Konbanwa,
Late start tonight. It's 11:21pm here which makes it 12:21 am tomorrow in your neck of the woods.
Radical rethink last night after posting Day 10's missive.
I was looking through the original list of shrines/temples and places of interest in Kyoto that I think I printed off for our original tour in 2008. In there I noticed Sanzen-in which mentions over 3000 hydrangeas in bloom during the rainy season. Rainy season has supposedly finished tho you'd never know it from today's sterling effort by the Weather Gods. Even allowing for only a small percentage blooming thought it was worth the trip. A what a trip it was.
Walked to Kyoto Station from the ryokan and found the Kyoto Bus rank (C3) that the bus to Ohara leaves from. When things talk escape summer heat in the hills etc not really thinking long distances from town. Should have. Took about an hour to get to Ohara Terminus and at one point I noticed a temperature sign by the side of the road saying 23° and I thought "I may be cold". No chance- warm, humid and wet were the order of the day. Pretty much off the beaten tourist track which made it all the more enjoyable. Lovely temple- always been associated with the Imperial Family and fantastic gardens. Lots of Japanese schoolgirl groups having photos taken and taking them all over the place. Then I walked a couple of minutes down the road to Shorin-in another Imperial related Tendai sect temple. Very old prayer hall and a small garden. Then a couple more minutes brought me to the jewel in the crown- Hosen-in. A green tea was included in the price and a very nice gent who brought it and a Japanese sweet was great at explaining the way the beams framed the view and later when I was heading into the garden he also explained that the early (Heian) style was for a viewing garden and the later (Edo) style was for a walking garden. This had two of the best tiny examples of each that I have seen. Truly gorgeous and well worth the extra bus fare. Incidentally speaking of bus fares I thought I'd buy a One Day City Bus Pass which still only cost ¥500. As each trip within the fixed price area is ¥230 well you only need to take 3 trips to be in front. Only problem as I alluded to earlier was that Ohara was well outside the ¥500 area so my trip to Ohara ended up costing the ¥230 plus ¥380 extra. So on the way back I have gone through my small change and make sure I have the difference to pay when we get back to Kyoto Station. Also in non fixed areas you know how much your fare will cost by taking a little ticket when you get on that obviously starts at 1 and progresses at each section change so the longer the trip the more the fare. I purposely took the "1" ticket when I got on at the Ohara Terminus and had it in my hand ready to pay the extra at journeys end, but wonder of wonders the driver just noted my Daily Pass and I was out of there ¥380 richer. Thank you Travel Gods.
Because of it being wet I tossed up whether to go look at the floats lit up. So glad I did. Left the ryokan about 7:30pm and caught the trusty Karasuma Subway Line fro Kujo to Karasumaoike. By the look of the map I had showing where these floats were parked I thought should be close enough. Dang nab it Travel Gods positively beamed and I had a great hour or so checking them all out. The amazing things or a few of them is that all the props, tapestries and figures are stored in little side street arcades that you walk down to see them up close and personal and obviously saves them from water, or any other kind of damage. It was marvellous to see and the community involvement is truly astonishing including a few of them that had young school kids mainly girls dressed in kimono and singing at the top of their lungs while selling whatever souvenirs are special to their area. Also at one of the floats looked around and there was a bunch of geisha dressed for work. Got a few shots. Feel very self conscious about taking photos but they really are extraordinary. Hair makeup flawless. Highlight of the night.
Tomorrow off to the Sento Imperial Palace tour at 11am and will then decide what to do for the arvo.
Lotsalove,
Tim
Late start tonight. It's 11:21pm here which makes it 12:21 am tomorrow in your neck of the woods.
Radical rethink last night after posting Day 10's missive.
I was looking through the original list of shrines/temples and places of interest in Kyoto that I think I printed off for our original tour in 2008. In there I noticed Sanzen-in which mentions over 3000 hydrangeas in bloom during the rainy season. Rainy season has supposedly finished tho you'd never know it from today's sterling effort by the Weather Gods. Even allowing for only a small percentage blooming thought it was worth the trip. A what a trip it was.
Walked to Kyoto Station from the ryokan and found the Kyoto Bus rank (C3) that the bus to Ohara leaves from. When things talk escape summer heat in the hills etc not really thinking long distances from town. Should have. Took about an hour to get to Ohara Terminus and at one point I noticed a temperature sign by the side of the road saying 23° and I thought "I may be cold". No chance- warm, humid and wet were the order of the day. Pretty much off the beaten tourist track which made it all the more enjoyable. Lovely temple- always been associated with the Imperial Family and fantastic gardens. Lots of Japanese schoolgirl groups having photos taken and taking them all over the place. Then I walked a couple of minutes down the road to Shorin-in another Imperial related Tendai sect temple. Very old prayer hall and a small garden. Then a couple more minutes brought me to the jewel in the crown- Hosen-in. A green tea was included in the price and a very nice gent who brought it and a Japanese sweet was great at explaining the way the beams framed the view and later when I was heading into the garden he also explained that the early (Heian) style was for a viewing garden and the later (Edo) style was for a walking garden. This had two of the best tiny examples of each that I have seen. Truly gorgeous and well worth the extra bus fare. Incidentally speaking of bus fares I thought I'd buy a One Day City Bus Pass which still only cost ¥500. As each trip within the fixed price area is ¥230 well you only need to take 3 trips to be in front. Only problem as I alluded to earlier was that Ohara was well outside the ¥500 area so my trip to Ohara ended up costing the ¥230 plus ¥380 extra. So on the way back I have gone through my small change and make sure I have the difference to pay when we get back to Kyoto Station. Also in non fixed areas you know how much your fare will cost by taking a little ticket when you get on that obviously starts at 1 and progresses at each section change so the longer the trip the more the fare. I purposely took the "1" ticket when I got on at the Ohara Terminus and had it in my hand ready to pay the extra at journeys end, but wonder of wonders the driver just noted my Daily Pass and I was out of there ¥380 richer. Thank you Travel Gods.
Because of it being wet I tossed up whether to go look at the floats lit up. So glad I did. Left the ryokan about 7:30pm and caught the trusty Karasuma Subway Line fro Kujo to Karasumaoike. By the look of the map I had showing where these floats were parked I thought should be close enough. Dang nab it Travel Gods positively beamed and I had a great hour or so checking them all out. The amazing things or a few of them is that all the props, tapestries and figures are stored in little side street arcades that you walk down to see them up close and personal and obviously saves them from water, or any other kind of damage. It was marvellous to see and the community involvement is truly astonishing including a few of them that had young school kids mainly girls dressed in kimono and singing at the top of their lungs while selling whatever souvenirs are special to their area. Also at one of the floats looked around and there was a bunch of geisha dressed for work. Got a few shots. Feel very self conscious about taking photos but they really are extraordinary. Hair makeup flawless. Highlight of the night.
Tomorrow off to the Sento Imperial Palace tour at 11am and will then decide what to do for the arvo.
Lotsalove,
Tim
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