Japan (pt. 1) Kyoto

I'm back from vacation and back at school.  Luckily, I don't have class today or tomorrow!  So, plenty of time to update about Japan.

We left last Sunday afternoon straight from Gimpo to Kansai (only 1hr and 15min!).  The flight itself takes less time than it does to travel to and from the airport.  From Kansai, we took a direct train to Kyoto which was a little more than an hour.  We spent the next 2 days there sightseeing.  The 2 main points of interest were the Kinkakuji Temple with the Golden Pavilion and the Fushimi Inari Shrine.  If you have to choose between the 2, I would definitely recommend Fushimi Inari first.  There was just more to see and do, plus, it was closer.

lots of women wearing the yukata in Kyoto's streets

Kinkakuji Golden Pavilion

little wooden plaques at the small shrine at Kinkakuji

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Fushimi Inari

Fushimi Inari

Other than these things, we just spent our time walking around the Kyoto shopping arcades and through the streets of Gion.  Gion is known as the Geisha district in Kyoto, but to me, it seemed very much a touristy area.  I guess it is possible to spot a Geisha along one of the back streets but not very many and not very likely.  My friend saw one pass by with a body guard but wasn't fast enough to get a photo.

Gion

Gion

Kamagawo River

On our last morning in Kyoto, we wandered through the Nishiki Food Market.  We didn't have enough time to go out to the bars around Kiyamachi Street, but it was lovely during the day.  It is supposed to be really beautiful when the cherry blossoms are blooming.

Japanese photo booth

Nishiki Market

Nishiki Market

Kiyamachi Street

an alley near Kiyamachi Street