Kyoto (actually Day Four of trip, Day Three in Japan)

 Shioya Station in Kobe

We departed Shioya Station just down the hill from Amy's house with several of her American friends (and one British friend who had returned for a visit) to go to the temple sale in Kyoto.  The ladies were excited to shop the marketplace and we were all happy that the day was fair.  The trip took an hour and half since we had to go through Osaka.

Here I am with Haruko, Amy's friend, who is originally from Kyoto.

Toji Temple Sale (outdoor flea market)

Japanese pancakes

 Fish shaped pancakes cooked with butter and filled with sweet bean paste were just one of the many sweets at the food stands.  The temple sale is on the 21st of the month no matter what day.  Because it was a Sunday and the weather was gorgeous, it was extra crowded.  People were also out for the leaf peeping season.  The reds and golden colors of the Japanese maple trees were in spots all over the city.

 Haruko, Amy's friend who is originally from Kyoto was our guide.  She bought sweet potatoes fries for us to try close to the temple gates.  They are pictured to the left in the photo.  Chopped then fried and rolled in sugar and popped into the red and white striped paper cups.  They tasted similar to our sweet potato fries.

 Amy and I standing near the Toji Temple gate at the entrance of the temple sale.  Plants are also sold here along with cut flowers, bonsai trees---a beautiful selection of miniature trees which flower or have colored leaves or tiny fir needles.

 The Silver Palace was located in another area of Kyoto.  One of the oldest areas in old city Kyoto when it was the capital city.  Ginkakuji (Silver Palace) Temple, a Zen Temple was established in 1482 by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th Muromachi Shogunate to spend his retired life.  Now open to the public as a world cultural heritage site, it is groomed by caretakers and Zen Buddhists who rake sand daily in the Zen gardens. The changing of the seasons attract many visitors who want to view the fall leaves or see the azaleas in the spring.  Mossy patches cover the ground and multi-level walkways allow visitors to view the scenery up the hillsides and you can see Kyoto and the mountains in the background. Very serene and beautifully quiet.

 A Zen Buddhist chants at the entry gate of the Silver Palace.  He was white.  Days are spent in mediation, chanting, and waking daily to groom and rake the sands in the palace gardens.

Here are two girls dressed in kimonos with decorative obis. Ladies can even rent  from kimonos at a dress shop for the day around the city.  We saw many people in traditional attire around Kobe.

The sights and sounds of Kyoto made the entire day an adventure and a chance to really soak in Japan.  The train station was super busy because of Sunday and the weather being so wonderfully warm.  We started at the temple sale, then the group gathered to eat at Cafe Mozart for a western style lunch at the train station.  Amy and I split there with Haruko so we could continue into the old section of Kyoto to see the Silver Palace, then last stop was a tea room before we boarded the train for the long ride back to Kobe.  We were tired but happy.  Some shopping during the day turned up some beautiful gift items (some surprises so I can't tell) and lots of window shopping.  Some small boutique shops featured handmade items and rabbits since it is the Year of the Rabbit next year.