古都京都の世界文化遺産・比叡山延暦寺 / Hieizan Enryakuji - Kyoto World Cultural Heritage

今週は日本の仏教の母山を紹介します。この所の名前は「比叡山延暦寺」です。「比叡山延暦寺」の山頂で、東の方向で「琵琶湖」という日本最大の湖を望んで、西の方向で古都京都の町が一望できます。
I'm going to introduce you to the Mother of all the Buddhism Sects in Japan. The name of this place would be 'Hieizan Enryakuji'. On the peak of 'Hieizan' you can have a great view of 'Lake Biwa', which is also known as the biggest Lake in Japan. On top of the great view of 'Lake Biwa', you can also have a magnificent view of the city of Kyoto.

もし皆さん山頂で素晴らしい風景が見たかったら、三つの行き方があります。
この三つの行き方は「一番」と関係があります。
If you happen to be interested in making a trip to the peak of 'Hieizan', there are actually 3 different ways of getting to the peak of 'Hieizan'.
The best part would be all 3 ways have something to do with the term 'most'.

最初は「一番長い」方：登る
比叡山の登山口から、山頂まで大体三時間の道程です。
The most slowest way of getting up there: Climbing.
It takes approximately 3 hours to climb from the foot of the mountain to the mountain peak.

次は「一番簡単」方：バス
一時十五分ぐらいの道程です。しかし、この京都駅から、比叡山行き発バスは一日に10回以下です。大変です。
Next, would be the easiest way to get there: By taking a bus.
Although you can hop onto a bus that takes approximately about an hour fifteen minutes to get from the Kyoto station to the mountain peak, the frequency of the bus is very low. There's probably less than 10 buses that will depart from Kyoto Station to the mountain peak.

最後は「一番高い」方：電車とケーブルカーとロープウェイを乗り換える
お金持ちの人は、特別の体験の為に、試みなければならないです。
The last and the most expensive method would be: By taking a train and change to a Cable Car, followed by a Aerial Tramway.
If you can afford it, this is an experience that is worth trying.

以上はロープウェイの写真です。 The above would be photos of the Cable Car.

以上はロープウェイの写真です。 The above would be photos of the Aerial Tramway.

以上は山頂の風景の写真です。 もし運があったら、三月中旬に山頂で、雪も見られます。 The above would be photos taken from the mountain peak. If you are pretty lucky, you will even get to see snow covering the mountain during Mid-March.

比叡山に三つの地域に分けています。地域は「東塔」と「西塔」と「横川」です。
'Hieizan' is separated into 3 different regions.
These 3 areas were known as 'To-do', 'Sai-to' and 'Yokawa'.

「東塔」は延暦寺発祥の地です。一番主な建物は。。。
As for 'To-do', the most important structure in this area would be...

根本中堂 これは延暦寺境内最大の仏 堂です。根本中堂の本尊は 薬師如来です。ご本尊の前 には、千二百年間灯り続け ている「不滅の法灯」も安 置されています。
Konpon Chu-Do This would be the biggest Buddhist Temple within the whole mountain of 'Hieizan'. Besides being the biggest, a statue of 'Yakushi Nyorai' was kept within this temple, which have been continuously illuminated by 'Fumetsu no Hoto' over the past 1200 years.

「東塔」に他の有名な建物もあります。 例えば：大講堂とか、阿弥陀堂とか、文殊楼とか、たくさん大切な建物があります。 以下は「東塔」地域の写真です。 There are also some other infamous structure within the 'To-do' area. For example: Dai Ko Do, Amida Do, Mon Ju Ro... etc. The following would be some of the photos taken in the 'To-do' area.

次は。。。
Up next would be...

	以上は「西塔」地域の写真です。 「西塔」は釈迦堂を中心とする区域です。 「西塔」区域で有名な建物は釈迦堂、 浄土院、常行堂と法華堂（にない堂）です。
The photos in the above were taken in the 'Sai-to' area. All the structures in this area were built around 'Shaka Do', which was also the most significant structure in this area. Besides for the 'Shaka Do', some other infamous structures within this area includes the Hokke Do and Jogyo Do (Ninai Do) and the Jodo In.

最後は「横川」地域です。 「横川」は横川中堂を中心とする区域です。 「横川」区域で有名な建物は横川中堂、四季講堂（元三大師堂）、恵心堂です。 以下は「横川」地域の写真です。 The third and last area would be 'Yogawa'. The structures within this area were built around the 'Yogawa Chu-do'. Besides for the 'Yogawa Chu-do', some other infamous structure within this area includes the 'Shiki Ko-do'(Gensan Daishi Do) and 'Eshin-do'. The following would be some of the photos taken in the 'Yogawa' area.

もし皆さん「比叡山延暦寺」で参りたかったら、晴れるの日に行った方がいいですよ。
実は都市より山の天気は寒過ぎ、だから晴れるの日に行った方がいいですよ。
If you want to visit 'Hieizan Enryakuji', you probably might want to pay a visit to the Temple when you are not experiencing rainy weather in the cities near 'Hieizan'. This is because the weather in the mountains were which cooler that the cities. Hence take my advice, never go into the mountains on a rainy weather, else please be prepared to face the chill.

* こちは「比叡山延暦寺」の資料です。
^ こちは僕が「比叡山延暦寺」に撮るの写真です。
* Click here to find out more about 'Hieizan Enryakuji'.
^ Click here for the photos of 'Hieizan Enryakuji' that was taken by me.