Nihongo-a-Go-Go :: Mandy's Journal

Kyoto: Day 1-Rain!

Well, I'm back! Kyoto...well, it wasn't as fun as it was last time, but I wouldn't say it was a bad vacation. We spent three days in the ancient capital of Japan, so I'm going to give you the days one at a time. Mwahahahah!

We took the Shink from Nagoya to Kyoto on Thursday morning. The ride, as usual, was quick and easy, though it was a blast with the luggage and dollies. :) When we got to Kyoto Station, the first order of business was acquiring a hotel. This we accomplished with the help of some people in the Tourist Information area, right in the station. We were able to book a room, but only for two nights, so our tentative plans for a longer stay were dashed.

The hotel, located on one of Kyoto's TWO subway lines (the lack of subway transport in Kyoto made me long for Nagoya's speedy and convenient underground), was called the Palace Side Sun Hotel. It was...well, crappy. The beds, which we had longed for, were basically boxsprings on wodden boxes. Everytime we left the hotel, we had to hand in the key. I don't know if that's standard in Japanese hotels, though. Ah well. At least it was clean.

And, have no fear. I checked in the drawer, and there was indeed a Gideon Bible, from 1974. There was also the Teachings of Buddha. The blend of the two religions continued in the view out the window. Right beside the hotel was a shrine; next to the shrine was St. Agnes Episcopalian Church.

After dropping everything off at the hotel, we struck out to do some sightseeing. On the way to find Kiyomizu's Temple, the rain struck. The walk was a bit longer than we'd anticipated; everything on the map in Kyoto is further away than it seems. We passed Chion-in, where we had gone last time, and walked up the hill to the Higashi Otani Mausoleum. This is the resting place of the founder of Shin-Buddhism, whose main temple we visited on our last trip.

Continuing on the uphill trek, we made it to Kiyomizudera, in the pouring rain. We took a sort of back way in, walking through miles of cemetary. Mom, you would have loved it. It was rather odd, but the rain and wind and cemetary hills somehow fulfilled a strange notion I had always held about Kyoto.

Kiyomizudera is famous for its healing qualities, and good luck it confers on those who travel there. There is a huge balcony overlooking the trees and the city; it was originally a stage. Although I must admit the postcards do it much more justice than my pictures do, it was a beautiful temple, and the smell of the wet greenery made it more beautiful.

Before heading off to find some food for the evening (bentos, yay!), we did drink from the sacred healing water of the temple. It was kind of...tingly. I don't know what the actual mineral content was, but the tingliness lingered in the back of my throat for a good hour afterwards. I would have no trouble believing that it had some sort of power, heheh. The water was also very cold and very clean. However, one little girl didn't think so. Her mother helped her drink from the little cup on a long pole, and she obviously didn't like it. She held it in her cheeks, unhappily swishing it from one side to the other, until she could hold it no longer. When her mother went to put the cup/stick back, she spat it out. Heh...holy is as holy does. Maybe they should have tried sacred Koolaid. Just kidding.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Kyoto, Part 2: The Day Japan Conspired Against Us!

Posted by Mandy at June 6, 2005 12:42 AM