In Kyoto of spring: Kyoto Imperial Garden, my lunch, and Sanjusangendo Temple.

 

＜　a wall of The Sentō Imperial Palace ＞

I met my friends in Kyoto on May 7.

I strolled in Kyoto Imperial Garden in this morning, and after the lunch, visited Sanjusangendo Temple.

5月7日、京都で友人と会いました。

午前中、京都御苑を散歩し、昼食後、三十三間堂を見学した。

＜　a map of Kyoto Imperial Garden　＞

Kyoto Imperial Garden was emperor's Imperial Palace for about 1000 years.

I was surprised for the vast park that extended 700 meters from east to west, and 1300 meters from north to south.

The place where I strolled was a red oval part on above map.

Green was deep, and red of the azalea was impressive.

Foreign tourists were conspicuous although there were few people.

京都御苑は千年間、天皇の皇居だった。

東西７００ｍ、南北１３００ｍの広大な敷地にびっくりしました。

私が散歩したのは赤い楕円部のみです。

緑が濃く、ツツジの赤が印象的でした。

人は少なかったが、外国人観光客が目立った。

＜　Higashiyama mountain is seen far away　＞

＜　Bridge laid in a pond and a small Shinto shrine　＞

＜　a tearoom house was seen beyond a island ＞

Young travelers from foreign countries are looking at the carps in the pond.

The style of pond in the Japanese garden has been condensed here.

海外からの若い旅行者が池の鯉を見ている。

日本庭園の池の様式が凝縮されている。

＜　Tearoom house of 200 years ago　＞

This tearoom house was seen from the pond a little.

この茶室は、池の奥に少し見えていた。

＜　a residence of a court noble of 400 years ago　＞

The residence becomes the administrative office of this park.

邸宅は公園管理事務所になっている。

＜　Sakaimachi gate of this palace facing the Marutamachi Street　＞

I feel more dignity in the black color of this gate.

落ち着いた黒に風情を感じます。

＜　lunch and a garden in restaurant　＞

A pond, a stone lantern, high trees, and low trees have been distributed skillfully.

I seemed to exist in deep woods, though it is a small garden.

小さな庭だが、池、石灯籠、低木と高木が巧みに配され、深い自然の中にいるようだ。

＜　1000 statues of Sanjusangendo Temple　（borrowing phot）＞

I was more impressed by the appearance of 1000 statues of goddess.

I saw these in 55 years before.

When I was child, was I impressed by these statues that had been made in 800 years ago?

Blessed with fine weather, I talked pleasantly with friends and I felt a Japanese tradition.

５５年ぶりに見る、千体の観音像の姿に感動した。

平清盛が８００年前に造営したこれらに、幼い私は感動したのだろうか？

天候に恵まれ、友と歓談し、日本の伝統を感じた1日でした。