[Yasaka Koshindo] A colorful and Instagram-worthy wish list.
The area around Yasaka Pagoda is one of the best sightseeing areas in Kyoto.
Yasaka-no-to, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Anning-zaka, Ninning-zaka, Sanning-zaka, Kodai-ji Temple, Ishibe-koji, Entokuin Temple, etc.
The area is crowded with tourist attractions.
The reason for this is that this area is paved with stones all the way around. And the buildings are machiya.
The atmosphere here is very nice. That’s why people from all over Japan come to Kyoto to enjoy the Kyoto-like atmosphere.
The area is a maze of narrow streets stretching in all directions.
When you get lost, you may look up and wonder where the Yasaka Pagoda is.
Stone pavement and dog-arrows. The rickshaws were also running around, which made for a great atmosphere.
If you take a peek into the back of such a machiya, you will find a stylishly renovated restaurant.
If you show people this kind of thing, they will invite people over.
I’m sorry for the long preamble.
What I would like to introduce this time is Yasaka Koshindo, a mysterious temple located just below Yasaka-no-to.
The nearest station is probably Gion Shijo. But it is a 15-minute walk.
So, what is so mysterious?
Well, as you can see, it’s this way!
What’s this? Is it a plectrum? No, it’s not.
This is an item in the shape of a monkey called a “kukuri zaru.
You make a wish by dedicating a monkey with its arms and legs tied around you.
Why a monkey? Why a monkey?
The monkey is a symbol of desire, and by holding back one desire, one can make a wish come true.
This is a concept that comes from Taoism.
As such, it is a good place for an installation and a hole-in-the-wall tourist spot.
It is just a stone’s throw from Yasaka-no-to (Yasaka Pagoda), about one minute away, so it is a must-stop spot when you come to Yasaka-no-to (Yasaka Pagoda).
Koshino is a Taoist teaching.
Taoism is the theory of the three living creatures.
According to Taoism, there is an insect called the “three corpse” inside the human body,
At night, while we are sleeping, they tell the Celestial Emperor about our misdeeds.
Hearing this, the emperor shortens the human’s life span.
It is said that once every 60 days, there is a night when the three living creatures are shed from the body,
I try not to sleep, but it is hard to stay awake when I am alone,
there is an event called “Koushin wait” to keep everyone awake.
Hmmm, something about the old days is so heartwarming that good old people did this kind of thing…lol.
I think this is more of a reason to stay up all night and play with everyone, lol.
And the god who eats the three living creatures is Seimen Kongo. That is why this god is called Koushin-san.
Moreover, the temple’s messenger is believed to be a monkey, which is why the temple grounds are full of monkeys.
This is one of the reasons why this temple is so funny.
Here and there, you can see, see-nothing monkeys, and hear-nothing monkeys, say-nothing monkeys.
I wonder why monkeys make us feel humor just by looking at them.
Yes, I see, hear-nothing, say nothing, see-nothing, over here.
Somehow it looks like a western goblin.
Then, the amulets are also full of monkey goods.
If your Chinese zodiac sign is the year of the monkey, or if you have a monkey face, you should definitely go there.
You will feel a sense of closeness.
Finally, let me show you the inside of the hall with the kukuri monkeys I mentioned earlier.
Surrounded by such cute monkeys, there is suddenly a realistic bronze statue.
It doesn’t match the atmosphere. And the gap between the old man and the red cap and cap is amazing.
I wonder who he is.
Yasaka Koshindo
390-1, Kinen-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
075-541-2565