Crowds and contemplation at Sanjusangen-do in Kyoto

ShipShape trips aim to build an understanding of culture as well as history, alongside the facts and figures. The coaches and crowds at Sanjusangen-do in Kyoto initially suggest a tourist trap, but the experience inside is quiet enough for reflection. Other Japanese temples visited during the trip have also felt peaceful even in busy city districts. Large tour groups disperse quickly, leaving people time to wander through. The visit follows a walk across from the National Museum in Kyoto, near the train station, and reverses an initial expectation that the 600-yen admission would be disappointing. No temple chronology is given; the focus is how a heavily visited religious site can retain a spiritual atmosphere. A personal 'zero or 100 percent' theory developed during the trip suggests that Japan either does not care about something or cares for it completely, with temples in the latter category. At the close, only a few people are still wandering nearby.