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JerryE | profile | all galleries >> JAPAN 2019 >> KYOTO tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

KYOTO

Wednesday (Day 4) we experienced Kyoto. Kyoto a city of over 1.5 M is surrounded on three sides by mountains. It was founded in 794 and was the capital of Japan until the capital was moved in 1869 to Edo (now called Tokyo). The city is dotted with Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and traditional wooden houses.

In the morning we visited Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). Built around 1400, it is covered in gold leaf and is beautiful nestled in a park with beautiful lakes and trees. Unfortunately, what one sees is a reproduction. The original was burned in 1950 by a Korean arsonist unhappy that so much gold was used when there was so much poverty.

Following the Golden Pavilion, we were treated to Gioji Temple, a very small Buddhist temple located in a serene spot where the ground cover is all moss. The tranquility of the temple and grounds was amazing.

For lunch we experienced a traditional kaiseki meal accompanied by a maiko entertaining us. The seven course meal featured seasonal dishes, with which Jane and I enjoyed some sake. The maiko was amazing. A maiko is an apprentice to a geiko (what geishas are called in Kyoto) and train in the art of dance, conversational skills, knowledge of current events, flower arranging, poise and dancing for at least five years before being considered to become a geiko. Contrary to popular belief, geisha are not prostitutes, but rather highly skilled entertainers who provide companionship and conversation for an evening. Our maiko was seventeen and, as with tradition, lives with her agent that supports her during her apprenticeship.

We finished the day in the Gion district with it’s narrow streets and numerous tea houses and bars where geishas provide their services. A fascinating day.

Tomorrow we bullet train to Tokyo for our first two night stay before venturing further north.
SHRINES AND TEMPLES IN KYOTO
SHRINES AND TEMPLES IN KYOTO
SHRINES AND TEMPLES IN KYOTO
SHRINES AND TEMPLES IN KYOTO
SHRINES AND TEMPLES IN KYOTO
SHRINES AND TEMPLES IN KYOTO
SHRINES AND TEMPLES IN KYOTO
SHRINES AND TEMPLES IN KYOTO
ENTRANCE TO GOLDEN PAVILION PARK
ENTRANCE TO GOLDEN PAVILION PARK
BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS
BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS
BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS
BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS
g12/68/971468/3/170086424.SOOP4teK.jpg
g12/68/971468/3/170086425.bMwr0hcR.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086426.WZPWLvob.jpg GOLDEN PAVILION
GOLDEN PAVILION
GOLDEN PAVILION
GOLDEN PAVILION
GOLDEN PAVILION
GOLDEN PAVILION
g12/68/971468/3/170086430.PTrbnCzX.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086431.gqkpiB7N.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086432.jZSqulx6.jpg
GOLDEN PAVILION
GOLDEN PAVILION
KOI
KOI
GOLDEN PAVILION
GOLDEN PAVILION
COMMON CRANE
COMMON CRANE
g12/68/971468/3/170086437.lBLgUxxs.jpg A LOCAL HANGING OUT
A LOCAL HANGING OUT
DONATION ATTRACTION - TRY TO HIT THE BOWL WITH YOUR COIN
DONATION ATTRACTION - TRY TO HIT THE BOWL WITH YOUR COIN
g12/68/971468/3/170086440.alLV4jeg.jpg
GOLDEN PAVILION
GOLDEN PAVILION
g12/68/971468/3/170086442.rejKlM2h.jpg INCENSE IN FRONT OF SHRINE
INCENSE IN FRONT OF SHRINE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE NEAR GIOJI TEMPLE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE NEAR GIOJI TEMPLE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE NEAR GIOJI TEMPLE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE NEAR GIOJI TEMPLE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE NEAR GIOJI TEMPLE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE NEAR GIOJI TEMPLE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE NEAR GIOJI TEMPLE
BUDDHIST TEMPLE NEAR GIOJI TEMPLE
g12/68/971468/3/170086448.lN2OKIzP.jpg
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
BEAUTIFUL MOSS-COVERED GROUNDS OF GIOJI TEMPLE
GIOJI TEMPLE
GIOJI TEMPLE
GIOJI TEMPLE
GIOJI TEMPLE
GIOJI TEMPLE
GIOJI TEMPLE
CEMETERY ON GIOJI TEMPLE GROUNDS
CEMETERY ON GIOJI TEMPLE GROUNDS
CEMETERY ON GIOJI TEMPLE GROUNDS
CEMETERY ON GIOJI TEMPLE GROUNDS
g12/68/971468/3/170086460.JXP1MndR.jpg A TRADITIONAL KAISEKI DINNER
A TRADITIONAL KAISEKI DINNER
g12/68/971468/3/170086462.uBq05Ezf.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086463.gTbjvyi4.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086464.GWDPNKDZ.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086478.pgaOZ75p.jpg
A MAIKO DISPLAYING HER SKILLS
A MAIKO DISPLAYING HER SKILLS
g12/68/971468/3/170086466.bZULvxrg.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086467.3D14BTcE.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086468.J0AtpKTy.jpg
g12/68/971468/3/170086469.xxueq1Fu.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086470.giHyuDiT.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086471.LF5irD5v.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086472.a6dkU45h.jpg
g12/68/971468/3/170086473.PB1zudDZ.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086474.x6NFofyT.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086475.exj4o4EJ.jpg g12/68/971468/3/170086476.wIuKIgMH.jpg
g12/68/971468/3/170086477.Am6JsKbY.jpg PROPER BEHAVIOR IN THE GION AREA
PROPER BEHAVIOR IN THE GION AREA
GEISHA HOUSE
GEISHA HOUSE
GION STREET SCENES
GION STREET SCENES
GION STREET SCENES
GION STREET SCENES
GION STREET SCENES
GION STREET SCENES
GION STREET SCENES
GION STREET SCENES
KYOTO TOWER - 131 M HIGH ON TOP OF NINE STORY BUILDING
KYOTO TOWER - 131 M HIGH ON TOP OF NINE STORY BUILDING