Walking Back to the Temple (Shunkoin).

As Myself and Horikitsune were walking back to the Zen temple we had chosen as our accomodation in Kyoto this scorching hot and early september, I captured some images that have come to be important to me. The why is a silent one.

Horimatsu Awaiting The Train in Kyoto.

Kyoto in Shades of Gray; Kenninji Revisited.

I have lost track of how many times I've been to Kenninji. It's the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto and Dogen Zenji stayed here for a while. I often wander around here experiencing the worn floorboards through my worn socks.
I am usually by myself, which is the way to welcome Kenninji. I have a strong longing for these enviroments.
In my house, my dusty meditation cushion mocks me like a drunk little fat man.
One day.

Kyoto in Shades of Gray; September Moon over Myoshinji Temple

The first evening Horikitsune-san and I spent at Shunkoin Temple (Myoshinji Rinzai Zen Temple Complex) in Kyoto we went for a walk around the grounds before dinner. We were struck with the beauty of the moonlight pouring down over the serene buddhist temple landscape. We made desperate attempts to capture it with our cameras and sometimes we came pretty close.
I distinctly remember the feeling of being in some woodblock print by Kawase Hasui.

Kyoto in Shades of Gray; view from my smoking spot outside the Myoshinji Zen temple Complex.

When I went to Kyoto with Horikitsune-san, we stayed at the Shunkoin Temple, which is a part of the huge Mysoshinji Rinzai Zen temple complex. Horikitsune-san had been there before and I was pleased when he suggested it as a place to stay. In the mornings we participated in Rinzai Zazen (zen meditation according to the Rinzai Zen sect) and had some great talks with Takafumi-san, the head priest of Shunkoin. I strongly recommend anyone that visits Kyoto to stay at least a couple of nights at this beautiful place.

I used to be a smoker, but nowadays I only smoke when in Japan, and the morning cigarette is the one I cherish the most. When staying at Shunkoin I had to walk for some distance until stepped out through the gate of the Mysohinnji temple complex itself. There I stood every morning, watching the people of Kyoto going to work and school.

These are some photographs taken from that very spot.

Kyoto in Shades of Gray; Tenjuan Garden.

Rght next to the very famous Rinzai Zen Temple Nanzenji, there's a smaller subtemple by the name of Tenjuan. It's easily overlooked as you walk by, but ever since I have found my way there, I've made sure to come back whenever I visit Kyoto.
This time I went there with Horikitsune (Alex Reinke) and we had a lovely stroll in the temple's beautiful garden. If you like Koi this is a nice place for viewing them up close. If you stand next to the edge of the pond they swim up to have look at you.

Maiko.

Horikitsune and Myself went from Fukuoka via Hiroshima to Kyoto in order to experience it photografically once again. Horikitsune had visited many times before, but never with a good camera and photographic experience.
For me it was the fifth trip in four years, pursuing the ghosts of photography. One early evening I took Horikitsune up to the old quarters, Gion, and showed him where I stand and wait for Maiko and Geisha to appear as the sun is setting and the Kyoto night begins.
These are the images from the corner that night.