Shisendoo (詩仙堂)~Kyoto Traditional Architecture guide~

A Japanese building is comprised of many different parts. Each part has its own distinctive aesthetics and expression that really comes together when they become a whole.

Take the element of rain gutter, or toi (樋), for example. Rain gutter is a natural extension of a Japanese building, and is often exposed. Take a stroll down the streets of Kyoto, one can find the many different materials and shapes used for these eave gutters. Bamboo is a common material for rain gutters for certain types of Japanese buildings. Here is a bamboo gutter at Shisendoo (詩仙堂) in the Northeastern part of Kyoto.

A complex that is intricately linked with poetry, there is a rustic elegance to the many different parts that make up the overall Shisendoo complex, that is almost complementary to its famous garden counterpart. These bamboo rain gutters around the perimeter of the building can often be seen from not only the outside of the building, but from the inside as well. They are connected to the rafters of the eaves by a wooden support (竹樋受木), which can takes many forms as well, as they differs from one temple to another; from one tea house to the next.