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A Look at Kyoto |
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Our trip to Kyoto was all we had been led to expect and more. We left Numazu on the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Mishima station. The 200 +mile journey only took 1 hour and 45 minutes. The Shinkansen is an electric high speed train that is quiet, comfortable and fast. Japanese tracks are welded together so there are no "clickity-clack" sounds as you travel. We had only four short stops at major cities and in a short time we arrived at the Kyoto JR Station. The train does reach speeds of 130 MPH. It was better than flying. |
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We ate from a street vendor that spends each day of the week in a different city. He served Chinese steamed pork dumplings and rice balls with pork, cabbage and peanuts wrapped in bamboo leaves. It was soooo delicious to eat on a cold night. |
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Golden Pavilion |
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Our first stop was at Kinkaku-ji. This is often refered to as the Golden Pavilion. It was originally built in 1397 as a country retirement villa for Shogun Yoshimitsu. It was used as a resident and a place for meditation. In 1950 it was burned down by a jealous monk. In its restoration the gold foil is now five times thicker than the origiinal. As a lavish political statement of one shogun's power and prestige, it isn't meant to be quietely contemplated. Even on a cold day in February, thousands of visitors stopped to take pictures and enjoy the gardens, ponds and other structures. |
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The thatched roof is typical of buildings without roof tiles. This 14 inch thick thatch covers the old Tea House. The smoke of cooking fires eliminated most of the bugs. |
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We watched as hundreds of visitors stopped to light an incense candle in prayer for good luck. The long blue-green sticks on the right are the incense candles. |
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These young ladies are dressed in kimonos with zori and tabi socks on their feet. The bright colors and patterns are so enjoyable to see. One can see more traditional dressed people in Kyoto than any where else we have visited. |
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Kiyomizu-dera Temple page 2 |
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Heian Shrine and Nijo-jo Castle page 3 |
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