Golden week Part one: Kyoto.

Hey! So I have finally gotten back from Golden week. For those of you of you who aren't familiar with golden week I'll explain. It is from April 29th until May 5th. This week is when major national holidays fall. Golden week is also when everyone decides to travel. So attempting to be as Japanese as possible I decided to do as the Japanese do and go on a trip to the Kansai area, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara to be exact. I had so much fun! I really loved Kyoto, so much in fact that I wouldn't mind living there in the future. There is too much for me to actually write about everything, so instead I will post pictures with brief descriptions. (Click on any of the photos to enlarge)

Sanjusangendo Temple: The temple name literally means Hall with thirty three spaces between columns, describing the architecture of the long main hall of the temple. The main deity of the temple is Sahasrabhuja-arya-avalokiteśvara or the Thousand Armed Kannon, a National Treasure of Japan. The temple also contains one thousand life-size statues of the Thousand Armed Kannon which stand on both the right and left sides of the main statue in 10 rows and 50 columns.

One of the main gates (which is no longer used)


That is a very long building.


Some of the 1,000 Kannons. (Pictures were not allowed inside, so this image is courtesy of google)

Nijo-jo Castle : built in 1603. Famed for its painted screens from the Kano school and the “Nightingale” floor that “chirps” when you walk on it (to warn of possible intruders, i.e. Ninjas).
Again, pictures were not allowed inside.


Ceiling paintings (courtesy of google images.)


Wall paintings (courtesy of google images)


Alex standing outside the main gates of the castle.


The outer walls protecting the castle.


The entrance into the main courtyard which leads to the entrance of the actual castle.


A side of Nijo Castle.


One section of the beautiful gardens at Nijo.


An older Japanese woman enjoying the view of Nijo castle.

Nishiki Market:In existence since the seventeenth century Nishiki, with over a hundred vendors, is one of Kyoto's main fish and vegetable markets.


Mariko and I eating soy icecream. Very delicious! We also had soy doughnuts, Super delicious!


Some vendors, luckily this day wasn't very crowded because golden week hadn't officially started. I went back later during golden week and it was PACKED!


Hmmm, interesting. But no, I was not brave enough to try. They stuck a small hard boiled egg into the octopus' head.

Dinner with Mariko (not a sight, but it was very fun and the food was really good and interesting, so I wanted to share.)


Mariko, Hiroki, Alex, and I.


A boiled fish. It looked pretty intimidating, but turned out to be SUPER おいしい！


The rest of our super delicious meal!

Kiyomizu Dera Temple:"Pure Water Temple". It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall's pure waters. It is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below. The main hall and the stage were built without the use of nails or other adhesives. The Otowa Waterfall is located at the base of Kiyomizudera's main hall. Its waters are divided into three separate streams, each stream's water is said to have a different benefit, longevity, success at school, or a fortunate love life. However, is is considered greedy to drink from all three fountains, so you must choose one, and they don't specify which fountain is which. This was my favorite place of the whole trip!


Me standing outside the entrance gates of the temple.


A beautifully painted pagoda at the entrance of the temple.





Me doing one of the many purification/goodluck rituals.






The main temple and the hillside surrounding. It is such a beautiful sight. (These structures were built without the use of nails)


The Otowa Waterfall. I drank from one of the fountains for goodluck.