Camera Crazy Day

Most of today was a very tourist-ey experience.

We started off with an adventure to a Japanese supermarket (AA batteries, since my charger has a dodgy voltage >_<"" and Jam + Bread = cheap lunch). Supermarkets seem to be far less common here than in Australia, probably replaced by an abundance of convenience stores and vending machines. The supermarket was an experience. The lady at the register told you how much each item was as she scanned it, and how much the new total was for each item.

After shopping, we caught the bus out towards Southern Higashiyama and headed towards Kiyomizu-dera. Kiyomizu-dera is apparently one of Kyoto's major sights; it's a Budhist temple precinct built protruding from the hillside. The place was huge, but there were people everywhere: only a few gaijin, but tours, school groups and Japanese nationals. This was a Wednesday as well, I imagine it would be even more packed on a weekend. The views were great, and there was a beautiful contrast between the temples, the mountain forest and urban Kyoto in the background. Liz did most of the prayers for good fortune at the temples and the shinto shrines; we both did the Otowa-no-taki spring though. The spring comes out of the mountain and is directed over a roofed area into three channels, falling into a pool. You take a small jar with a long handle, fill it from one of the waterfalls, and either drink or wash your hands with the water. This is meant to bring you good fortune for whatever you wish for.

We went souvenir shopping after doing the sightseeing; it got pretty crazy.. so many shops. Counted like 3 selling paper fans, and only paper fans.. Eventually got off that street and found a quieter one, still selling souvenirs, but better quality. Wandered some until we got to Yasaka-jinja, and Maruyama-koen. The first was a shrine that was quite nice, the second was a park that had an area covered in sakura trees. Would have been very beautiful in spring, but they were just bare trees now.

Walked about in Kyoto near the shopping areas along the river. There are some beautiful streets down there. Walked down Pontocho (a street with teahouses where Geisha's go to entertain) but didn't see any. It was late in the evening at that stage though. Walked about some more and found an alright okonomiyaki place for dinner before coming home.