Rōyoan-ji

On the morning of July 2, I awoke early to  make my way to Ryōan-ji temple.  This is one of the most famous rock gardens in all of Japan. Originally the villa of a Heian period aristocrat, the site was converted into a Zen Buddhist temple in 1450. 

The garden design consists of a rectangular plot of pebbles surrounded by low earthen walls. There are 15 rocks laid out in small groups surrounded by patches of moss. From any vantage point, at least one of the rocks is hidden from view.

The meaning of the garden has never been made clear, as a result, individuals determine the meaning for themselves.

The temple grounds also include a spacious park with a pond and a small shrine on one of  three small islands that can be accessed by a bridge.

Enlightenment

Visiting Ryōan-ji had been a dream of mine for many years. By visiting very early in the morning, I was fortunate enough to have the garden all to myself for over an hour. As a result, I had plenty of opportunity to relax, meditate, and take in the view of the garden without distraction. It was one of the most Zen-like experiences of my life and helped me to break from the past and realize my path for the future.

Kyoto

On the morning of July 1, I headed off to Kyoto via the famous Japanese bullet train, or Shinkansen. The 319 mile trip took only 3 hours 29 minutes to complete. As a result, I arrived early in the morning at Kyoto Station, a sprawling modern structure at the heart of the city. 

Kyoto served as Japan’s capital and the residence of the Emperor from 794 to 1868. During World War II, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and spared from air raids. As a result, many of the traditional structures, temples, and shrines survive to this day.

While staying in Kyoto, I lodged at the Kyoto Hana Hostel. This hostel was comfortable and located very close to Kyoto Station, making it easy for me to travel by bus or train to the many destinations I planned to visit while staying in Kyoto.

Kyu-Furukawa

The Kyu-Furukawa Gardens are located in the Kita Ward of northern Tokyo. The property is famous for its Western-style home and extensive rose garden. However, there is also an extensive  traditional Japanese stone garden as part of the property.  

The home was the residence of Mutsu Munemitsu (1844-1897) a prominent statesman and diplomat of the Meiji government. The residential building was designed by British architect Josiah Condor. 

The Japanese garden is considered an excellent example of a Taisho era garden and has a pond in the shape of the Chinese character for “heart.” I was surprised to discover that the Japanese portion of the garden was so extensive. It was a nice retreat from the urban sprawl of Tokyo that surrounds the entire garden area.

Tokyo

After departing the United States on June 28 (with Catherine’s blessing), I arrived in Tokyo on Monday,  June 29. I stayed at the Space Hostel Tokyo, a very comfortable, clean, and modern hostel in the Asakusa area of Tokyo. Once rested and settled in, I proceeded to visit the Tokyo Sky Tree.

The Sky Tree is 2,080 ft. tall, making it the tallest tower in the world, and the second tallest building in the world as of 2015. There are two observation decks, one at 1,150 ft., and the other at 1,480 ft. The upper observation deck features a spiral, glass-covered walkway which brings you to the top of the observatory level. The views were incredible and there was even a glass covered floor where you could stand and look straight down to ground level.