Kyoto

After arriving in Kyoto, we quickly realized that this city is jam packed with historic monuments and temples. In fact, there are 17 UNESCO world heritage sites in and around the area. One could easily spend weeks here and still not see them all. Some of the areas we saw included Arashiyama/Sagano, Gion, and Higashiyama. After a few days of exploring, we found Kyoto to be very enriching with its historical sights and beautiful gardens to explore. However, Kyoto is also a modern city with all the conveniences of good public transport, fun shopping, and great restaurants. The best of both worlds!

Practically all of the sights and areas of the city can be reached by bus, so that was our main mode of transportation. This was a bit of a departure from all the subway cities we've been to, but once we figured out the routes, it worked out great. Two of our favorite sights were Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) and Nijo Castle. Kinkaku-ji was originally built in 1397 and its top two stories are covered in pure gold leaf. Nijo Castle was a little more understated, but it was surrounded by a beautiful tranquil park that we enjoyed just wandering in. In Gion, we went out geisha spotting and we were successful on a couple of occasions! The culture and history of Japan combined with the modern 21st century age is truly a sight to behold.

Kinkakuji, formerly known as Ryonanji, also known as The Golden Temple:




Tossing coins:


Shijo-dori, a busy shopping street:


View from near the Arashiyama area:


Bamboo Forrest:


Hmmm:


Kyoto Tower:


Bus ride:


A pond by Nijo Castle:


View from Kiyomizudera Temple:


Ryozen Kannon:


Someone's house that we walked by:


Ichiro:


Toji Temple: