Kyoto [Part IV - Sekizan Zenin 赤山禅院]
We had intended to go to the Shugakuin Imperial Villas, but it turned out to be CLOSED on weekends and secondly, in need to an appointment through the Imperial Palace Household Agency ppl that we got reservations to the Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens...Anyway, since we'd made our way all the way to Shugakuin, we thought we'd better not waste the trip, and went a little further down the road to find Sekizan Zenin [赤山禅院]. A lovely peaceful temple, a great contrast to the crowded places we visited the day before. It was very peaceful, and a pleasure to walk around.
Near the entrance there were little wooden bald men, which I think were for writing your prayers/requests on. As well as the traditional wooden sticks (which can be seen in the background)
We were the only visitors for a while, until we saw two men following the same path that we were going down (and up) stopping at each shrine to pay their respects.
They also stopped at a window and got their book written in by the calligrapher sitting at the desk, with the temple's name and the day and date. Apparently, you can get these 'signatures' at every temple, and people have complete books filled with all the temples they managed to visit. The calligraphy was beautiful. So I bought one. If you bring your own book, they write a fresh one in your nearest blank page. If not, they have several pre-written loose leaf versions, which they pop the date on...
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