Day 7 FFSAC Tour, WTRD 45 of 49, October 18, 2017

Last Day in Kyoto 

We have seen and experienced so many beautiful gardens and shrines, it would be difficult to top what we have already seen.  Would we something more wonderful?

This morning we joined our tour guide for the last time.  We made two stops, one to the Heian Shrine and Gardens, and to the Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts before being let loose on the city by ourselves.

Heian Shrine and Gardens

The Shrine was quite striking and what made it more appealing was that a ceremony was in progress of a graduating Ikebana Flower Arranging Class.  On the 18th of every month at this particular shrine, donations are honored in a high ritual.  This month Ikebana flower arrangements are being donated and the donors are being honored.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take photos, but it was quite a respectful ceremony.  The audience comprised of flower arranging graduates, and their families may have been about 75-80 people on the central floor of the shirne.  All were dressed in suits for men and subdued hues of kimonos for the women.  The priests came out and waved their wands and do the same sort of things a Catholic priest does at high mass.  Here are some photos of he Shrine.

Friendship Force of Sacramento in Front of the Gate to Heian Shrine

Russ purifying himself before entering the shrine.

Mom bring sons to shrine - Ikebana Service?

After visiting the shrine, we entered the garden for a stroll.  It was lovely, but not as lovely as yesterday's garden.

Japanese Gardeners picking off the dead needles of the Red Pine and shaping the tree.

Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts

 

 This museum was extremely interesting.  There were live and video demonstrations of how block printing, caligraphy, string art, tatami bamboo mats, weaving, brocade, jewelry etc. were produced.  Unfortunately, no photographs were allowed.  But here are some images from the Internet of the museum if you are interested.

After we said goodbye to our guide, we divided ourselves into slow, medium, and super stride walkers to get back to our hotel, about 2.5 miles away.  Joanna, Russ, and I were in the super striders, although I think we got back later than the rest because of the interesting route we took that wound through the city,

Young ladies in rental kimonos near the Geisha district

back through the Geisha district along the streams, seeing some maiko (Geisha's in training),

finding an interesting place for lunch, and finally going up into the Kyoto Tower.

Bullet Train Leaves the Kyoto Station.

These young boys were playing football in our hotel lobby and having a great time while we sipped our beer and wine.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's, our last night in Kyoto.