Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ings of the temple. The ceiling of the
hattō
(lecture hall) here features Tanyū Kanō's un-
nerving painting
Unryūzu
(meaning 'Dragon glaring in eight directions'). Your guide will
invite you to stand directly beneath the dragon; doing so makes it appear that it's
spiralling up or down.
(seated
Zen meditation
) sessions for foreigners with English explanations for ¥1000.
This is highly recommended.
TAIZŌ-IN
OFFLINE MAP
(
退蔵院
; 463-2855; Ukyō-ku, Hanazono Myōshin-ji 35; admission ¥500; 9am-5pm; 10min walk from
JR Hanazono Station)
This subtemple is in the southwestern corner of the grounds of Myōshin-
ji. The
karesansui
(dry-landscape rock garden) depicting a waterfall and islands is well
worth a visit.
| TEMPLE, GARDEN
TŌEI UZUMASA MOVIE VILLAGE
OFFLINE MAP
(
東映太秦映画村
; Tōei Uzumasa Eiga Mura; 864-7716; Ukyō-ku, Uzumasa Higashi Hachigaoka-chō 10;
adult/child 6-18/under 6 ¥2200/1300/1100; 9am-5pm Mar-Nov, 9.30am-4pm Dec-Feb; 13min walk from Uzu-
masa Station, JR Sagano-Sanin line)
In the Uzumasa area, Tōei Uzumasa Movie Village is a rather
touristy affair. It does, however, have some recreations of Edo-period street scenes that
give a decent idea of what Kyoto must have looked like before the advent of concrete.
| THEME PARK
The main conceit of the park is that real movies are actually filmed here. While this
may occasionally be the case, more often than not it's a show laid on for the tourists.
Aside from this, there are displays relating to various aspects of Japanese movies and reg-
ular performances involving Japanese TV and movie characters such as the Power
Rangers. This should entertain the kids - adults will probably be a little bored.
KŌRYŪ-JI
OFFLINE MAP
(
広隆寺
; 861-1461; Ukyō-ku, Uzumasa Hachioka-chō 32; adult ¥700, child ¥400-500; 9am-5pm Mar-Nov,
to 4.30pm Dec-Feb; 2min walk from Uzumasa Station, Keifuku line)
A bit out of the way, Kōryū-ji is
an interest in Japanese Buddhism. It's notable mostly for its collection of Buddhist statu-
ary and so a visit with a knowledgeable guide is a good way to learn about the different
levels of beings in the Buddhist pantheon.
| TEMPLE
Kōryū-ji
,
one of the oldest temples in Japan, was founded in 622 to honour Prince Shō-
toku, who was an enthusiastic promoter of Buddhism.
