On the road to.......Kyoto!

It all started at 5:30 this morning with Nick waking everyone......Georgia said is was his snoring that woke her up, but it really was the alarm.   We headed off about 6:20am to Tokyo station to catch an early train to Kyoto - this we did.   The morning was clear but not that cold.  Fuji-san was again spectacular from the train.   After some simple nourishment from the cart lady on the train we arrived at Kyoto at about 10 to 10 (actually it was exactly 9:48am........you know how precise these train schedules are!)

Our plan of attack was to hop on a bus to Kyomizudera - a temple in the north east that we had not seen before.    The new Kyoto station is huge, ultra modern and spectacular.   Within a few minutes we were on the bus (well a bus.......) heading to the north of the city.   Fortunately it was the bus and we arrived at the foot of the hills in about 15 minutes.   The narrow street heading up to the temple is filled with little food and souvenir shops.  It is quite pretty really.  Along with the hordes we headed up the hill, resisting the temptations before us - they could wait until we headed down again.

Kyomizudera is beautiful - perched high on a hill overlooking the city.  There actually several Buddhist temples in the precinct.   We spent a lovely couple of hours here admiring the sights -the photos will tell the story.   The weather started fine but clouded over mid morning and got very cold - fortunately at the end of the temple tour there is a soba noodle shop right there  when you need it.  So for about 20 minutes we sat in the warmth and slurped out noodles - they were delicious and very comforting.

Well as promised we shopped all our way down the hill.  Nick was given the job of finding the train station so that we could head off to the Kyoto Handi-Craft Centre (which he did with skill and aplomb).   A quick ride on the train and about a 15 minute walk found us at 7 floors of shopping heaven.   We spent like drunken sailors on shore leave......................

Some of the things we bought were so big, expensive and impressive that they had to be sent by special plane back to Australia.  Thank heavens for credit cards eh?  We spent an eternity going through each floor selecting baubles and trinkets at will.  Nothing was too good for us - well except for the Satsuma plates and vases - they were about $10,000 each - spectacular though!

With bags laden and arms lengthened from the weight we toddled off to find the Path of Philosophy.  Once again Nick was commissioned to find the Path - which he did particularly well again.    20 minutes on the Path and we were all as wise as can be..........................the Path leads all the way up to Ginkakuji the so-called "silver pavilion" which isn't silver at all.   The pavilion itself was covered in scaffold undergoing repairs, but this didn't matter the gardens and the grounds are the real show stoppers.  We spent a leisurely hour wandering throught he magnificent grounds.

By now it was well after 4pm so we headed down to the taxi rank and plonked ourselves into 2 taxis for the fairly short ride back to Kyoto Station.    At the station we bought 27 bentos and drinks for the long train ride home - these we devoured with gusto having not eaten that much during the day and walked quite a long way.

By 6 we were on the train and by 9:30 we were back at our hotel - tired but much enriched from an incredibly beautiful and peaceful day with a dose of Philosophy as well.