Frank and Robyn Visit Japan in 2014

Wednesday, 23 April 2014

Tempting temples and gorgeous gardens

We are picked up by our loyal guide, Kenzo, who takes us to the Chio-In temple with its aqueduct and then on to the Eikando Zenrin-Ji Temple. Zen Buddhism requires a lot of sitting around and emptying one's mind, which seems to describe my current occupation very well. Then it is a walk along the Philosopher's Path to the gorgeous Silver Temple and gardens. We then break for lunch for an even more gorgeous bowl of Ramen and then by bus to the Gion district where we spy an elusive geisha commuting home from work. Dinner tonight at our humble lodgings is Tempura.

Chio_In Temple

Aqueduct

Eikando Zenrin-Ji Temple

Silver Temple

Lunch at Macramen

Geisha and Zen Monk

Tuesday, 22 April 2014

A Day with the Kyotians

By taxi to to the Toji market held only on the 21 st of each month. Full of bric and brac, unrecognisable foodstuffs, goldfish, food stalls, pottery treasures etc etc, all over about 2 acres of temple property. Lunch of ramen at the futuristic Kyoto station and then to the textile centre to stock up on yukatas.
By train to the Inari temple, bad luck if you don't like torri as there are about 5000!-we complete 3 hour walk and then back to the ryokan for shabu-shabu.

Toji Market

Prize for identifying mystery vegetable

Tokoyaki man

Temple Garden

Kyoto Station

Ramen ordering machine

Ramen

Gyoza

Inari Temple

Shabu-shabu, hubba-hubba

Monday, 21 April 2014

Miyajima to Kyoto

Since staying in ryokans I have developed a number of body changes including heavily calloused forehead from hitting head on doorway entrances and grossly disfigured feet from trying to fit size 13s into size 5 slippers.
Cornflakes for breakfast and then by ferry, train, shinkansen and taxi to the Yoshikawa Ryokan in Kyoto-well known for the number of cups of tea served per hour. Wander around downtown Kyoto and then a bath. Dinner is served in our own private room by a geisha who spends much of her time bowing at us but cannot speak English.