon school of Buddhism. Many of the temple buildings were destroyed by fire or
fighting during the 15th century, and most of the remaining buildings were destroyed in
the Momoyama period.

The Nandai-mon (main gate) was transported here in 1894 from Sanjūsangen-dō ( CLICK
HERE ) in Southern Higashiyama. The kōdō (lecture hall) dates from the 1600s and con-
tains 21 images representing a Mikkyō (esoteric Buddhist) mandala. The kondō (main
hall), which was rebuilt in 1606, combines Chinese, Indian and Japanese architectural
styles and contains statues depicting the Yakushi (Healing Buddha) trinity.

In the southern part of the garden stands the gojū-no-tō , a five-storey pagoda that, des-
pite having burnt down five times, was doggedly rebuilt in 1643. Standing at 57m, it is
now the highest pagoda in Japan.

The Kōbō-san market fair is held here on the 21st of each month. There is also a regu-
lar market that runs on the first Sunday of each month.

UMEKŌJI STEAM LOCOMOTIVE MUSEUM
( 梅小路蒸気機関車館 ; 314-2996; Kankiji-chō, Shimogyō-ku; adult/child ¥400/100, train ride ¥200/100;
9.30am-5pm Tue-Sun; Umekō-ji Kōen-mae stop, bus 33, 205 or 208 from Kyoto Station) A hit with
steam-train buffs and kids, this excellent museum features 18 vintage steam locomotives
(dating from 1914 to 1948) and related displays. It is in the former JR Nijō Station build-
ing, which was recently relocated here and thoughtfully reconstructed. You can take a

| MUSEUM