When you look at Japanese traditional architecture, you have to look at Japanese culture and its relationship with nature. You can actually live in a harmonious, close contact with nature – this very unique to Japan.
Tadao Ando
After leaving Hiroshima around midday, our first day in Kyoto was always going to shortened. Thank god we are travelling in a shoulder period as getting two seats on a train would be murder (mind you I can’t remember going through this in April 2018). We arrived in Kyoto around 2.30 and after eventually checking into our hotel (there was a hotel 4 doors away with an extremely similar name) I was straight out the door to see what I could see.
My first and really only main stop was to the Toji Buddhist Temple. The site itself dates back to the 8th century and apart from the various temples, it contains a 5-story wooden pagoda. I just made it in time to get through the gates so I got some great pics but like a lot of sites in this whirlwind trip, didn’t have hours to wander through the temples themselves. Tracy had decided to stay behind and have a rest so on the way back to the hotel, I ducked into a supermarket to get an ice cream. This really is the best way to travel and save a little money. The prices in these places are really good when compared to some convenience stores, so saving a little here helps in other places. After I got back we nicked out for a quick meal. Ippudo Ramen at the station was where we ended up and they really do the best ramen. We ate there in Fukuoka and the ramen here was just as good. We really are getting through a hell of a lot so will see what tomorrow brings.
Day 8
Well today I think I nearly killed Tracy. First all, things are closed on Tuesday such as the Imperial Palace and the palace in Nijo-Jo (Kyoto) Castle. Now this wouldn’t normally be a big deal but there was a bit of a hike involved. The grounds of the Imperial Palace was huge and really beautiful (what we saw) and it would have been nice to get into the inner area. Things happen when you travel and you just learn to go with the flow. When we got to the castle, one of the areas was closed (Tuesday is a bugger of a day) and the keep was being renovated but the grounds were really nice. They were by no means as impressive as the Sukkeien Garden in Hiroshima but that would be an unfair comparison. The castle itself is very much related to Tokugawa Ieyasu and the period before and after the Siege of Osaka in 1615. It’s very much like a lot of sites in Kyoto and the historical nature of the place.
From the castle we had a bit of a bite to eat. After that we made the hike out to the Ōta-jinja Shrine. if the truth be known I got the shrines mixed up but it was a nice surprise. The one thing about these places of prayer that strikes you is how serene they are and this was no exception. The stream that ran through the site seemed to top off the vibe of the place. There is something about Shinto shrines that are very welcoming and inclusive.By this stage, the daylight was starting to inch away so it was off to the Gion District to have a little wander. This is the area that the Geisha’s still live in and it was pretty crowded with people doing what we were there to do. The streets are set out nicely and have that older feeling. Taking pictures down the private streets can cost you 10,000 yen if you don’t have a permit so I decided that this area would only feature the main thoroughfares. By the time we had finished here Trace was spend so it was back to the hotel for a quiet evening in. We are off to Osaka in the morning so early in won’t hurt as it will be a full day.
Images – Day 7 & 8 Kyoto
2019 December Japan 