Kyoto
Most of the travellers I spoke to whilst in Tokyo seemed adamant that I should visit Kyoto, and as I'd already spent a couple of days in Tokyo, I figured I might as well check it out. So, I hopped on a night bus and found myself in Kyoto the next morning, in time to witness a beautiful (but cold!) sunrise. I spent a couple of days soaking up the sights of Kyoto - there were lots of temples to see, but I found myself getting a bit 'templed out' so spent time wandering instead...
Sunrise at Kyoto Station
A tiny shrine on the roadside
The entrance to Kinkakuji Temple
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). How absolutely gorgeous is this?!?
Kinkakuji was built as a residence for a shogun, but was converted to a zen temple after his death in 1408
Part of the surrounding gardens
The red carpet of fallen Japanese maple leaves
A fiery red japanese maple in the carpark of Ryoanji Temple
The lake in the grounds of Ryoanji Temple (Temple of the peaceful dragon)
Another pretty maple
The famous zen garden at the temple. The garden consists of raked gravel and fifteen boulders, which are placed so that, when looking at the garden from any angle other than from above, only fourteen of the boulders are visible at one time. It is said that only through attaining enlightenment would one be able to view the fifteenth boulder.
DIY Zen anyone?
Funky moss
Look at the pretty colours! (I took sooo many photos of the trees - I couldn't help myself... I'll try not to post much more of them.)
Buddha in the bushes
Some women in kimono
Katina & I at Higashi Honganji. Katina was a lovely Aussie girl I met in Tokyo and caught up with again in Kyoto :)
Beware the dragon!
More of Higashi Honganji temple
Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - part of which is Kyoto Imperial Palace
Shodaibunoma - waiting rooms for dignitaries visiting the palace. They had 3 different rooms, according to the rank of the visitors
The Prince's bedroom
The Royal gardens
Kogosho - a ceremonial hall
Another room, but this time with coloured screens!
Funky sign for all you pill poppers out there!
I totally didn't expect to come across an Indian restaurant at all, let alone a South Indian tamil restaurant, complete with a poster of a Rajani movie!
Narrow roads eh?
With pretty tight parking spots too...
Katina and I stumbled across this random temple on our travel through Gion, whilst on the hunt for Giesha
Kyoto Tower with the bus part of Kyoto station in the foreground
The giant Christmas tree in the station
Looking down into Kyoto station. It's amazingly huge - at least 4 flights of escalators to get to street level from the metro!
A walkway in the station - the station was full of really cool architecture
And before I hopped on the bus back to Tokyo, I had a green tea ice cream to refresh me :)
Sunrise at Kyoto Station
A tiny shrine on the roadside
The entrance to Kinkakuji Temple
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). How absolutely gorgeous is this?!?
Kinkakuji was built as a residence for a shogun, but was converted to a zen temple after his death in 1408
Part of the surrounding gardens
The red carpet of fallen Japanese maple leaves
A fiery red japanese maple in the carpark of Ryoanji Temple
The lake in the grounds of Ryoanji Temple (Temple of the peaceful dragon)
Another pretty maple
The famous zen garden at the temple. The garden consists of raked gravel and fifteen boulders, which are placed so that, when looking at the garden from any angle other than from above, only fourteen of the boulders are visible at one time. It is said that only through attaining enlightenment would one be able to view the fifteenth boulder.
DIY Zen anyone?
Funky moss
Look at the pretty colours! (I took sooo many photos of the trees - I couldn't help myself... I'll try not to post much more of them.)
Buddha in the bushes
Some women in kimono
Katina & I at Higashi Honganji. Katina was a lovely Aussie girl I met in Tokyo and caught up with again in Kyoto :)
Beware the dragon!
More of Higashi Honganji temple
KYOTO IMPERIAL PALACE
Kyoto Gyoen National Garden - part of which is Kyoto Imperial Palace
Shodaibunoma - waiting rooms for dignitaries visiting the palace. They had 3 different rooms, according to the rank of the visitors
The Prince's bedroom
The Royal gardens
Kogosho - a ceremonial hall
Another room, but this time with coloured screens!
Funky sign for all you pill poppers out there!
I totally didn't expect to come across an Indian restaurant at all, let alone a South Indian tamil restaurant, complete with a poster of a Rajani movie!
Narrow roads eh?
With pretty tight parking spots too...
Katina and I stumbled across this random temple on our travel through Gion, whilst on the hunt for Giesha
Kyoto Tower with the bus part of Kyoto station in the foreground
The giant Christmas tree in the station
Looking down into Kyoto station. It's amazingly huge - at least 4 flights of escalators to get to street level from the metro!
A walkway in the station - the station was full of really cool architecture
And before I hopped on the bus back to Tokyo, I had a green tea ice cream to refresh me :)posted by Nivi at
2:52 am
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