Sumiyoshi-zukuri

Architectural style Sumiyoshi-zukuri precedes the arrival of Buddhism in Japan and is free from the influence of continental Asia. The best example is the Sumiyoshi Taisha temple. The buildings are painted in red. The roofs are simple and made of thatched roofs. Other features of sumiyoshi zukuri are okichigi - forked tops on the roof and five square billets (katsuogi) placed horizontally along the roof. The building is surrounded by a wooden fence.

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Danjiri

Danjiri refers to a wooden structure with wheels that people can pull around the city. It also usually has two roofs, one large small, looking like a traditional roof of the Shinto temple. I managed to see a few of such vehicles while visiting Osaka Castle in Taiyo-no-Hiroba Park. You can also see them during various celebrations.

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Osaka Castle, Otemon Gate’s Pillar Splice

Osaka Castle-Otemon Gate’s pillar splice (Osaka-jo-otemon-hikae-bashira-tsugite) - Japanese technique of joining two wooden elements without using nails. The lower part of the pillars has been repaired and reinforced with the traditional technique of removing damaged areas and filling cavities by joining new pieces of wood. At first glance, this combination seems impossible to do.

Osaka Castle-Otemon Gate’s Pillar Splice

Osaka Castle, Otemon Gate

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Osaka-jo-otemon-hikae-bashira-tsugite

Philosopher’s Path

The Path of Philosophy (Tetsugaku no michi) is a pleasant stone path leading through the northern part of the Higashiyama district in Kyoto. The path follows a channel lined with hundreds of trees. 

The route, about two kilometers long, begins around Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) and ends near Nanzen-ji. This name is due to Nishida Kitaro, one of the most famous Japanese philosophers, who was told to practice meditation, following this path in daily walks to the University of Kyoto.

Philosopher’s Path

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