This morning we took a bus to a train to the Arishiyama district of Kyoto where our first stop was the Kimono Forest.
Our second stop was devoted to averting the army of tourists swarming towards the large Tenryu-ji Temple. (Size makes a difference when it comes to attracting crowds in World Heritage sites.)
Slipping away from the main stream of visitors was easy. Entering an unadorned wooden gate leading to a modest temple is all it took. First we took a gander at Kōgen-ji Temple.
Then we took a small path to Hōgon-in, a sub-temple of the Tenryu-ji temple noted for its Lion’s Roar Garden. In front of the Hōgon-in were 500 statues of enlightened disciples of Buddha that are called “rakan” meaning “the worthy.” The Arishiyama Rakan are famous for their expressive features.
I loved walking by these guys. Who wouldn’t want to worship at their temple?
