A little more Japanese culture?

Today we are in Kyoto. Now I know we visited in 2019 but we saw so many things quickly that my brain has jumbled them. How about you, do you remember. Well this may be something new and perhaps a revision of some old. We will remember it this time…won’t we.

First stop : The Golden Pavilion. Magnificent gardens lead you to  a pavilion that is almost completely surrounded by water. In itself, that was enough. Someone decided that being gold would create beautiful reflections in the lake. The pavilion was coated in gold leaf. It is beautiful but on a cloudy day, it just looks yellow. What do you think?

Within the gardens are traditional pavilions and a 600 year old pine tree. These pavilions were used by a family as their home until the late 1300’s when a shogun acquired it for entertaining dignitaries . 

Stop2: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. If it wasn’t so crowded, Sunday not being the best day to visit popular tourist attractions, this would be such an amazing place. Bamboo trunks line the path and soar above you creating a cool green tunnel. It is truly calming ……shame about all those pesky tourists….not you and I of course. From here you can walk back by the river to enjoy two other very important Japanese pursuits: food and shopping.   

Stop 3: Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine .

This is a Shinto shrine. It is really made up of a series of small shrines with a two main areas. The first is soon after you enter the first two Tori gates. Two fox statues flank either side.of the shrine. These are considered to bring good luck and fortunes. From here you enter a tunnel of Tori gates. These start out being very tall with thick columns and then gradually the columns become smaller and thinner. For a massive donation, your company name can be put on column so everyone can see your generosity

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If you ignore this fact , you can enjoy the experience of following the tunnel. Another  tunnel travels up the mountain to the last shrine at the top.
 

Traditional city houses in Japan were long and thin. In fact they were the width of two sliding doors. Taxes were paid on the width of your house.Development has seen most of these swallowed up by high rise. I spotted these from the bus.

Now I hope you have been following this etiquette ( spotted outside the toilets in a popular bus parking area).

Are you excited or scared? We are going to negotiate the subway system in Osaka, seek out street food and find the Osaka castle with only a map app tomorrow. I am sure it will be a scenic adventure. Some other members of the group are taking the risk with us. I hope you will come too.