Kyoto, Japan

Famous Kinkankuji, Kyoto

Kyoto was only an hour from our B&B, even by local train, so we skipped the more expensive Shinkansen (bullet train) and spent a full day in Kyoto, playing full-on tourists.  Our first order of business in Kyoto was to secure tickets for the step-on-step-off, open-top, two-decker tourist buses so we could visit the major tourist spots, but at our own pace and reducing our cost vs taxi rides and improving our travel convenience vs local buses.

All the best photos were taken by Jada.

One of the sightseeing buses.  They provided
audio in 7 different languages for their
many international tourists.
You can just make out the open roof on the bus.

The gold phoenix overlooks everything.

The visit to Kinkankuji was everything we'd hoped, truly amazing to see the beautiful grounds and especially a three story building layered in solid gold leaf with the gold phoenix perched at the roof's peak.  Our only disquiet came from the huge numbers of tourists.  My visit here in 2006 was in January, middle of winter and low season for tourists.  At that time, we had the grounds almost entirely to ourselves.  We were spoiled on that visit!  😀

Even the building housing the restrooms
had beautiful roof icons!
For more roof Icons, Click Here.

The western toilets had instructions.
Our assumption: as many of the
international tourists were from
other Asian countries, some of them
might not be familiar with the western toilets.
Murph's oldest son ran into this issue
at the 2007 World Scout Jamboree
in England, celebrating 100 Years of Scouting.
Ask Murph or his son for details!

On the grounds of the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace

Significant roof icons on the Palace roofs.
Click Here for more roof icons.

This example of the roof construction
explained how the multiple layers
protected the building, her occupants & contents.

Those vertical posts support the
outstretched limbs of these ancient trees
so the limbs do not break off under their
own weight.  We saw many examples of
this landscape technique.

Map of the grounds of the Imperial Palace.

Manhole cover in Kyoto.
For more manhole covers, Click Here.

This small street fair in Okazaki Park
featured many vendors of crafts
and souvenirs included several pottery displays.

At the entrance to the Heian Shrine in Kyoto.

Taking a short break from our tourist duties,
we stumbled upon this little cafe' that was coin operated!
You place your order by dropping coins in the machine,
select your dishes to be served, get a printed number for your table,
then a person serves your choices to your table.
As there is no tipping in Japan, we merely leave when we're done,
the transaction was completed when the order was brought to your table.

Our tourist bus drove through/under
the Heian-Jingu Shrine Grand Torii,
the largest torii in the world.

Heian-Jingu Shrine Grand Torii

The lantern spelling "Kaoru" was meaningful to us
as "Kaoru" is Takashi's daughter's name.

Yasaka Jinja Nishiromon Gate (Western Tower Gate)
to Yasaka Shrine

Missing our turn we walked along this street for a few blocks
more than was required but we saw this mural .  .  .

.  .  .  and this potter at work.
A worthwhile detour.

This clay art was available for sale.

Our walk towards the last stop by bus
had us going by many shops,
one of them displaying this buddha figure.

Kiyomizu-dera Niomon Gate

Kiyomizu-dera Sanjunoto (Three Story Pagoda)

Significant roof icons.
For more roof icons, Click Here.

Kiyomizudera Okunoin

Kiyomizu-dera Koyasunoto Pagoda,
just below the hilltop.

More rooftop icons.  For more, Click Here.

That's the Nidec Kyoto Tower
in the distance, downtown.

Kiyomizu-dera Sanjunoto (Three Story Pagoda)

Sunset is approaching.

Along the walk below the temple.
Note the red Kiyomizu-dera Koyasunoto Pagoda
in the upper background. 

This fountain below the Kiyomizudera Okunoin
was very popular with a long line of
folks intent on dipping the water
as they do at every temple's fountain.

The Stage of Kiyomizu, built entirely of wood and timbers,
it was built in 1633 without any nails, almost 400 years ago.

Kyoto sunset

This view of the 
Nidec Kyoto Tower
was taken through the
roof of our tourist bus.
Note the reflection off a
glass building ahead and the
actual tower to our right.

The Nidec Kyoto Tower seen from
our walk to dinner.

We found a great place with
a sidewalk cafe' where
we enjoyed drinks, dinner
and the comfortable evening weather.
Jada celebrated the day with wine
and I did with a schwarzbier.