the fumari inari shrine, southern higashiyama and gion
2 Jul 2015
Do you ever have one of those days when you're travelling when you bite off more than you can chew? Well the day I visited Southern Higashiyama was one of those days.
I started the day with an early morning trip to the Fumari Inari Shrine with it's thousands of vermilion coloured tori gates.
Then I decided to go on an ambitious walking tour that tested out my poor feet no end.
I started the trip at the Kyoto Railway Station which is right next door to the Sky Tower.
I walked from Kyoto Station to Sanjusangendo but got hideously lost along the way so I started the walk a little later than planned.
This is a very popular temple so it was very crowded inside. Unfortunately you're not able to take photos of the golden kannons and even if allowed I couldn't get close enough due to the crowds. Instead here's a photo of the very impressive doors. I bypassed the Kyoto Museum in favour of a visit to Kawai Kanjiro's House, which is tucked away down a little side street.
Kawai Kanjiro was a famous Japanese potter and his home has been turned into a museum. Visiting the house gave me a chance to look inside a traditional Kyoto house.
The next part of the walk was hot, dry and dusty and I was starting to regret my choice of walk. I climbed up a steep hill to the Kiyomizu Temple, one of the hectic brightly coloured temples.
Then I walked back down the hill through the crowded streets of Sannenzaka.
I was looking for the Kodaiji Temple but couldn't find it, even though I was standing right outside it. That's what happens when you're tired. I walked back to Gion, retraced my steps and ended up right back where I'd started!
The Kodaiji Temple is famous for it's gardens.
The temple is set around a lake and it has it's own bamboo grove.
Once again I'm sure this garden would be spectacular during autumn.
From there I limped to the Gion district where I found this kitchen shop tucked away in the back streets.
I also found some goldfish,
and a much loved and very well fed cat but unfortunately no geisha.
See you all again next week with the next Plate 2 Plate post. Juliana and I are making a dish I've never heard of, seen or eaten before so that will be something of a challenge.
Bye for now,
Jillian
I started the day with an early morning trip to the Fumari Inari Shrine with it's thousands of vermilion coloured tori gates.
Then I decided to go on an ambitious walking tour that tested out my poor feet no end.
I started the trip at the Kyoto Railway Station which is right next door to the Sky Tower.
I walked from Kyoto Station to Sanjusangendo but got hideously lost along the way so I started the walk a little later than planned.
This is a very popular temple so it was very crowded inside. Unfortunately you're not able to take photos of the golden kannons and even if allowed I couldn't get close enough due to the crowds. Instead here's a photo of the very impressive doors. I bypassed the Kyoto Museum in favour of a visit to Kawai Kanjiro's House, which is tucked away down a little side street.
Kawai Kanjiro was a famous Japanese potter and his home has been turned into a museum. Visiting the house gave me a chance to look inside a traditional Kyoto house.
The next part of the walk was hot, dry and dusty and I was starting to regret my choice of walk. I climbed up a steep hill to the Kiyomizu Temple, one of the hectic brightly coloured temples.
Then I walked back down the hill through the crowded streets of Sannenzaka.
I was looking for the Kodaiji Temple but couldn't find it, even though I was standing right outside it. That's what happens when you're tired. I walked back to Gion, retraced my steps and ended up right back where I'd started!
The Kodaiji Temple is famous for it's gardens.
The temple is set around a lake and it has it's own bamboo grove.
Once again I'm sure this garden would be spectacular during autumn.
From there I limped to the Gion district where I found this kitchen shop tucked away in the back streets.
I also found some goldfish,
and a much loved and very well fed cat but unfortunately no geisha.
See you all again next week with the next Plate 2 Plate post. Juliana and I are making a dish I've never heard of, seen or eaten before so that will be something of a challenge.
Bye for now,
Jillian