[Rokkakudo and Starbucks]
The other day, I visited Starbucks next to Rokkakudo for the first time in a while. The place was crowded with many people as usual, but I was lucky enough to find my favorite seat that was available and was able to savor a relaxing cup of coffee. This store has seats with a view of Rokkakudo through a full-length glass window.
Rokkakudo (official name: Shiunzan Chohoji Temple) is a temple said to have been built by Prince Shotoku in the 2nd year of the reign of Emperor Yōmeitennō (587). When Prince Shotoku visited the Kyoto basin in search of lumber for the construction of the Shitennoji Temple, he hung a statue of Nyoirin Kannon on a tree to purify himself in a pond. The main deity, Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu (Bodhisattva), holds a jeweled gem and a dharma wheel, and is said to bring blessings such as long life, easy childbirth, and protection from evil spirits, and is still one of Kyoto's most popular places of worship today.
On the north side of the temple is the site of a pond where Prince Shotoku is said to have purified himself, and where the monk Ono-no-Imoko was the founder of the monastery, hence the name “Ikenobo”. Rokkakudo is also the birthplace of Ikenobo, the headmaster of the Ikebana school of flower arrangement. Ikenobo, who served as the abbot of Rokkakudo for generations, developed his own innovations in the course of offering flowers before the Buddha, leading to the establishment of ikebana (flower arrangement) in the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Ikebana, a traditional culture that continues to this day, was born and nurtured in this area.
During the famine of the Muromachi period (1333-1573), food was prepared and distributed in front of Rokkakudo, and the temple became a place where the people of the town gathered to worship. The Rokkakudo Hall was also the site of the lottery ceremony to determine the order of the Yamahoko-Junko procession during the Gion Festival until the end of the Edo period (1603-1868), and it came to be recognized as the center of Kyoto. Passing through the gate and heading toward the center of the paving stones in the front right corner, you will find a hexagonal stone with a round hole in the center. Originally located on Rokkaku-dori in front of the gate, it was moved inside the gate in the early Meiji period (1868-1912). Since Rokkakudo was considered the center of Kyoto, it is called “navel stone” in reference to the navel, the center of the body.
Starbucks Coffee Kyoto Karasuma Rokkaku is located just a short walk from Karasuma-Oike Subway Station, and is also only about an 8-minute walk from the Sanjo Showroom. Why not stop by before or after visiting Rokkakudo or in between strolls in Kyoto?
Rokkakudo, Shiunzan Chohoji Temple
https://www.ikenobo.jp/rokkakudo/highlight/index.html
Sanjo Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/sanjo.html
