the fumari inari shrine, southern higashiyama and gion

the fumari inari shrine, southern higashiyama and gion

• 2 Jul 2015

Do you ever have one of those days when you're travelling when you bite off more than you can chew? Well the day I visited Southern Higashiyama was one of those days.





I started the day with an early morning trip to the Fumari Inari Shrine with it's thousands of vermilion coloured tori gates.





Then I decided to go on an ambitious walking tour that tested out my poor feet no end.



I started the trip at the Kyoto Railway Station which is right next door to the Sky Tower.





I walked from Kyoto Station to Sanjusangendo but got hideously lost along the way so I started the walk a little later than planned. 





This is a very popular temple so it was very crowded inside. Unfortunately you're not able to take photos of the golden kannons and even if allowed I couldn't get close enough due to the crowds. Instead here's a photo of the very impressive doors. I bypassed the Kyoto Museum in favour of a visit to Kawai Kanjiro's House, which is tucked away down a little side street.






Kawai Kanjiro was a famous Japanese potter and his home has been turned into a museum. Visiting the house gave me a chance to look inside a traditional Kyoto house.





The next part of the walk was hot, dry and dusty and I was starting to regret my choice of walk. I climbed up a steep hill to the Kiyomizu Temple, one of the hectic brightly coloured temples.





Then I walked back down the hill through the crowded streets of Sannenzaka.





I was looking for the Kodaiji Temple but couldn't find it, even though I was standing right outside it. That's what happens when you're tired. I walked back to Gion, retraced my steps and ended up right back where I'd started!






The Kodaiji Temple is famous for it's gardens.





The temple is set around a lake and it has it's own bamboo grove.




Once again I'm sure this garden would be spectacular during autumn.



From there I limped to the Gion district where I found this kitchen shop tucked away in the back streets.





I also found some goldfish,





and a much loved and very well fed cat but unfortunately no geisha.





See you all again next week with the next Plate 2 Plate post. Juliana and I are making a dish I've never heard of, seen or eaten before so that will be something of a challenge.

Bye for now,

Jillian