Day 6, FFSAC Tour, WTRD 44, October 17, 2017

KyotoDay 6, FFSAC Tour, 

WTRD 44, October 17, 2017

The rain let up by 10:00 am this morning, so while we carried our umbrellas we really did not have to use them much today.  We walked most of the day through gardens and groves.  Every step of the way there was a beautiful photo opportunity.

Tenryuji Temple/Sogenchi Gardens

The World Heritage site and gardens are immediately adjacent to the Tenryuji Temple.  The clouds were lifting from the mountains, the trees and shrubs, glistened from the morning rain, and the fall colors flared amongst the evergreens. 

We did not go into the temple.  Our focus was on the Gawa River, 

gardens, (a tribute to Japanese gardening and pruning)

and statuary.  

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

From the gardens, we strolled into the Bamboo forest.

Arashiyama Station and Kimono Forest.  

The kimono forest is in the small train station. The grove is comprised of 600 kyoyusen kimono printed silks wrapped around illuminated plastic poles. No two kimono fabrics were the same.

Just down from the Kimono Forest, Russ found a a craft store, and of course we had to buy a few things for our Grands!

Lunch
Lunch today was buffet style.  The food was excellent and filling.  After a one hour rest, we boarded the bus and were on our way by 1:45.

Nishiki Market

Originally a market of high end foods and ingredients of professional chefs, this market is now more for locals and tourists with dried fish, pickled goods, souvenirs, takeout foods.

Pickled Cucumbers

Slice turnips in lemon juice

Gion - Kyoto Geisha District

The Geisha district in Kyoto is similar in appearance to the one in Kanzawa with the exception of the picturesque stream that winds its way through the streets.

Tourists make their way through the district by walking, rickshaws, 

and fancy cars.

Another difference we noticed here was that this district really harkens to a looser side of Japanese refined culture.  While the Geisha are artistic performers, the party goers have exhibited behaviors of drunkenly urinating on building walls, requiring screening measures to prevent the urine from permeating the wood of the building.  We also noticed a little trash, cigarette butts on the street.  

Geisha Party Houses

Licensing Credentials & Indication of Adult and Adolescent Geisha

We have one day left in Kyoto tomorrow, but we have certainly seen the highlights and have enjoyed our time here.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's in Kyoto

Day 5 FFSAC Tour, WTRD 43 of 49, October 16, 2017

Nara, Ancient Capital of Japan,  

Another grey and rainy day greeted us this morning.  The temperature is cooler.  It would be tempting to stay warm and cozy with a book and a cup of tea.   Hopefully, that is what one of our ailing members will take advantage of today, and we will be back at full strength tomorrow.  In the mean time, the rest of us are on the bus heading from Kyoto to Nara. The trip should take about an hour.  Nara was the capital before the Shogunates from 710-794 CE.during the reign of Emperor Shomu.

Todaiji Temple

When we arrived at the Temple we were met by hundreds of deer that are fed rice cakes by tourists and worshippers.  

The deer hang out by the rice cake kiosk, and aggressively approach visitors like the monkeys do in south east Asia. 

Some of the male deer try to establish their territory and butt heads despite the fact that their horns have been nipped off. I took a photo of this one male, 

and he walked around behind me and put his head down like he was going to butt, but I moved my butt quickly out of the way.

The temple was built during the reign of Emperor Shomu (r 724-749) and was officially positioned as one of many state-established provincial temples.  Todaiji Temple represents “Buddha that shines throughout the world like a sun.” and is magnificently built with grandeur to match the significance of the Buddha.

Note the size of people in the massive doorways.

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Russ looks very small compared to these doors.

Note the size of Buddah's Nostrils - Largest bronzed Buddah in the world.

The Great Buddha hall was burned in the fires of war in 1180 and 1567. 

Part of the fun of this temple is to crawl through a hole

in a pillar the size of Buddha's Nostril.

The currently building is a third generation structure, which was built in the Edo period.  The width of the current building is approximately 33% smaller than that of

the original structure, but it still ranks as the largest wooden structure in the world.














Inside the temple, one can write hopes and prayers on a wooden ornament.  Friendship Force Sacramento send these wishes your way.

We liked this one, too.

Nara Park and Kasuga Taisha Shrine

The trails and steps to the shrine are lined with stone pillared lanterns.  Worshipper-donners buy candles for 3,000 yen and place their candle inside the stone lantern and cover the holes with prayer paper.  They are lit twice a year, once in early February, and one in mid August.  The shrine was built in 768 CE and is Nara's most celebrated.  It is UNESCO World Heritage Site as it has over 3,000 stone lanterns plus metal lanterns.

Zen dry garden

We returned to Kyoto and our hotel by 1:00 pm, took an hour of rest, and was out the door to do some more exploring, accompanied by when of our fellow Friendship Force Member, Andy N.


Yodobashi Camera Store was our first stop where we mostly look-see shopped.  The Buddhist monks were checking out the head shaving equipment. We were on the hunt for a rubber tip for my umbrella, luggage strap, and Andy was searching for a light-weight inexpensive duffle and some chopsticks.

We think the scaffolding is permanent, sliding window washing apparatus.

Inside the train station reaching up to the sky deck,  there is a massive set of stairs that have over 15,000

LED lights on the steps that can be programmed for light shows and serves as a background

for performing artists.

All is well with the Worrall Travel Rs in Kyoto, 

having fun and walking in the rain!