Kyoto

/kyoto4926

Kyoto is one of my favorite cities in Japan; this channel is dedicated to showcasing all of its magic. Please ensure all casts are related to the city and its vicinity (Nara, Uji, Osaka, and other places you can day trip to are fine!)

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shot just now

@pichi my extraordinary friend, the esteemed Warpcast Lady Superstar, is a champion artist who embodies the spirit of Warpcast. Her unique contributions foster a thriving community. I am delighted to have finally joined her /kyoto Channel.

I bought a charm to prevent evil ;)

It’s a peach!

It’s a me, Pichi!

In 1637, if you harmed a deer in Nara, you would be sentenced to death. Today, you’ll pay a $25,000 fine.

Due to a genetic research project in 2023, we know that among the deer inhabiting the Kii Peninsula, those in Nara Park are a unique genetic population. A study proved that while 18 mitochondrial DNA genotypes were detected in deer living on the Kii Peninsula, only one of these genotypes was detected in deer living in Nara Park, which is not found in deer living in any other areas. The genetic differentiation of the Nara Park deer from the Kii Peninsula deer occurred about 1,400 years ago, which is close to the year 768, when the Kasuga Grand Shrine was built. This proves that Japanese people have been protecting the deer in this area for more than 1,000 years as messengers of Takemikazuchi, the main deity of the shrine and that this has allowed the deer in this area to maintain their population from generation to generation.

Shrines during the day are awesome. Shrines at night are magical.
@checkin

Went to a temple garden that was open to the public since its autumn and it was quite expensive, but worth it. Turned out there was an art installation there, hence the extra cost. It was about AI and used Sora for some of the video projects. 1000 year old temple and AI. Mind blowing. Notice another foreigner sitting admiring the leaves and turns out it was the artist and we talked about AI and our work for a hour. Happy accidents.

I adore when temples modernize and start including art exhibitions and creating mixed used spaces. My favorite artist has a new piece on display here and I get to enjoy coffee in the temple garden. Win win. And dragons on the ceiling isn’t too terrible either.

@checkin https://maps.app.goo.gl/grT2tvrP2vRgqGzs8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

I spend one day buying health charms instead of fortune charms and the market crashes. Gomen-na-sorry.

This amulet grants wishes so I wished that we all get rich. My bad yall.
@checkin

I’m shocked I can still enjoy fall colors this late in the year. Makes me worry about the planet, but trying to enjoy the sun and the color.
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Gardens and temples are fabulous during the day. But at night they are something completely different. There is nothing like taking this in with a handful of people or no one at all.
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People were a little shocked that I’m a Slytherin and minted the snake.

My mom made me this sunglasses case because she’s the best.
Proof of /momiji and proof of Slytherin.

@checkin https://maps.app.goo.gl/WogCWDkKqNYsVzeg6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

The /momiji in the garden was so stunning, that I will have to return in the daylight. It was magical but I’m a popsicle now and am headed to the sento (public bath house) to warm up and thaw out!

Getting coffee sent from an non fren in Kyoto for your pregnant wife ✔️

To me, it is the definition of one of my favorite Japanese sayings

Ichigo Ichie - One Time, One Meeting

I tell myself this each time I eat a half a box of glazed donuts

Ok, so maybe more than one meeting.

S/O @pichi

I’m always impressed when I meet older monks (50+) who studied English in the US when they were in high school or college. They always went somewhere random (not NYC, LA), always have very fond memories, and actually studied because their English is amazing even if they are shy. They are usually excited to talk and have very long conversations and answer all my questions. Today I got a private tour. I stumbled into the temple on accident looking for a way to buy candles for Benzaiten’s shrine inside the property. I didn’t intend to do to the temple at all because intel said no photos and all in Japanese, so hard to use translation since it requires pulling out your phone. I showed him the next piece I’m working on and he gave me some recommendations for more inspiration. They also gave me an umbrella from lost and found because it was pouring. The Goshuin and amulet are based off the artwork on the cedar doors at the temple.

@checkin https://maps.app.goo.gl/dsq5eAKytS4pFiqx9

Night visits to temples hit different.

This painting commemorates the 800-year anniversary of Kenninji's founding, It measures 11.4m by 15.7 and was created in the gymnasium of an elementary school in Hokkaido and took the artist just under two years to complete.

@checkin

Every autumn, the quince garden at Shimogamo Shrine also bears golden fruit. It is said that quince has the effect of creating beautiful and youthful skin.

Bijin-sui is a drink made from quince honey and the holy water of Kawai Shrine.

Of course I’m going to drink it!

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Camellias and Maples. I’m In heaven.
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We do a little divine coffee. The coffee is brewed with the sacred waters of the shrine. I’m here for it.
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Today’s online work plus tea happened at the “mirror garden”. Cute and tranquil.
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Everyday I go to temples and most days I buy economic fortune charms and/or beg gods of money to make us all rich. You are welcome.

I collect Goshuin, which are IRL NFTs in Japan that provide proof of worship at temples and shrines. I got a really fun one.

@checkin https://maps.app.goo.gl/UsijEVE7fNFeNAMFA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Shout out to @pichi for offering to ship the best craft /coffee from /kyoto This surpise will make my pregnant wife so happy!!!

Choken-ji is the only temple in Kyoto whose principal image depicts the goddess Benzaiten. The meaning is as follows - BEN means endow or bestow; ZAI means fortune; and TEN means goddess. Therefore, BEN ZAI TEN means a goddess that bestows fortune. I filled out a Gomagi sacred sticks with wishes that all my patrons have great fortune sent their way. It will be burned on the temple grounds in a special fire pit later this year.

What started as a pile of debris, ended as an IRL Collaboration project between myself and 2 teenagers. Art is everywhere. The monks came by to tell us the main hall was closing but we could stay on the grounds and ended up taking photos with us ;)

@checkin https://maps.app.goo.gl/2AQYsyKPtcUKufuf7?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Today’s tea was in Eikando’s garden. I’ve been to their night illumination twice but never got to come during the day to get an amulet and a Goshuin. The grounds have 3,000 maple trees and it was spectacular. I ended up spending most of the daylight here because it was just that beautiful and the /momiji is a peak.

@checkin https://maps.app.goo.gl/7d4pGqd3j4WFL7EdA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

/Kyoto