Ginkaku-ji | Review by 一個漸漸喜歡上慢旅的人

From the moment you begin strolling along the wide approach, you can feel a solemn and dignified atmosphere. From a distance, the enormous, striking red torii gate is truly impressive.

Upon entering the grounds, you’re greeted by magnificent buildings with white walls, bright red pillars, and blue-green roof tiles. Set against the blue sky, the vivid colors and imposing architecture are spectacular, worthy of a classic reconstruction built at a reduced scale based on the historical appearance of Heian-kyo. During this visit, I was also lucky enough to catch some early cherry blossoms blooming on the branches. Although they weren’t yet in full bloom, the elegant old architecture and touches of soft pink on the branches complemented each other beautifully in the slightly cool spring weather, creating a graceful and enchanting scene. Strolling through the historically rich Heian Jingu Shrine, feeling the breeze and the atmosphere of the ancient capital, was a deeply memorable and soothing cultural experience. It’s also a great place to bring older family members for a leisurely walk.

After visiting the thousand-year-old Kiyomizu-dera Temple, you can stroll down the approach and stop by Kiyomizu Junsei Okabeya, a very famous tofu restaurant.

The most impressive signature experience here is making your own yuba right at your table. As the soy milk slowly heats up and a thin layer of yuba forms on the surface, you carefully lift it with a bamboo skewer and enjoy it with a little of the special vinegar sauce. Its smooth texture and delicate sweetness make the experience both fun and delicious. In addition to the signature homemade yuba, the set meal includes a variety of refined Kyoto-style side dishes and plenty of tofu products. Every dish has the rich aroma of soybeans and the delicacy of Kyoto cuisine. After exploring Kiyomizu-dera, coming here for a warm, comforting yudofu meal is definitely a perfect and satisfying choice.

This time, I visited the thousand-year-old Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto with my older family members in early spring. Although there were quite a few steps along the way and we had to slow down a little for them, the scenery was captivating. We even spotted a few cherry trees blooming early, so we could enjoy the views as we walked and never found the walk boring.

When we reached the magnificent main hall and looked out from the famous Kiyomizu Stage, the vermilion three-story pagoda in the distance blended with the surrounding natural mountain scenery to create an incredibly beautiful view. It was truly breathtaking. This ancient temple is not only filled with a deep sense of history but also gives off a powerful energy that brings peace to the mind. The only downside was that it was extremely crowded. If you could visit at a time with fewer tourists, walking around would definitely be much more comfortable and relaxing. Overall, though, being able to bring my older family members to this classic spiritual power spot and experience the spring atmosphere of the ancient capital was still a very precious and wonderful memory.