A Distant Realm of Zen Serenity

#OsakaItinerary
At dawn, I arrived at Shitennoji, the oldest Buddhist temple in Osaka, standing firm through a thousand years, witnessing the city's changes. I walked past the five-story pagoda and stepped onto the stone-paved approach, where the gentle chime of wind bells reached my ears, instantly calming my heart. Then, I took the train to Kyoto to visit Sanzen-in, hidden at the foot of Mount Hiei. This temple, far from the city's hustle and bustle, is covered with lush cedar trees and moss. The stone lanterns and wooden doors at the entrance seem to tell tales of peaceful times. I ascended the quiet stone steps into the garden, where a vibrant green moss carpet covered the grounds, and several adorable "Child Jizo" statues stood quietly, smiling as they gazed at visiting travelers. Inside the temple, warm sunlight filtered through the paper doors, casting light on the tatami mats, and the air seemed filled with history and Zen spirit. Sitting on the veranda, holding a cup of matcha, I watched the pond water gently ripple in the garden, quietly feeling the steady and tranquil flow of this land through the ages. In this moment, time seemed to slow down, with only the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze accompanying this soul journey away from the worldly dust.

Post by Angrybird11 | Mar 30, 2025