Kimon, Japanese for Demon Gate.

During my short tour in Japan, I visited Ueno Park located right behind Ueno Train Station in Tokyo. Its a huge park fill with trees, large walking path, many temples and Statue. Lots of local Japanese comes to the park in the morning for exercise and in the evening for a stroll after dinner. Its a park to escape from the tightly pack concrete jungle and flashy neon sign of Tokyo, a place to get fresh air. There is a small lake within the park where you can rent a 3 man row boat for 600yen per hour.

Dayong Sampan...Dayong Dayong Sampan...

Now I met this old Japanese grandpa riding a bicycle towards the Kyomizu Kannon Temple (Kuan Yin temple) and he suddenly stopped and talk to us. From him, I learn about "Kimon" Japanese word for the Demon Gate. According to him, Kimon is located at the North East direction of every house and building. As such, Japanese will plant evergreen trees or simply plants in that corner of the house to block the Demon Gate and prevent calamity in the household. Building of restroom in the North East position of any home or building is no desirable because restroom is where visitor shit and Demon will be anger when shit goes on their head.

Wonder how true his words is. He even state that in the Imperial Palace, no restroom will be found in the North East side of the Palace and in the North East direction is Ueno Park. So thats why there are numerous temple and lots of tree in this area, to ward off evil. Not to mention a pond full of water lotus plant.

Beside the Guan Yin temple is a lake full of Water Lotus plant.


A really cute poster of Guan Yin and devotees.