Kyoto

We were sad to leave Tokyo but our next four days in Kyoto were very interesting and gave us real insight into traditional Japanese culture.  We visited many shrines and did a lot of hiking which we always enjoy!

Our "city view" for our room at the Four Seasons in Kyoto.  Little disappointing!

The hotel had a geisha perform evening.

She stopped by our table as we were eating dinner.  She was so cute!

More ramen for K

Wagyu steak for me.  Not so great.

The outdoor dining area at the hotel was really peaceful and lovely.

There were people in waders every morning cleaning out the pond.

The hotel had interesting flower arrangements.

We loved the Arashiyoma Bamboo Forest.  Although it was very crowded, it was so lovely and peaceful.

Our next stop was the Iwatayama Monkey Park.  It was an enjoyable hike up a hill to the 100 Japanese Macaques.  

You go inside this structure to feed the monkeys who are on the outside.

View of Kyoto from the park.

Our next stop was the Golden Temple.  The top two floors of the temple are covered in gold leaf and there is a zephyr on the top.  It was my favorite.

The Shimogamo shrine was really nice because it was not crowded.  There is a beauty shrine where when you pay 800 yen and then take a wooden paddle of a face and put make up on it to resemble how you would like to look.  We couldn't figure out how it worked so we are looking the same as usual.

Sweet Ayano was helping us even when she wasn't with us.  She booked a table at AWOMB.  It was a set price, fixed menu.  The food was good.  We were not sure what all we were eating but it was so yummy and artfully presented.  

K hanging out in our hotel room.  The room really was lovely!

They put a rock outside of your room if they were servicing the room.

On our last day we visited the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine.  I loved this shrine.  There are many statues of foxed who are messengers to god.  This was originally a shire to the god of rice but is now a shrine to the god of business.  

There are over 10,000 vermillion Inari Tori that lead up to the top of Fushimi.  They date from 711 AD.  

The higher up the mountain the less crowded it became.

Would love to know what this sign says.

After our long hike we headed to the Nishiki Market for a late lunch.

There was lots of good shopping in the area around the market.

Our final dinner was quite an experience.  So much fun and we enjoyed our ramen!

Flower arrangement on the room service table.

So sad to be leaving Kyoto.  I even think the signs in the train station were pretty.  The train station had lots of great food options and of course was so clean!

Back home.  Bert eating the treat that Ayano's cat sent him.  Such a fun trip!!!