Monday 27 April 2009

Hanami @Ninna-ji Temple (仁和寺)

Ninnaji(仁和寺) is one of 17 world heritage sites in Kyoto. It was founded in 888, but, like most historic buildings in Kyoto, it suffered repeated destruction in wars and fires over the centuries.

Ninnaji used to be a monzeki temple, which has an abbot (top priest) from the imperial family by tradition. This tradition was over in Meiji period (about 100 years ago.)



In the map, red circle is where Ninnaji-is and blue circle shows Kyoto station.

Ninnaji(仁和寺) is one of my favorite temples in Kyoto. ;D It's nice to visit here anytime in a year, but this temple is famous for having a beautiful cherry garden in their backyard.


This cherry garden is noted for a rare, locally cultivated type of cherry tree, named Omuro Cherry. The blossoms of Omuro cherry trees open relatively late in a hamami season (usually a week later than other kinds of cherries.)


You may have noticed that Omuro chrry trees are lower than other kinds.



For example, this is a weeping cherry tree in Arashiyama.

You can see a person taking a photo on a left-hand-bottom corner a bit. :D

This is one of the reasons many people visit this special cherry garden every year.








In Kyoto, some people tease a girl with a button nose by calling her 'You are a Omuro cherry' because in Japanese we have a homonymous word 'hana' for both 'flower(花)' and 'nose(鼻).'

Oh, well, it's not bad to be like Omuro cherries, is it? They are so beautiful!!

6 comments:

Tonykaku said...

Ninna-ji wa doko de gozaimasuka? i will come to Japan again soon and i hope to visit one of your "favorite temples in Kyoto".

i did not know the name "omuro cherry" but it looks beautiful. i added some sakura photos (and iro iro) to my blog today. and you can comment now (if you would like).

maido okini : )

Mariko said...

♣Tonykaku san
Sorry for my late reply. I put a map of Kyoto in the article to tell you the place. Please check it! ;D

You really like Japan! I'm writing more about my favorite places, so please visit them, too!

Thanks for information about your blog! I will check it♪ Arigato~

Tonykaku said...

Mariko-san,
gomen, ne, i did not read carefully your blog.
now i can see there is a map to show where Ninna-ji.

if you have time, maybe you could show me Ninna-ji. i love to walk around Arashiyama and Sagano so maybe we can meet there one day. maybe i have been there. tabun. i have been to many beautiful places in Kyoto.

oyasumi.

Mariko said...

♣Tonykaku san
Sorry for my late reply!!

No, you don't have to say Gomen ne! I added the map after reading your first comment.

Yes♪ If my schedule matches, it's possible. We could meet up in Arashiyama someday! :D

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