Kyoto Traditional Architecture guide

This is the roof of the gate just before entering the temple called Nanzenji in Kyoto. The grain of wood is very clear. This material is probably zelkova. The strength and structural function of nature is really beautiful.   Even

Nara Prefecture, next to Kyoto, has the oldest wooden building in the world. It was built about 1300 years ago. This photo is the part called the Udegi. This technology was already used 1300 years ago, and we still use

This is the Sammon, or the main gate, of Daitoku-ji Temple (大徳寺) in Kyoto. The roof of the Sammon are often large with deep eaves, and are supported by the interlocking bracket complex called tokyou (斗きょう) or kumimono (組物). The

We want to introduce you to the Okochi Sanso Garden (大河内山荘庭園) near Suikoushya’s Kyoto workshop in the Arashiyama neighbourhood. It was the former home of period film actor Okochi Sanso (1898-1962). Aside from the main villa, there is a Japanese

As mentioned in the our post yesterday, Horyu-ji (法隆寺) in Nara (奈良) is home of the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world. Horyu-ji itself is a large Buddhist temple complex comprises of the many buildings that were constructed at

Byodo-in (平等院), a temple dating back to the late Heian Period almost 1000 years ago, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Byodo-in is located in Uji (宇治), a city famous for its green tea, and is a short train

Located in the south eastern part of Kyoto, Tofuku-ji (東福寺) is the head temple of the Tofuku-ji branch of Rinzai sect, one of the three main branches of Japanese Zen Buddhism. It is one of Kyoto’s Five Great Zen Temples,

In Japan, there are many pagodas, including the famous five-story pagoda of Horyu-ji Temple, the oldest wooden structure in the world. Its structure and form continue to fascinate people. Here I will share three of my recommended pagodas. 1: The