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Earlier post (which covers parts of this entry and part of the 15th)
I am in the hills up around Kyoto, specifically near Adashino Nambutsuji temple, otherwise known as the middle of nowhere. The plus side is if the ants don't bite me, I have a magnificent view over Hirosawa ike (pond) of the giant torigata (gate shape) lit up by fire on the nearby hillside.
I woke up around 7:45 by roommates being too loud. I think think they I'm really young, judging by the way they treat me. Took awhile to wake up so I wandered to the train station a bit before catching the bus to Mibudera temple. It was hard to find, but I followed some other Japanese tourists (since I doubt they rarely, if ever, see Westerners following the Shinsengumi trail). Found the cemetery and bought a Shinsengumi towel to wipe the sweat from my brow as I stared at the grave of Kondo Isami and Serizawa Kamo.
(The sunset is beautiful atm and many boats are positioning themselves for the twilight. My back hurts.)
After the temple, I turned the corner and found the Sumiya Inn (I think. Either that or it was another inn the Shinsengumi favoured since there are two in the area that both have sword marks from Shinsengumi people.) So I went in for the entirely in Japanese tour which was basically historical story telling. I was able to follow it since I'm familiar enough with the Shinsengumi history. (Buddhist/shinto(?) chanting just started on the other side of the pond.) It was a pretty entertaining story with her saying things like, "And Kondo Isami was sitting right there.", and "And this is where people like Okita used to bathe." There was a nice sword mark on a lintel there and I snuck a pic. The ticket came with a cup of frothy, green tea and a tasty mochi which was well worth it even if I don't like frothy green tea, and I bought a Shinsengumi fan.
(7pm They just started putting floating lanterns out on the pond. Fantastic!)
A few more feet down the street there was another building with pics of sword marks and cheesy Shinsengumi cutouts and kiddie fuku. I bought this beautiful book full of colorized photos from around that time period. Sort of like Gorskii, only in Japan. My luck with pin machines was fantastic. I got the one I wanted from the Kyoto pin plate, then it took only 2 tries to get the Okita pin I wanted. My pin bag looks very cool and cute according to the ladies at Mibudera temple.
I then made the mistake of walking to Nijo castle - very hot and streets in Kyoto are very long. Ate a croissant sandwich and a melon shake before heading in. It was a beautiful place with fantastic decorations inside and out. The garden was gorgeous. I loved the nightingale floors though ninja walking does thwart them from squeaking. I liked the guy who came by while I was trying to quietly walk across them - he deliberately stepped on the board then gave me a cheeky grin. (7:10pm Female chanting just started on top of the male one.) The rest of the castle was less interesting but the castle walls were fascinating to see after having seen the ruins of Hagi castle months before.
I went back to my hostel but forgot it was closed for cleaning so I stowed my goodies and headed out to kintakuji temple (the golden pavilion) . It was very impressive and picturesque even if it was only rebuilt in 1958. There's not much there other than the pavilion though. I caught a bus to the middle of nowhere (ie, here), bought dinner, asked directions then hiked to the pond. Yatta!
11:05 - Back at the hostel again. Fantastic pics. I loved the tori and it burned so well. Thelanterns on the lake were lovely though the Japanese with cameras who slowly surrounded the lake shore with their tripods and cameras which were heavier and more professional than mine, were scary. Hate the smokers too. I was sad to leave but the bus ride back was surprisingly easy.
I am in the hills up around Kyoto, specifically near Adashino Nambutsuji temple, otherwise known as the middle of nowhere. The plus side is if the ants don't bite me, I have a magnificent view over Hirosawa ike (pond) of the giant torigata (gate shape) lit up by fire on the nearby hillside.
I woke up around 7:45 by roommates being too loud. I think think they I'm really young, judging by the way they treat me. Took awhile to wake up so I wandered to the train station a bit before catching the bus to Mibudera temple. It was hard to find, but I followed some other Japanese tourists (since I doubt they rarely, if ever, see Westerners following the Shinsengumi trail). Found the cemetery and bought a Shinsengumi towel to wipe the sweat from my brow as I stared at the grave of Kondo Isami and Serizawa Kamo.
(The sunset is beautiful atm and many boats are positioning themselves for the twilight. My back hurts.)
After the temple, I turned the corner and found the Sumiya Inn (I think. Either that or it was another inn the Shinsengumi favoured since there are two in the area that both have sword marks from Shinsengumi people.) So I went in for the entirely in Japanese tour which was basically historical story telling. I was able to follow it since I'm familiar enough with the Shinsengumi history. (Buddhist/shinto(?) chanting just started on the other side of the pond.) It was a pretty entertaining story with her saying things like, "And Kondo Isami was sitting right there.", and "And this is where people like Okita used to bathe." There was a nice sword mark on a lintel there and I snuck a pic. The ticket came with a cup of frothy, green tea and a tasty mochi which was well worth it even if I don't like frothy green tea, and I bought a Shinsengumi fan.
(7pm They just started putting floating lanterns out on the pond. Fantastic!)
A few more feet down the street there was another building with pics of sword marks and cheesy Shinsengumi cutouts and kiddie fuku. I bought this beautiful book full of colorized photos from around that time period. Sort of like Gorskii, only in Japan. My luck with pin machines was fantastic. I got the one I wanted from the Kyoto pin plate, then it took only 2 tries to get the Okita pin I wanted. My pin bag looks very cool and cute according to the ladies at Mibudera temple.
I then made the mistake of walking to Nijo castle - very hot and streets in Kyoto are very long. Ate a croissant sandwich and a melon shake before heading in. It was a beautiful place with fantastic decorations inside and out. The garden was gorgeous. I loved the nightingale floors though ninja walking does thwart them from squeaking. I liked the guy who came by while I was trying to quietly walk across them - he deliberately stepped on the board then gave me a cheeky grin. (7:10pm Female chanting just started on top of the male one.) The rest of the castle was less interesting but the castle walls were fascinating to see after having seen the ruins of Hagi castle months before.
I went back to my hostel but forgot it was closed for cleaning so I stowed my goodies and headed out to kintakuji temple (the golden pavilion) . It was very impressive and picturesque even if it was only rebuilt in 1958. There's not much there other than the pavilion though. I caught a bus to the middle of nowhere (ie, here), bought dinner, asked directions then hiked to the pond. Yatta!
11:05 - Back at the hostel again. Fantastic pics. I loved the tori and it burned so well. Thelanterns on the lake were lovely though the Japanese with cameras who slowly surrounded the lake shore with their tripods and cameras which were heavier and more professional than mine, were scary. Hate the smokers too. I was sad to leave but the bus ride back was surprisingly easy.
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