Kyoto

Today we leave Hiroshima for Kyoto.  All the hotels are comfortable.  Breakfasts vary and the rooms are small. The language continues to be a barrier as hardly anyone speaks any English.  We learned from JSook our tour guide, that the children learn English but concentrate on grammar not spoken just so they can write their exams to get into University.  Very little English written anywhere.  The google translate app is very handy.

Kyoto

You first have to cleanse yourself at the entrance to the shrine by washing your hands and mouth prior to entering.



Arriving at Fushimi Imari Shrine in southern Kyoto.  

There are thousands of vermillion Torii gates which straddle a network of trails behind the main buildings.  Beautiful forest.  Very peaceful (except for the thousands of people!)

Our group.



Zen Temple has gold leaf-covered floors on the top two floors.

Ringing the bell to have my wish granted.

Three ladies in our group opted for kimonos… what fun!  Lots of people did this.  You could rent them or buy them.

Matcha Ice Cream

We then head to the Arashiyama bamboo forest.  So much bamboo.

This is Togetsu Bashi Bridge.  It’s over 1000 years old.

I have to talk about the toilets…these are amazing.  Heated seats, you can add music, automatic flush.  They have a special little seat so if you have a toddler with you, you have a safe place to put them while you use the toilet.  As you can see here there is also a child’s seat if needed.  These washrooms are always clean and available everywhere!  I’ve never been anywhere that is so well equipped with washrooms.



This is the control panel!  It’s all in Japanese so I was afraid to push anything.  Might be an ejection button :)