Kyoto On Our Own

Today, though we have started the Self-Guided Nakasendo Trail Trip, we had Kyoto on our own.  The day started out raining and continued until about noon.  We enjoyed a hardy, Western style breakfast, featuring freshly grilled ham cut from an entire leg.  We enjoyed scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit and yoghurt, rolls and cafe au lait.  

We left the hotel, caught a bus, bought an all-day bus pass and rode to the train station, the major hub for most bus routes.  Actually, the pass is bought from the driver when exiting the bus.  We walked two blocks to Yodobashi, a famous and very large electronics store.  It has 7 floors, but after a few minutes on the first floor Betsy was worn out.  It was okay because everything was in Japanese and I wasn't going to buy anything anyway.  I did scope out my next camera, possibly.  The camera's menus were in Japanese, of course.

We next caught another bus and rode to near the Nishiki Food Market.  This a covered street with a dizzying array of produce, fish, and prepared (on-site) foods.  The market extends about 6 blocks and leads right into a small temple.  

A happy cracker maker

Rubbing the cow for luck

We turned left passing through a shopping arcade.  We bought some interesting sesame crackers we saw being made.  We ate them all during our tea break.

We next walked to the Nijo-jo Castle, home of the Tokugawa Shoguns, when they visited Kyoto.  The Tokugawa reign lasted for over 400 years, is credited for unifying Japan and was the longest period of time of peace in the country.  There were 15 shoguns during the reign.  Interestingly, the Tokugawa Family went died away.  The castle has two large structures and several gardens.  We enjoyed the tour inside the residence, walking in bare feet on the squeaky floor boards (purposeful to warn of people in the house).  We saw the various bare rooms (tatami mats and sliding panels) where the lords meet with the shogun and where commoners waited for an audience.  The walls and ceiling in the ceremonial rooms were painted with pine trees, ducks, ponds, tigers, clouds, etc., but the private rooms were simpler in decoration.  We walked around the gardens which included a pond with islands, rocks, moss and sculpted pine, cedar and cypress trees along with lots of flowering trees.  

While in the castle, we were approached 3 times by elementary school students who were practicing their English language skills.  They asked a number of questions, ending up with a request for a signature.  They thanked us and gave us orgami figures.  They were excited when they found out we were from America.  They all wore yellow caps.  

We left the castle and caught a bus to the Heian Shrine (shrines are Shinto; temples are Buddhist) area.  We made a quick stop in the handicraft center, which has great handmade jewelry, samuri swords and costumes, and wood block prints.  We then proceeded along another of Kyoto's recommended walks, that took us past many temples, cultural sights, and tourist shops.  We were on the east side of the city, at foothills with some ups and downs.  We made it back to the hotel, foot weary.

We passed a musical busker playig for the tourists with a tolerant dog, note the hat.

We had dinner of salads and various skewers cooked over charcoal at a restaurant on the 10th floor of the train station.  We had hoped to ride the bus to the station but had to walk since every bus that came by the stop at the hotel was jam-packed.  Though we were able to ride the bus back to the hotel.

At the hotel, we packed our packs and delivered our suitcase to the front desk for forwarding to our accommodation two nights from now.  We will see the bags that night and then will send them on again to Tokyo.  We are switching into hiking mode.