Red Bridge, Nikko / Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto

Kimbei Kusakabe

From an albumen of photographic prints of Nikko, Japan. Photographed and hand-colored by Kusakabe, they were originally compiled in an accordian style with a laquered, decorated case and sold to Western tourists as keepsakes of their travels.

In the first picture, Kusakabe captures the Shinkyo Bridge over the Daiyagawa River in Nikko, Japan. Built as a sacred passage to the Futarasan Jinja Shrine, it was once considered a secret bridge, rarely crossed by anyone who was wasn't on a pilgrimage. After the opening of the East to trade in the early 1800s, the bridge was off limits to visitors for its preservation. Tourism changed this, and since 1973 it has been open to the public to cross for a small fee.

The second picture captures the interior of the main hall, or Hondo, of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. Seen are wooden columns made of the trunks of trees, large lanterns made of paper and wood, and hanging prayers carved into wooden blocks. This is one of the most frequented temples of Kyoto and is dedicated to the Eleven Headed and Thousand Armed Kannon Bodhisattva.