Toji Temple Sale Day

I've decided to skip ahead and give you a look at the temple sale of all sales in Kyoto. The day after we got back from Koyasan was the one day a month for the Toji Temple Sale and from the crowds on the streets leading up to the temple gates, clearly it was the destination for many natives as well as the tourists. The Japanese are comfortable combining their commerce with worship and the monks of the temple were obliging with prayers and special rituals for the faithful as they took a break from shopping.


Besides the typical crafts, there were the nursery and bonsai sellers. As you may have noticed by now, everyone grows something even if they have only a few inches of sidewalk to cover, so potted plants are quite popular in Japan.

The varieties and antiquity of some of the bonsai was quite impressive.


From baskets

To knives

to live goldfish and turtles the sale had it all.

Supplies for Japanese arts like calligraphy

to Yuzen dye stencils, used to make the gorgeous patterns on kimono, the booths offered the tools for many of the traditional arts of Kyoto, while showcasing the final products, both new and antique.
There were bargains to be had in the many booths filled with kimono piles. With a kimono averaging 500yen ( approximately $5.00 each), such a deal!

Along with the materials for artmaking, there were the artisan booths to enjoy,like this dollmaker.

This woman was selling cards with images of her cat, from kitten to it's now ripe old age of 17 years. Clearly there was a love affair going on with this kitty, who appears to be quite a character, lovingly captured in black & white by her expert eye.


Besides the contemporary craftspeople, there were rows and rows of antique and secondhand sellers, selling a range of goodies from funky Barbie dolls to ancient brushpainted scrolls. One scroll I was particularly attracted to featured a suggestion of a waterfall in the upper right hand corner then vastness of space and in the middle of the open space a hawk in flight. It was hard to walk away from that one, but the image hangs with me even now.

Besides the typical pottery and dolls, there was the unusual too...

Like this sea turtle, poor dear...

There were also the food vendors like these selling sweet cakes filled with chestnut paste formed in the shape of the chestnut.

This one was making cakes in the shape of fish with sweet bean paste inside, a favorite of the Japanese palate. There were vendors selling deep fried sweet potates, tea, shumai ( dumplings with shrimp inside) and all variety of grilled goodies.


Besides the food to eat on site there were also the food vendors, offering specialties for the Japanese kitchen like these mushrooms.

Dried Fish and Squid

and seaweed choices, along with the usual fruits and vegetables.

On the walk back from the sale I came upon this curbside lily pond in front of a rundown shop on a busy boulevard. It's wonderful how the Japanese insist on bringing beauty, peace and calm into the harsh reality of urban living. The old gents out front were smiling when I asked to photograph this beautiful flower and invited me to take pictures of their fish tank inside as well.