Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SIGHTS
SANJŪSANGEN-DŌ
OFFLINE MAP
(
三十三間堂
; 525-0033; 657 Sanjūsangendōmawari-chō, Higashiyama-ku; admission ¥600; 8am-4.30pm
Apr-Mid-Nov, 9am-3.30pm mid Nov-Mar; Sanjūsangen-dō-mae stop, bus 206; 10min walk from Shichijō Sta-
tion, Keihan line)
The sheer number of Buddhist images at this temple make it among the more
interesting and visually arresting sights in Kyoto. It makes a logical starting point to a full-
day exploration of Southern Higashiyama.
| TEMPLE
The original temple, called Rengeō-in, was built in 1164 at the request of the retired em-
peror Go-shirakawa. After it burnt to the ground in 1249, a faithful copy was constructed in
1266.
The temple's name refers to the 33
sanjūsan
(bays) between the pillars of this long, nar-
row building. The building houses 1001 wooden statues of Kannon (the Buddhist goddess
of mercy); the chief image, the 1000-armed Senjū-Kannon, was carved by the celebrated
sculptor Tankei in 1254. It is flanked by 500 smaller Kannon images, neatly lined in rows.
There are an awful lot of arms, but if you are picky and think the 1000-armed statues
don't have the required number, you should remember to calculate according to the nifty
Buddhist mathematical formula, which holds that 40 arms are the equivalent of 1000 be-
cause each saves 25 worlds.
At the back of the hall are 28 guardian statues in a variety of expressive poses. The gal-
lery at the western side of the hall is famous for the annual
Tōshiya festival
, held on 15
January, when archers shoot arrows along the length of the hall. The ceremony dates from
the Edo period, when an annual contest was held to see how many arrows could be shot
from the southern to northern end in 24 hours. The all-time record was set in 1686, when
an archer successfully landed more than 8000 arrows at the northern end.
KYOTO NATIONAL MUSEUM
OFFLINE MAP
ku; adult/student ¥500/250; 9.30am-6pm Tue-Thu, Sat & Sun, to 8pm Fri; Sanjūsangen-dō-mae stop, bus 206;
10min walk from Shichijō Station, Keihan line)
The Kyoto National Museum is housed in two
buildings opposite Sanjūsangen-dō temple. It was founded in 1895 as an imperial reposit-
ory for art and treasures from local temples and shrines. There are 17 rooms with displays
of over a thousand artworks, historical artefacts and handicrafts. The permanent collection
is excellent but somewhat poorly displayed; unless you have a particular interest in Japan-
ese traditional arts, we recommend visiting this museum only when a special exhibition is
| MUSEUM
