Page 189 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

The futuristic hall of Kyoto
Station, an enormous
glass-and-steel building

On the first Sunday in January
5 " the temple hosts an archery
Sanjusangen-do contest for young women,
Temple who shoot arrows from one STAY
三十三間堂 end of the veranda of the
main hall to the other.
 D5 ⌂ 657 Sanjusangen­ Tawaraya Ryokan
domawari, Higashiyama­ Each room at this old
ku § (075) 561­0467 ryokan is traditionally
£ Keihan Nanajo Stn @100, 6 decorated, with its own

206, 208 to Hakubutsukan Kyoto Station private garden.
Sanjusangen­do­mae  C4 ⌂ 278
# Apr–mid­Nov: 8am–5pm 京都駅 Nakahakusancho,
daily; mid­Nov–Mar: 9am–  C5 n 2nd flr main Nakagyo § (075) 211­
4pm daily concourse, left from 5566
escalator; (075) 361­
Rengeo-in, more commonly 4401/(075) 343­0548 
known as Sanjusangen-do,
induces an almost hallucinatory A sleek complex of soaring Hoshinoya Kyoto
effect on its visitors who, once spaces, glass surfaces, and On the Hozugawa River,
inside its elongated main hall, bleacher-like staircases, Kyoto’s this luxury hotel is
find themselves face to face JR train station provides a accessible only by boat.
with ranks of nearly identical futuristic entry to Japan’s old Soak in a deep cedar tub
Kannon (goddess of mercy) imperial capital. Completed at the end of a long day.
images – 1,001 of them, to be in 1997, the structure is the  A3 ⌂ 11­2
precise – all glimmering in the work of architect Hiroshi Hara, Genrokuzancho,
dark. Sanjusangen-do dates a former Tokyo University Nishikyo­ku
from 1164 and is the longest professor whose design ∑ hoshinoya.com
wood en structure in the world. triumphed in an international 
Its name derives from the 33 competition. Although it has
(sanjusan) spaces between the been criticized for its refusal
building’s pillars. The temple’s to incorporate traditional Jam Hostel
main image of a 1,000-armed Japanese motifs in its design, A no-frills affair, this
Kannon was carved in 1254 by the station is undeniably hostel offers communal
Tankei at the age of 82. Upon eye-catching. Thanks to dormitories with bunk
its head are ten other heads, its open-air spaces it also, beds, as well as a few
including a miniature image of ironically, resembles a private rooms.
the Amida Buddha. Stretching traditional wooden Kyoto  D4 ⌂ 170 Tokiwachō,
out on either side are 1,000 house: pleasant in summer, Higashiyama­ku
smaller images. Kannon was but drafty and cold in winter. ∑ sakebar.jp
believed to have 33 manifes- Within the station is a 
tations, so the faithful would shopping area called The
have invoked the mercy of Cube, specializing in Kyoto
33,033 Kannons. craft items and food products.
189

188-189_EW_Japan.indd 189 04/02/2019 15:57