16. Sunrise Suites – Bells that creates a sanctuary
First time visitor? Start from “About Sunrise Suites”!
As a Shinkansen (bullet train) approaches the Kyoto station, the five-story pagoda of Toji temple comes in to your vision. The first Kyoto-ness that you can feel when you visit Kyoto.
If you visit Toji and go close to the pagoda, you will notice that a bell is hang at each corner of the five layers of the roofs. It is a heavy-duty bronze bell which makes no sound at all with just a light breeze, but once a strong wind blows, it rings and makes a high and yet deep, very thick sound. Long ago, strong wind was said to summon the god of plague and bring an epidemic break-out. And bells were installed under the eaves of temples in order to “scare away” evil spirits with the sound. The area the bell sound reaches is said to become a sanctuary, and is protected from illnesses and troubles.
When the founder of Sunrise Suites chose to create the hotel in front of Toji temple, he was determined to design Sunrise Suites in the way that pays the maximum respect possible to Toji temple. Tiled roof structure same as the five-story pagoda, vertical lattice over the windows… Wooden structure and rafters under the roof are also made to look like those of Toji temple pagoda.
The bells at each corner of each floor’s roof was another article that follows the design of Toji temple. The founder’s wishes that our guests would feel as if they are staying at a branch temple of Toji, and that our guests would be protected from illnesses and troubles, are also put into these bells.
Come to stay at the bell-protected sanctuary, Sunrise Suites where you can appreciate the view of the highest Japanese wooden architecture, Toji temple’s five-story padoga, and enjoy your trip to Kyoto 200%! Maybe you will be illness- and trouble-free for the rest of your life…?
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