Introduction
Mizuka, Kaoru and I visted Sanji-Chion-Ji today. Zuiko is the lone abbotess who takes care of this temple. She welcomed us and gave us a tour. I'd met her once before. The temple was built during the Oei Period 1394-1428 when the Irie Gosho, a palace inside the Kyoto Imperial Palace was moved here. Unmarried daughters of the Imperial Family lived here and became abbotesses. It is now in the care of Abbotess Zuiko who has become of a friend. The temple is closed to the public and it's a great honor to be able to visit Zuiko-san and see the wonderful treasures and garden inside. There are around five such Imperial Abbotess temples in Kyoto.