#kurama-dera

[redsamuraiii]

Kurama by Piriya Pete Wongkongkathep Via Flickr: I caught my first snow in Kyoto at Kurama-dera. On Saturday afternoon the snow forecast was coming from the North. The mountain area North of Kyoto got the hit first, while Kyoto was not there yet. I decided to hop Eizan railway to Kurama station to capture an evening shot at Kurama temple where they lit up red lanterns. I really like how red color inside Japanese temples contrast with white snow. Kurama-dera, Kyoto

[jasmine7031]

Kurama-dera

It was a mysterious place

Tengu, the spirit of the mountain, is also said to live in Kurama

[silvermalkin]

We started our first day in Japan by hiking up to Kurama-dera. I initially looked into it because the YYH characters Kurama and Hiei are named after this mountain and another one nearby. I may have gone with impure motives but it truly ended up as one of my favorite parts of my trip!

Tengu are said to live on Mt. Kurama, so that's why they're in the train and on the sign. Also there's a huge tengu statue outside the train station!

I said hike, but it's more of an uphill trudge on a paved path... and THEN you reach this gate of the shrine!

[my-shadow-box]

Kurama (by porbital)

[landoftherisingspark]

Day 254: Today's piece features perhaps my favorite temple in all of Japan, Kurama-dera.

[barbieirl]

Kurama by Piriya Pete Wongkongkathep Via Flickr: I caught my first snow in Kyoto at Kurama-dera. On Saturday afternoon the snow forecast was coming from the North. The mountain area North of Kyoto got the hit first, while Kyoto was not there yet. I decided to hop Eizan railway to Kurama station to capture an evening shot at Kurama temple where they lit up red lanterns. I really like how red color inside Japanese temples contrast with white snow. Kurama-dera, Kyoto

[landoftherisingspark]

Sometimes on the JET Programme, you're lucky enough to meet some exceptional people. I happen to have met a few in my time here, and I feel so blessed to have met and spent time with Ichikawa-sensei.

Ichikawa-sensei invited me into his home last October to watch a Kagura performance with his family. The experiences of staying with a Japanese family, sharing dinner with them, and witnessing a mesmerizing Shinto performance, are some of my most cherished moments in Japan.

I'll never forget that night, and I'll forever be grateful for it. I hope those who come to Japan may be so lucky.

[landoftherisingspark]

Day 258: The last in this series of farewell cards. Today's piece features a river near the base of Kurama-dera.