Shrine hopping...

Kyoto, known for its traditional styles and architecture, is filled to the brim with a large community of Buddhist temples and shrines. Consider walking down the streets in New York looking for an Irish pub. Every street there will be atleast one with its doors open and taps flowing. The same applies to the temples and shrines. 

You could turn up a random alleyway that looks dead to the world and still find a small shrine with a beautifully decorated Buddha. For the good ones though, it was a small hike and a lot of stairs to get to the entrance. 

For me, there isn't much to say about the shrines and temples. Their exquisite beauty and stillness simply take your breath away. With each corner cane a different surprise; a garden with a pond, a cobwebbed filled cemetery, a small reflection hut. Each a treasure in their perspective rights. 

In one day, I covered only 2 miles of land but saw 7 large temples and shrines;  2 in maruyama park, hōnen shōnin midō, yasaka shrine, kyomizudera, doju-in, fushimi inari taisha. The entire day, I must have said 20 words all day. At one temple, Kyomizudera, there were monks praying in the main temple. The sound of them chanting was hypnotizing and humbling. 

Today, seeing all of these monuments and all the old architecture, I felt a sense of home. The Japanese people truly believe. The community as a whole understands what it means to live peacefully Among each other in a clean and safe environment. Why can't the rest of the world?