Japan Adventure: October 2006

Weekend Bus Trip to Kyoto

It's early Saturday morning and we're leaving the North Gate of the base on a tour bus headed for a weekend in Kyoto -- and we're very excited! Kyoto has over 2,000 temples & shrines, 2.5 million residents, and 38 million tourists visiting each year. It was the first capital of Japan, and embraces its traditional culture like no other city in Japan. Kyoto was not destroyed by the ravages of WW II -- in fact, the United Nations petitioned the US not to bomb it because of its historic significance and the volume of national treaures, monuments, and artifacts contained there. And yes, those are real guns the gate guards are holding . . .

The sun peeks out of the clouds over the sea as we head north and east from Iwakuni.

This tollroad sign tells us that there's a fender bender or car broken down ahead.

These sound baffles are clear at the top so we can see the beautiful vew of the countryside.

It's early & we're driving in the clouds.

Heading into a tunnel in our tour bus. Notice that we're watching a movie.

Ribbon of highway . ..

Flowers at the rest stop.

Having lunch at one of the P stops along the Sanyo tollroad. We're eating with Terry & Jerry Bymaster.

Outside the rest stop.

Our tour bus.

Passing through Osaka on our way to Kyoto. Kansai Airport is the one we usually fly out of to go to the US.

These curved buffers in Osaka, serve to lessen the noise for the people living near the tollroad.

We've arrived in Kyoto -- Crossing the river.

A lady in kimono walking down the street.

Starting up the narrow street toward the Kiyomizu Temple bus parking lot. Oh, yes, it's a VERY narrow 2-way street. Notice the pole in our lane . . . The bus will take us at least half-way up the hill. Last time we went here with Holly & Michael, we took a city bus, and had to walk ALL the way up . . .

At the bus parking lot, Stan stands behind a very colorful bus. We were trying to figure out how these photos were superimposed onto the bus.

Walking up the hill past the shops toward the Kiyomizu Temple. After we tour the temple, we can then come back down to shop.

Our guide, Taka, is trying to gather up our group outside the Kiyomizu Temple. He did a great job & was very patient with us!

Approaching the Kiyomizu Temple -- a very famous landmark in Kyoto.

This sign tells all about this temple -- not a Kodak moment; but a Fujicolor moment . . .

This workman is loading trash onto these two bamboo baskets which he will carry across his shoulders. I had to leave before he finished.

Exquisite detail under the eaves

Water for purification flowing from this dragon's mouth before entering the temple.

Yow -- hanging over the deck looking down at the stone retaining wall . . . (this is like a picture my dad would have taken!)

View of the 3-story pagoda on the grounds.

View of Kyoto from temple deck.

I'm not sure who this god is, but this temple is dedicated to Kannon Bosatsu, God of Mercy.

We're taking pictures of them, & they're taking pictures of us. I'm standing on the deck facing another building with a thick cypress thatched roof. There's lots of people here today.

On the deck of the Main Temple -- notice the size of the wood pillars.

Faithful making prayers inside the temple.

Margie enjoying the view from the deck of the Kiyomizu Temple.

Brilliant paint detail under the eaves of one of the buildings.

View of Kyoto from the temple grounds.

The 3-story pagoda on the temple grounds, known as Sanjunoto.

This temple was founded by Yenchin, a great priest, in 780, and the present structures rebuilt in 1633.

The temple grounds are located on Mt. Otowa above Kyoto, which provide a panoramic view of the city.

Another view.

Walking below the retaining wall with the temple above.

A torii gate guarded by two dogs?

This area, known as the Otowa No Taki, is below the eastern side of the main sanctuary. It means pure water, which has been streaming down for thousands of years. This water is not used to purify, but to drink.