高雄

About this photo

This photo shows people on a mountain path with a teahouse at Takao, in the hills northwest of Kyoto. It appears in Kyoto Meishocho (Album of Famous Places in Kyoto), published in 1907.

Takao is home to Jingoji temple, and together with nearby Makinoo and Toganoo it is known as the Sanbi, the "three O's," after the last syllable of each name. In 812, Kukai lived at Takaosanji, a temple that stood here, and performed kanjo, an important esoteric Buddhist initiation rite. In 824 it merged with Jinganji, built by Wake no Kiyomaro, to become Jingoji. Kawarake-nage, throwing small unglazed clay plates into the Kiyotaki River valley to ward off bad luck, is said to have begun at this temple.

Takao is still famous for its autumn leaves, and many people visit in fall. The Shuzan Kaido (Route 162) runs through it, and in 1965 a road for cars opened from Arashiyama to Takao. Along the Kiyotaki River, inns that serve meals set up kawadoko, riverside dining platforms, in summer.

Glossary