Kitain in Kawagoe

The temple Kita-in in Kawagoe it is believed to have been founded in 830 by monk Ennin, burned down in 1205, the temple was rebuilt in 1296. The temple was patronized by the Tokugawa shoguns, and after another fired destroyed the temple in 1638, Iemitsu Tokugawa transferred part of the Edo castle to kita-in. These buildings are the only surviving of the castle after the damage to Tokyo during grand Kanto earthquake.

One of the rooms is believe to be the one where Iemitsu was born.

The tahoto pagoda built in 1639, was moved several times, until finally being set to its current location in 1973.

The Jingendo, located in a hill was built by order of ieyasu in 1645 it is considerate an important cultural asset.

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500 statues of rakan at Kita-in

Among the attractions in Kawagoe Saitama prefecture, the 500 statues of Rakan at Kita-in temple are extremely popular, and are indispensable stopover for visitors of not only temple’s but to the Kawagoe area as well.

The Rakan figures, one of the three largest in Japan, are statues representing the disciples of Buddha. The 500 statues (actually 538) with no two alike, all in different position and with different face expression: smiling, crying, angry, praying, at rest, and many others, represent the various aspects of the Buddhist life.

 

Carved in stone between 1782 and 1825, the statues are in a walled area, in front of the Kita-in temple, hiding the statues to temple visitors, and thus often missed to visitors with not prior knowledge of the statues.

According to the tradition if you come in the middle of the night and feel the head of rakans you will find one that is warm, if you come in the morning to see this statue, this will be the one that most resembles you.

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Haneda Otorii

The Haneda Otorii in Ota ku is a legendary torii found in a small area, surrounded by the Haneda airport, the Tamagawa River and the Kanpachi Street. According to the urban legend, this torii was to be relocated with the Haneda shrine in 1945, but as several workers died during the moving effort, the work was suspended and the torii was left at his original location.

A more informed version of the story, notes that this torii was left behind on purpose, perhaps as a Japanese symbol for the airport.  The torii was actually moved 800m in 1999 during the construction of a new runway, with no casualties or mysterious accidents reported.

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Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan

Jiyugakuen Myonichikan “The house of tomorrow” is the original building complex of Jiyu Gakuen girls’ school in Toshima, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most renowned architects of U.S.. Lloyd Wright fascinated with Japan, set up residence in the country for six years, to supervise the construction of the Imperial Hotel. Busy with this project, he accepted the request to design the school only after hearing the founders’ educational philosophy of free education in at-home atmosphere.

In the 90s after a long battle with the government to save the aging building, the government rewrote its regulations so the building could be used after obtaining the “Important Cultural Property” designation.

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Built of wood and plaster, the complex consists of four buildings: the main building at the center, west and east buildings at the sides forming a U-shape, and the Auditorium across the street.

The Lounge Hall in the main building has a big window facing the courtyard. The window frame and crosspieces have a very characteristic Lloyd Wright design. The mural on left wall of the hall discovered after the restoration was painted to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the school, and it is unknown when it was concealed under a thick layer of mortar.

At the back of the main hall, there is the dinning hall, with a beautiful V-shaped pendant light.

A small room between the Lounge and the dinning halls is dedicated to Lloyd Wright, with a display of his most famous designs.

There is a classroom In each of the East and West hall, it is now used for receptions and seminars.

The building was renovated hoping that it will be used for the next 100 years, with its beautiful design I am sure that it surely deserves it.

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Sponsored illumination at Yurakucho

Yurakucho station in chiyoda ku, has decorated his central plaza for the season. A major renovation is ongoing in the area around the plaza; two new buildings, a flashy new entrance to the subway station, the only thing missing is perhaps a face-lift to the JR station.

Although the sponsorship is made obvious by the sponsor big billboard facing the plaza, nevertheless the illumination gives a festive mood to the area.

The station is next to Ginza, Tokyo station, and the Tokyo International Forum, if you visit any of this spots; take time to stopover the Yurakucho station to appreciate the illumination.

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Shinbashi SL Square Illumination

Shinbashi station has decorated the Steam Locomotive (SL), on display at the fittingly named SL square, with a futuristic themed illumination.

The square usually has a nostalgic elegance due to the old locomotive, and by night takes a more futuristic air with the new illumination.

The square is definitively livelier with the illumination and I hope the area office workers, consequently will take the seasonal good feeling, back home with them.

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Shibuya Station and center-gai

Shibuya station, never a dull place to visit, has this year opted for a very austere Christmas decoration. Almost no existent if you exclude the decoration on the archs at the entrance of Center gai. 

At the same time, a more natural decoration is provided by the autumn colors, in the trees lining the streets around the station.

A pleasently surprise was the number of people on the streets, minimum by shibuya standards, undoubtedly due to an unexpected morning rain.

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