The spectacular Kiyomizu-Dera temple complex.
Heading for Kyoto
Peering over a covered tikit at Kyoto station.
K's House Hostel, right near the station, about $25/night for a dorm room.
The Kamo river that flows through Kyoto. Spectacular!
People walk, bike and less commonly, drive along the riverside path.
Great resturants and fascinating buildings line the riverbanks.
This cyclist was circumnavigating Japan.
The river bed is high and dry in places.
Many bridges cross it, filled with commuters.
It's a nice place to sit at dusk.
Strange hodge-podge of edfice along the banks.
Kamo riverbank, Kyoto
Gion, the famous historic Geisha area of Kyoto
Cheapest okonomyaki ever - from 150 yen.
I got one with the works (but a little less pork) for 250 yen.
It was pretty good, especially for the price!
Black sesame ice cream. All the rage in NYC, they've been eating it for years in Asia.
Sushi-go-round.
The tikit is right at home inside any restaurant.
Here comes my favorite - unagi.
What a cheery face!
The action on the streets, wheeling and dealing behind bamboo screens ...
A popular walking tour supplied by the hostel.
The road well trodden.
Kyoto tower, from the roof of K's Hostel.
Kyoto, from the roof of K's Hostel.
An assortment of natural bristle cleaning brushes are a work of art in themselves.
A local bike shop sold "Chevrolet" bicycles.
Also the Panasonic "Hurryer" electric bike.
Japanese neighborhood street.
Rice strainers out to dry.
Riceworks.
Eating Japanese sweets with green tea.
Exquisite presentation even for a $1.10 sweet.
This one is a jelly confection.
A little garden often found at the back of restaurants.
This is the Shinto Buddhism complex. Not in any guidebook, but as interesting as any monument.
Inside the Shin Buddhism complex.
Inside the Shin Buddhism complex.
Inside the Shin Buddhism complex.
Inside the Shin Buddhism complex - a graveyard stretching up the hill.
Graveyard on the way to Kiyomizu temple.
One of the most popular walking routes
Off duty geisha or simply women in Kimono?
Hoards of school kids flood most monuments most days.
The spectacular Kiyomizu complex.
The spectacular Kiyomizu complex.
The spectacular Kiyomizu complex.
The spectacular Kiyomizu complex.
The spectacular Kiyomizu complex - those rubber armbands are everywhere!
The spectacular Kiyomizu complex.
Students believe washing their hands with the water will lead to good exam results.
A graveyard to commemorate miscarriages.
Close up of the grave to commemorate a miscarriage.
Sweets are made like this - a part manual, part automatic machine.
The kids swarmed the mochi shops.
How they make mochi strips.
I never tried this multi-layer cake. Reminds me of an old phonograph record.
The street winds down and away through more and more shops.
I bought this handmade nabe pot from a place called http://www.shoindo.com/. it was about $180 by the time it landed on my credit card!
I *think* this is the Yasaka pagoda. But I'm not sure.
It's a $12 rickshaw ride to the bottom.
Just a regular neighborhood corner in Kyoto. How's your local corner looking?
Kodai-ji temple was lit up til 10pm for visitors.
Kodai-ji temple by night
Kodai-ji temple by night
Kodai-ji temple by night - amazing garden, but in Japan, that's nothing out of the ordinary ...
Kodai-ji temple by night - bamboo stand
What's your chopstick fetish?
A bento box near the Sumiyoshi shrine
Not bad for 700 yen.
Bento box ingested, now ready to explore more temples.
Tortoise shell craft
Wildlife lovers would not approve of this store.
Nishiki market - food glorious food
How they wrap a pair of chopsticks
... with a lot more care than I take photos ...