Japan - Day 2
On the second day, we went to:
(1) Osaka Castle (but didn't go in for a tour),
(2) then took a 1-hr bus ride to Nara for the Deer Park and Todaiji Temple where we had lunch
(3) then took another 1-hr bus ride to Kyoto, a beautiful old town full of lovely quaint houses, to see the Kiyomizu Temple which is seated on Higashiyama Hill.
(4) retired for the night at Gifu Resol Hotel
Some school was having a school trip, and I couldn't resist taking a picture of the boys in their lovely Gakuran.
The water well at the entrance, where you're supposed to wet your left hand, then right hand, then left hand, then your lips. Either that or start with the right hand.
The majestic Osaka Castle (it was quite a drizzly day)
The entrance ticket prices, starting at 600Yen per person....not expensive.
The small park in front of the castle
Surprisingly, the food prices at a store in front of the castle were not as exorbitant as I thought they would be. Just slightly expensive, but still affordable.
We didn't go into this area but I love these arches. According to our guide, that's Yoshinaga's statue inside.
Yoshinaga
The moat surrounding the castle
Cute school kids on a trip
A lonesome, wet deer at the Deer Park near Todaiji Temple. The deers were very friendly (looking for food!)
Todaiji Temple.
The incense well
The water well
The Buddha
Some kids from a school trip crawling through a hole in the pillar for good luck
Lunch at a restaurant near the park. They had this WASABI powder, the one I posted on my souvenirs entry....and I bought it right there at the restaurant/souvenir shop. Delicious wasabi powder!!!
Found this prayer errr....booth?? .... near the restaurant.
Kitsune Kitsune Kitsune!!!!!!! Wish I had more time to photograph this, but we were already heading back to the bus.
Arrived at the area surrounding Higashiyama Hill. Lots of tourist shops here...and some rickshaws!
Some food prices in the area, about 100Yen higher than normal prices I would say.
Cucumbers on a stick....
That is one BIG Hello Kitty
Some rather expensive cutlery on sale
I think this is where people write their wish
Stalking a lovely lady in a lovely kimono performing the temple entrance ritual for Kiyomizu temple
Stalking yet more lovely ladies in kimono. It's so lovely
The water welll
A pagoda before the temple
View from the temple of people drinking/washing their face with the temple water
The coin box
Incense sticks
Prayer paraphernalia
Assorted charms....I should have bought some for gifts
Again, where people write their wish
The downhill journey
I love this view of the Kiyomizu temple. It was a rather gloomy day and this picture looks so ominous, with the tinted clouds and such.
Love whatever this is.
Stopped these lovely ladies in their tracks and asked for their photo
You can engrave your name on chopsticks as souvenirs. Damn I shoulda bought something from here.
Our hotel for the night - Gifu Resol Hotel
Where we had dinner. Prices were veeeeeryyyyy reasonable!!! It was in a shopping mall!!
My total menu, plus the price
That's all for today,
FanTa
(1) Osaka Castle (but didn't go in for a tour),
(2) then took a 1-hr bus ride to Nara for the Deer Park and Todaiji Temple where we had lunch
(3) then took another 1-hr bus ride to Kyoto, a beautiful old town full of lovely quaint houses, to see the Kiyomizu Temple which is seated on Higashiyama Hill.
(4) retired for the night at Gifu Resol Hotel
Some school was having a school trip, and I couldn't resist taking a picture of the boys in their lovely Gakuran.
The water well at the entrance, where you're supposed to wet your left hand, then right hand, then left hand, then your lips. Either that or start with the right hand.
The majestic Osaka Castle (it was quite a drizzly day)
The entrance ticket prices, starting at 600Yen per person....not expensive.
The small park in front of the castle
Surprisingly, the food prices at a store in front of the castle were not as exorbitant as I thought they would be. Just slightly expensive, but still affordable.
We didn't go into this area but I love these arches. According to our guide, that's Yoshinaga's statue inside.
Yoshinaga
The moat surrounding the castle
Cute school kids on a trip
A lonesome, wet deer at the Deer Park near Todaiji Temple. The deers were very friendly (looking for food!)
Todaiji Temple.
The incense well
The water well
The Buddha
Some kids from a school trip crawling through a hole in the pillar for good luck
Lunch at a restaurant near the park. They had this WASABI powder, the one I posted on my souvenirs entry....and I bought it right there at the restaurant/souvenir shop. Delicious wasabi powder!!!
Found this prayer errr....booth?? .... near the restaurant.
Kitsune Kitsune Kitsune!!!!!!! Wish I had more time to photograph this, but we were already heading back to the bus.
Arrived at the area surrounding Higashiyama Hill. Lots of tourist shops here...and some rickshaws!
Some food prices in the area, about 100Yen higher than normal prices I would say.
Cucumbers on a stick....
That is one BIG Hello Kitty
Some rather expensive cutlery on sale
I think this is where people write their wish
Stalking a lovely lady in a lovely kimono performing the temple entrance ritual for Kiyomizu temple
Stalking yet more lovely ladies in kimono. It's so lovely
The water welll
A pagoda before the temple
View from the temple of people drinking/washing their face with the temple water
The coin box
Incense sticks
Prayer paraphernalia
Assorted charms....I should have bought some for gifts
Again, where people write their wish
The downhill journey
I love this view of the Kiyomizu temple. It was a rather gloomy day and this picture looks so ominous, with the tinted clouds and such.
Love whatever this is.
Stopped these lovely ladies in their tracks and asked for their photo
You can engrave your name on chopsticks as souvenirs. Damn I shoulda bought something from here.
Our hotel for the night - Gifu Resol Hotel
Where we had dinner. Prices were veeeeeryyyyy reasonable!!! It was in a shopping mall!!
My total menu, plus the price
That's all for today,
FanTa