May 23rd:
Because of our busy schedule for the next week I woke up at 7 which was much easier when I first got here but unfortunately I’m starting to adjust to the schedule here. Luckily there is a very fancy automatic coffee machine that I will definitely be taking advantage of. We were also given little breakfast boxes and a short presentation before heading out to the tour bus.
First Stop: Kinkaku-ji Temple
The ticket to enter was a good luck charm to put on the front of your door!
The temple was a gold covered building in order to show the Shoguns power and wealth to domestic and international peoples. The rocks around the building represent Japan’s main land and to also show wealth as rocks were very valuable at this time.
Second Stop: Arashiyama Park, bamboo path
Next up was a bamboo path, here I got a stamp book with another talisman type thing (for a door ig?). We also go free time to go to shops and get food! I don’t have much to elaborate on as it was more of a sight-seeing mini hike.
Stop Three: Kiyomizu-dera temple
The is the most popular temple in Kyoto and possibly even Japan. Also the oldest (as many of the others have a frequency of burning down). These temple are made with NO NAILS only crafty word working. The town in the surrounding area was very old Japan style and super crowded.
Stop 4: Fushimi Inari Shrine:
This shrine was a very quick stop but one of the most beautiful. I really want to do the entire mountain hike someday.
Omokara Ishi was my favorite part of the shrine. You think of a wish and then pick up a stone on top of a stone lantern. If the stone is heavier than you expected the wish will be harder to achieve. If it is lighter it will be easier!
Dinner Time:
Finally after a very busy day we watched the Demon Slayer Movie and got food!
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