Marine Day holiday at Gio-ji temple's moss garden

The third Monday of July is Marine Day holiday in Japan. I think the reason why there is a holiday for seas is unknown to most Japanese. It seems that the government likes to make Japan as marine country. You don't have to explicitly state that as you can easily see that Japan is surrounded by seas. But anyway, extra holiday is good for workers.

City center of Kyoto is extra crowded as Gion festival nears its climax. Hot, humid, no good. But I had a good experience to visit Gio-ji in Saga, northwest of Kyoto, around the same time last year, so I visited there today. Gio-ji is located a little bit far from touristy area of Arashiyama, and its temple ground is small, and no grand gate or building is there. So there is only a few visitors in this season. It may be well known for autumn foliage season, but I feel Gio-ji is most appreciated in this season as its moss-covered garden becomes lush with pure green. It has rained for a couple days, so green of moss-covered garden looks extra green.

Gio-ji is known for Gio, tragic figure associated with samurai Taira-no Kiyomori of late Heian period. How arrogant Kiyomori was!

Moss-covered garden of Gio-ji looks extra green after rain