Himeji

The famous Himeji castle. It looks like a palace but was really a military fort.

Day 6 Kyoto

Gates, main hall, and stroll garden.

Imperial Palace, not used since about 1870, when the capital was moved to Tokyo.

Kyoto day 5

Bun Raku is puppet theater. Each puppet is controlled by 3 men. You apprentice for at least 10 years before you're good enough to control the head/right hand.

Maiko (apprentice geisha) go to work at 5:00 pm. They have dinner with clients, perform dance, music, etc. One was kind enough to pose for a photo with me.






Free day today, no tours planned. I walked around taking pictures of neighborhoods.

Day 4 Kyoto East

It rained all day, sometimes medium-heavy. Went to several places. Having trouble absorbing it all. So much. So beautiful. Lunch and dinner today were local specialties. Everything is impossibly clean here. Try to spot a piece of litter.

Day 3 Kyoto

Golden Pavillion.

Most famous dry (Zen) garden.

Giant bamboo forest.

The gardens are so interesting. Not just the public (tourist attraction) gardens, but the little gardens in front of people's houses and behind shops.

Day 2 Kyoto

Fox Rice Shrine

10,000 Torii gates up the mountain path

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Food

Food is always visually pleasing. Serving bowls are never full.

Day 1 Kyoto

First full day in Kyoto. Went to an 800 year-old temple. There are still monks there who teach meditation, calligraphy, etc.