Trip to Japan Part 4 Kyoto

 

 This is the last part of Japan.  This is the Kamogawa shrine.  One of the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan.  I'm no historian, but I can feel the history from the surrounding forests and the shrine.  I mentioned earlier that I have visited these places as a high school student.  But now I can appreciate more than ever.

 

We move on to Nanzenji Temple.  There are so many old buildings represent Japanese culture and history.  Good thing that US decided not to bomb Kyoto during the WWII.  Now all these areas are world heritage sites.  Wooden structures built in 13th Century are still standing strong.



It was a lunch time and we were looking for a restaurant.  We found a very nice tofu restaurant.  It was a bit pricy but foods were so good that everybody should go there if you were in Kyoto.  This restaurant serves only tofu.  An each separate building is a private eating space with a beautiful garden. 

    Now's the food.  These are all tofu dishes.  Amazing to see so many ways to prepare tofu.  They were so good that we ate everything.  These tofu dishes were developed for Buddhist monks who were not allowed to eat meat.  Foods could evolve over hundreds of years.

 



 

Now we move on to the famous Kiyomizu temple.  I remembered I was there 48 years ago and it has not changed much. 

 



 

The current wooden structures were built 400 years ago and still safe enough to hold hundreds of visitors every day.  It would be a fantastic view if it was sunny day.  Well rainy day in Kyoto was not too bad.

This is it for the spring trip to Japan.  We enjoyed eating and drinking more than sightseeing, but that was not too bad for aging couple.  I thing we will continue.  

For the next blog I like to introduce my own Province of Alberta.  I have worked with Alberta Parks and Forestry Departments for over 31 years.  I have tonnes of nice photos that most folks never seen.  I will share with you.  See you soon.