Odd sort of a day today. It was supposed to be a full day
walking tour of Kyoto but the itinerary seemed very “flexible” once we started.
We began by catching the Number 12 bus to Nijo Castle, which was better than I
expected. I would have liked to have spent more time there and indeed had
planned to go there tomorrow and spend most of the day there. As ever the rain
kept starting and stopping in torrents and that curtailed our “plans” as we
only visited the main castle and not the adjoining palace.
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| Nijo Castle |
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| Nijo Castle |
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| Gate to Nijo Castle |
We took a lovely walk along the canal lined with willow and
expensive houses to the tube station. Then we took a “tube” from Nijo Station
to the Higashijama area where once again it started raining. We started at the
Yasaka Shinto Shrine and then Chion-in Buddhist Shrine before strolling down
Shijo-Dori for lunch.
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| Yasaka Shinto Shrine |
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| Yasaka Shinto Shrine |
We then all met up again at Yasaka Shrine for a lovely
walk through Eastern Gion and the Higashiyama along the lanes of Sannenzaka and
Ninenzaka up the long steep hill to Kiyomizu Temple. This is an absolutely
amazing place bit too crowded for me, although Jarrod, our tour leader told us
later this was the quietest he’d ever seen it!
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| Kiyomizu-dera Temple |
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| Kiyomizu-dera Temple |
At Kiyomizu-dera the rain started again so half the group
decided to head back to the hotel whilst myself, Gary, Iris, Chris, Peter,
Nicky, David and Sherry along with Jarrod caught the number 5 bus to the Arts
and Crafts centre for some shopping. I didn’t buy anything but the others
bought loads.
This evening we went to another Izakaya restaurant like the
first night. This time I ate really well and have come back to the hotel very
full.
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