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We drive back to Tokyo. GeGe and JieJie drop us off in Tokyo central station, where we catch the Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto.
Tokyo to Kyoto
by Bullet train, 180 mph
arriving at our hotelKyoto, Japan Day 91 (May 1)
We spend the day sightseeing in Kyoto. First we visit Nijo Castle, which is like a European castle with its walls and moats, but has Asian style buildings. The squeaky wood floor is especially cool; apparently designed to prevent sneaky Ninjas from ruining your lunch.
Nijo Castle 
Wall & Moat
gravel grounds 
door knob
Gateway
Castle
details
squeaky wood floor to prevent sneaky predator
but baby ted thinks he can get in without making noiseNext, we visit the Kiyomizu-Dera temple. The Japanese temples are kind of fun to visit, because each building within the temple has some kind of fun gimmick to play; drink special spring water, walk 18m straight between stones with your eyes closed to predict your ability to find love; shake for your fortune, and hang it in the wind, etc. We give a try for all the free stuff.
after walking up the hill with thousands of tourists and locals 
passing numerous souvenir stores on both sides of the street 
front gate
one of many temple houses
washing hands and drinking special Spring/Holy water
Love temple
walk 18m straight between stones with your eyes closed to predict your ability to find love
Keep walking babe!
faithful prayer
Graceful Buddha 
tie your wish here
another house
Today's a field day for allIn the evening, we head to the Gion district and spot Geishas heading to their tea houses for work in the back alleys. The book said you could find them here in the early evening, and we feel kind of stupid, but it was fun.
arriving Gion district
no shortage of restaurants and bars
How about Shibu Shibu for dinner
after checking out the price, we decided to eat vending machine dinner instead, yuk!
Geisha heading to work in a tea house
KR taking pic outside nearby restaurant 
Street snack
Front Gate
Lights up in the evening
CLICK HERE to see more pictures from Nijo Castle.
CLICK HERE to see more pictures from Kiyomizu-Dera temple.
CLICK HERE to see more pictures from Gion district.
CLICK HERE to see random pictures of Kyoto.
3 comments:
You look sooo Japanese with you long socks, I still prefer the binkini pictures though ;)
Pieter
Hi Sweeties!
Hope you're having fun in southern California and enjoying your favorite home-cooked Chinese food, compliments of Vana's mom and dad. Please send them our love.
The pictures from Kyoto and also the Hot Springs were fascinating and quite a contrast to the images of Thailand, VietNam, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines. Japan looks squeaky clean and the temples appear to be awesome on one hand, but look almost sterile and lacking in color. Ernie has told me about their advanced transportation system and your pictures confirm everything I've heard about it - really "state-of-the-art!" You must have been there at the right time, because those flower gardens with their fields of solid colors, purple,
deep pinks and white are very impressive.
I forwarded the two links to my Japanese friend, Amy Osugi (Kevin knows Amy and Fred). Amy was born in this country, parents born in Japan, and she was in an internment camp during WWII when she was six years old. I'm sure she has visited all the places you've been to since she visits Japan at least once a year, speaks fluent Japanese and has studied and performed classical dance all her life. I knew she would enjoy seeing your pictures.
Well, bye for now.
Sending Love and Hugs,
Mom
Hi,
The pictures are great, that is an amazing hotel that you stayed at.
By the way, why are you only up to May 1st, there is a 3 week delay. Eventually you will be back in California and eating out in Santa Barbara and still send out emails of adventures and people in Asia:)
Meanwhile, everything is about the same here in Santa Barbara, it is Memorial Day Holiday so everyone has Monday off work. The chalk drawings took place at the Santa Barbara Mission, the artwork is simply amazing. I took lots of pictures.
The air quality sucks after the fire, I wake up every morning with dry dirty snot. Yuck. The fire is over but there is plenty of ash for the wind to blow.
Also, my hernia seems to have returned, so I will see a doctor to determine if surgery is needed. Ouch!
Have a great trip/vacation/adventure.
Darren
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