Travel

[World Traveler]

Monday, April 2

After checking out Fushimi Inari Shrine, we found a place for lunch.

Very good!

The five red monkeys are supposed to ward off bad spirits.

Don’t know what this says, but love the lettering.

Street vendor.

[World Traveler]

Monday, April 2

We drove out to the distinctive city of Nara, which was the capital of Japan before Kyoto. We visited Kasuga Shinto Shrine, which dates back to 768 AD. We strolled along the shrine’s wooded paths, enjoying the 3,000 stone lanterns.

Love the colorful kimono.

[World Traveler]

Monday, April 2

While in Nara, we also visited the Todaiji Temple. When you first approach the temple’s Daibutsu-den Hall, you will first be impressed by its massive size, as it is the largest wooden building in the world. It is also one of the major historic temples in Japan and contains valuable artifacts.The Daibutsu, an impressive 52-foot Buddha statue, fills the building with its presence. 

A charming feature of the surrounding park area is the tame, free-roaming deer, which are traditionally regarded as the messengers of the Shinto god Kasuga.

[Justice4all]

Your report is magnificent!  

[World Traveler]

I see the light at the end of the tunnel! Only a couple of more days in Japan, and then I head home and back to work.

Tuesday, April 3

Today was the most walking we have done in any single day. We were on our feet a lot, being dropped off by the bus around 9:00am and not being picked up until around 3:30. One of the gals decided to stay in Kyoto because of all the walking we were told we’d be doing, and it was the warmest day so far....79. We climbed straight up the side of a mountain that had 200 steps and went wandering around a bamboo forest before calling it quits for the day. I will sleep well tonight!

After breakfast we headed for Senkoji Temple. At this 400 year old temple, we had a chance to practice Zen meditation. But first we had to get to the mountain. Waiting for us at the base of the mountain was a monk who, with his dog, got into a boat with us to go upstream to the temple. 

The ride meant we had to take our shoes off before stepping into the main part of the boat. Even the dog was put in a box and lifted up into the boat, staying there until we arrived at the start of the 200 step climb, then allowed to go up the mountain with us.

Zen is a branch of Buddhist thought that believes divine wisdom resides in each person. Meditation techniques are used to reveal this inner divine nature. Typically meditation consists of simple sitting and breathing practices that are meant to calm the mind and allow the practitioner’s focus to shift away from the mundane. The Buddhist monk guided us during this time.

While at the temple, we also explored another aspect of Zen influence by partaking in a simple Japanese tea ceremony called sado. The monk taught us how to create the beverage by placing powdered tea called matcha in a big teacup, covering it with hot water, and whipping it with a bamboo whisk until it foams slightly. I didn’t do so well with the whisking part, and after checking mine out, the monk did it for me. You don’t whisk in a circle; you whisk up and down.

He is blowing on a horn to let the temple people know we are on our way.

The temple people respond by ringing a big bell.......bong! That’s what you do when you have no phones. Ha! They communicate back and forth several times.

We finally arrive after about 30 minutes.

And now the 200 steps start. I was right behind him, and by the time we get to the top, he pronounced me “very strong”......YES!

Even monks get mail!

The “bong” guy.

The view from the top.

Teaching us about the way of Zen Buddhism.

And tea making.

Powdered green tea in a bowl, larger than a teacup; a sweet treat and a bamboo whisk.

He is whisking my tea the correct way......up and down, not in a circle.

This cracked me up! He’s taking pictures for his blog! He went around and got photos of all of us.

He showed us how to meditate and we practiced for two sessions. Then he got the stick out that was to be used for “encouragement” if our mind wandered or we start to fall asleep.

He used our guide to show how he taps on the back. He did it twice, then did the same thing to any in our group who were needing help meditating.

Then we headed back by boat.

[World Traveler]

Tuesday, April 3

Kimonos, monks, and geishas!

1. 

Really hard to get a good photo of The geishas because they were so far away in a party boat, but maybe you can see their white faces.

[Alter Ego]

Really great photos - loving all the kimonos and geishas!

[World Traveler]

Tuesday, April 3

After lunch, we toured Arashiyama. Tenryuji Temple, the primar temple of the Rinzai School of Zen, was originally built in 1339 and has been destroyed by wars and fires, and rebuilt many times.

Most of the structures here now date from the late 19th century, but the beautiful Zen garden, which includes a large pond, elevated rock groupings, and cherry trees, is many centuries old.

We also saw Okochi-Sanso, a lovely garden located on top of a hill, providing a peaceful glimpse of the quiet Kyoto area. Here we enjoyed tea and wafer cake. It was the private villa of the famous silent film era actor, Okochi Denjiro (1898-1962). He constructed this unique garden villa on the south side of Mount Ogura over a 30-year period.

The garden has a stream from the Hozu River running thru it. Okochi was a deep admirer of the Zen philosophy.

The child is tied to the mom. 

Bamboo forest on the way to the tea house.

[World Traveler]

Wednesday, April 4

While waiting for today’s excursion to start, here is a little of this and a little of that.

Toilets...I am used to the squat toilets being the norm in Asian countries, so I have been surprised at how few I see in Japan. Our guide said that is because the Japanese like the version of western toilets that are now becoming common here. They are heated, they have the bidet or spray option, the water pressure option, etc.

However, not everyone has gotten used to them, so we frequently see the sign below, reminding them not to improvise when using them, and not get up and squat!

Also, they have to be reminded that it is okay to throw the toilet paper in the toilet, as the norm is to put it in a wastebasket. They took care of that problem by removing the wastebasket in public areas! Also, all public toilets are free. Not used to that in foreign countries either! However, they normally do not have paper towels or machines to dry your hands, so you leave the bathroom flapping your hands.

Speaking of wastebaskets, there are no trash containers in public. Due to some bombs being placed in trash bins, they have all been removed. So you end up carrying your trash with you until you get back to the hotel. Surprisingly, it makes it cleaner around town!

We have frequently seen baby holders in bathroom stalls, so you can set your child down while using the toilet. Kind of crowded in the stall, but it is helpful.

The length of the sleeve on the kimonos tells you if the girl is married or single. If the sleeve is down to the wrist, then she is single. Married women wear kimonos that have shorter sleeve length. Handy for men who may be wondering if the woman is free to ask out on a date.

Vending machines in Japan are very busy looking.

The hotel decorations are very pretty and delicate.

Our cost to travel with this tour company includes tips for drivers. In Japan, it is all about the presentation, so when we have finished with a particular bus driver, our guide formally presents his tip in a very decorated package and bows as she hands it over to him. We clap! In other countries, it is handled away from the group, kind of like slipping it to him in a matter of fact way, with a thank you said.

Japan has a new fiscal year starting every April, although they follow the regular calendar for everything else.

Long gone are the days where you see ladies carrying paper umbrellas to protect their skin. I have not seen a single paper or silk umbrella. They use sunscreen. I have seen some regular umbrellas, but not a lot.

The average commute time is one and a half hours.

There are 106 temples in Kyoto.

[CoffeeNut]

Some of your landscape pictures are so pretty that they could be used as postcards.