Kyoto was Japan's capital for 1,000 years and truly where Old Japan and Modern Japan collide. We spent two days in Kyoto at an adorable Ryokan next to the Imperial Palace Grounds.
 |
| Imperial Palace Grounds |
Our first night in Kyoto we headed to Gion, the Geisha district, to attend a tea ceremony at En and learn more about the art of tea in Japan. The young lady who performed the ceremony was so kind and informative and the experience was amazing. We were able to ask questions about all the different kinds of tea ceremonies. I was even asked to participate one on one with her in the tea ceremony while everyone else watched. It was so exciting! We all then learned to make our own tea which my sister and I brought home with us complete with bamboo tea whisk.
 |
| Our Hostess at En for a Tea Ceremony |
 |
| Gion |
Over the next day we explored the city, visiting the Kiyomizu-dera, which is this amazing mountainside temple hanging over a cliff, complete with bright orange pagoda, lovers' stones, which if you can walk from one to the other with your eyes closed, means you will find your true love and the ability to drink water from the mountainside waterfall, which it is believed will bring you prosperity, health and longevity; the Sento Imperial Palace Grounds, 22 acres of gardens and buildings which house the palace when Kyoto was the capital of Japan; Chion-in, Tenryu-ji, and more temples; and the best Gyoza we had at a hole in the wall after trekking around the city and getting caught in a rain storm.
 |
| Dan and I at the Lover's Stone. |
 |
| Pagoda Tower |
 |
| View of Kiyomizu-dera from the Pagoda. |
Kyoto was amazing and the city has so much to offer while still paying homage to the city's traditional roots. After Kyoto we were off to Mount Fuji.
No comments :
Post a Comment