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Located on the hill of eastern Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera (pure water temple) is one of the most popular temples in Kyoto and one of the World Heritage Sites since 1994. Kiyomizu-zaka is the street leading uphill to the gate of the Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Hagashiyama, eastern Kyoto. This street is lined with touristy shops selling food, ceramics, clothes and local crafts. The “tastiest” part of the area is the free samples of mochi, yatsuhashi and tea that many shops offer

The streets in Higashiyama are lined by small shops

The oldest existing Chinese fans are a pair of woven bamboo side-mounted fans from the 2nd century BCE. In ancient Japan, hand fans, such as oval and silk fans were influenced greatly by the Chinese fans.The folding fan was invented in Japan, with date ranging from the 6th to 9th centuries

According to the Song Sui (History of Song), a Japanese monk Chonen (938 － 1016) offered the folding fans (twenty wooden-bladed fans hiogi and two paper fans kawahori-ogi to the emperor of China in 988. Later in the 11th century, Korean envoys brought along Korean folding fans which were of Japanese origin as gifts to Chinese court.

The popularity of folding fans was such that sumptuary laws were promulgated during Heian period which restricted the decoration of both hiogi and paper folding fans. They were made by tying thin stripes of hinoki (or Japanese cypress) together with thread. The number of strips of wood differed according to the person's rank

Later in the 16th century, Portuguese traders introduced it to the west and soon both men and women throughout the continent adopted it. They are used today by Shinto priests in formal costume and in the formal costume of the Japanese court (they can be seen used by the Emperor and Empress during coronation and marriage) and are brightly painted with long tassels. Simple Japanese paper fans are sometimes known as harisen

Japanese fans are made of paper on a bamboo frame, usually with a design painted on them.The fan is primarily used for fanning oneself in hot weather.It was also used in the military as a way of sending signals on the field of battle, however fans were mainly used for social and court activities. In Japan, fans were variously used by warriors as a form of weapon, by actors and dancers for performances, and by children as a toy.

Juzu are an extremely popular item in the Buddhist world

The beads used to make juzu are fashioned from a number of different materials including nuts, precious woods (agarwood, lime, sandalwood, etc.), semi precious stones, crystal and agate. Some materials have a particularly strong power. Rock crystal is said to be good for balance, lapis lazuli for healing, and onyx for happiness

Kyoto is Japan's capital of Buddhist culture, where many Buddhist temples, ranging in size and sect, can be seen throughout the city Juzu, a special kind of beaded Buddhist necklace or bracelet rosary, have been in use for about 2,500 years. According to legend, the first bracelet of this kind was given by the Buddha to his disciples as a way of praying for people throughout the world

Full length juzu are made of 108 beads, each of which represent one incarnation of the Buddha

Café garden

Café garden

Umbrellas

Green tea

Green tea and yatsuhashi

Yatsuhashi is a Japanese

confectionery sold mainly as a souvenir sweet

(miyagegashi). It is one of the best known meibutsu (famous regional

products) of Kyoto. It is made

from glutinous rice flour, sugar and cinnamon

Free samples of yatsuhashi

Baked, it is similar to senbei. Raw, unbaked yatsuhashi (Nama yatsuhashi) has a soft, mochi-like texture and is often eaten wrapped around red bean paste, and may come in a variety of different flavours (tofu, cinnamon, sesame etc)

Kiyomizu-zaka, many souvenir shops on both sides

Kiyomizu-dera niōmon (deva gate)

Kiyomizu-dera niōmon (deva gate)

Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu Nicoleta Leu InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Jigoku Shoujo - Aizome (Mamiko Noto) 2016