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

Kyoto:Day 3-Play Tourist

By the morning of the third day, we were wondering if we should strike out into Kyoto, or just go home. But the weather was beautiful and after eating the remains of our Subway subs, we were ready to get out of that hotel and see what else was out there. We had to check out early, so we headed back to Kyoto Station to use the coin lockers for our luggage. The coin lockers work very well...as long as you take the key out at the right time, otherwise you have to pay twice. Not only did Aimee do this by accident the first time, I then immediately did the same thing on the second locker. *thwacks forehead*

Luggage safely stowed, we went searching for the bus that would quickly and cheaply take us back to Ginkakuji, the temple that had conquered us the night before. We were squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezed onto a tour bus. I mean...sardine room only. But the ride wasn't that bad, and it was much easier than our walk the night before. We paid our dues and went into the Silver Temple...though no silver remains.

While not nearly as impressive as Kiyomizuderu, it was a beautiful area. It's at the base of one of the mountains important to the Gion festival, where a kanji is written in fire on each of seven (?) hills around Kyoto. I would love to go. The temple itself is rather small, and unfortunately some of the surrounding buildings were under construction. I forgot to get pictures of the zen garden *thwacks self again*.

The landscape around the buildings was beautiful, including a little bamboo forest area and flowers on many of the bushes. There was a network of ponds and streams, in which lived big fish, who were all intensely interested in bubbles.

We also found a little raised box of moss, labelled as important moss. I don't know if it's rare, or local or...well, you decide.

After we left the temple, we walked back down the hill, which is a huge street just lined with shops. Many sell the same tourist things, but some offer unique things, beautiful cloth or hand made goods, and delicious candy. We spent a bunch of time shopping. Maybe I'll take some pics of some of the pretty things I bought.:) By this time, it had gotten a bit later. We decided to find some food (yummy little Kyoto cafe) and headed back to Kyoto Station to fetch out luggage, get tickets, and hop back on the shinkansen. We took the slightly longer train (my fault), but the ride back was smooth and relaxing, so it wasn't bad. Ah...home to Nagoya, and a very nice cleansing rainshower. Here are some last images from Kyoto, of the tv tower in front of Kyoto Station, and the statue of the ever popular AstroBoy that surmounts one of the information centers.

Thanks for sticking through this, and if you leave me nice comments, you will have more fun pics to look forward to...of all the Shinsengumi goods I attained! Mwahahahah!

Posted by Mandy at June 8, 2005 01:28 AM