Part 2
Arriving in Tokyo Monday evening is very hectic. We leave the airport and take the light rail to our hotel. Our dinner consists of take-out food court items from the subway station, and we eat in our tiny hotel room.
We are treated to a wonderful breakfast buffet of Japanese, Chinese, and western selections. Then, we strike out to visit the Meiji shrine and the Hamarikyu Garden. The best part of this day is the tea ceremony in the teahouse overlooking the water. Our day ends as night falls at Senso-ji, and afterwards, we enjoy a hot udon dinner in a restaurant nearby.
On Thursday morning, we stroll the east garden of the Imperial Palace. Then, we take the bullet train to Kyoto.
We wake up to mountain views from our balcony at the Westin Miyako Kyoto. After morning meetings, the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeon tour takes us to Kiyomizu-dera. After the temple visit, we ramble down the path, sampling matcha soft serve and other local snacks.
Over the next few days, we use Kyoto as a base to tour surrounding areas. We discover that the deer at Nara actually bow to get food. The Totoro store in Osaka tickles Yan and the kids. We find other picturesque areas of Kyoto, from the red torii gates to the verdant bamboo groove. Before departing, I learn that the back trails of the Westin meander along a garden and lead to a bird sanctuary.
Then, it’s time to leave. Visiting a new place makes deep impressions, and my biggest impression is that there is not a single public trash can in Japan. Now, back to the California via Hawaii.
Gateway to the Meiji Shrine
At the Meiji Shrine
Sake offering at the Meiji Shrine
Gateway to the Meiji Shrine
Rest area in the Hamarikyu Garden
Strolling along a path in the Hamarikyu Garden
Crossing a bridge in Hamarikyu Garden
Having matcha and mochi in Hamarikyu Garden
Having matcha and mochi in Hamarikyu Garden
Myles running in the Hamarikyu Garden
Family picture in front of Kaminari mon
Sensō-ji Five-Storied Pagoda
Couple bowing at Senso-ji
Sensō-ji Hozomon lit up at night
Sensō-ji Five-Storied Pagoda lit up at night
Sensō-ji Five-Storied Pagoda lit up at night
At the Imperial Palace East Garden
Jayden, Myles, and Yan walking down the ramp
Pond and stone lantern
Koi fish in the pond
Daphney looking at the koi fish
Koi fish in the pond
Sunlight through the bamboo grove
Myles first one awake, on our balcony
View of Kiyomizu-dera
Family picture in front of the Kiyomizu-dera pagoda
Pagoda at Kiyomizu-dera
Yan eating matcha soft serve at Honke Nishio Yatsuhashi
Eating soft serve at Honke Nishio Yatsuhashi
In front of the Ghibli Totoro store in Kyoto
Myles interacting with a deer at Nara Park
Kids in Nara Park with deer
Myles interacting with a deer at Nara Park
Deer standing on a ridge
Family picture in front of Kōfuku-ji Tokondo
Myles running with the deer outside Tōdai-ji
Deer outside Tōdai-ji
At Osaka LUCUA rooftop garden
With the giant stuffed Totoro, Osaka Ghibli store
Thousand Torii Gates
Thousand Torii Gates
Thousand Torii Gates
Thousand Torii Gates
In the lobby of the Westin Miyako Kyoto, just before the ABJS banquet
Pathway in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Japanese irises in Tenryu-ji
Sitting in front of Tenryu-ji Kohojo
Zen meditation rock garden at Ryōan-ji
Kinkaku-ji reflections in the pond
Daphney taking pictures of the Kinkaku-ji
Kids climbing the bamboo railing at Kinkaku-ji
Yan and Daphney at the entrance to Nijō Castle
Details at Nijō Castle
Pigeon at Nijō Castle
Jayden in front of an entryway at Nijō Castle
Myles reading the information pamphlet for Nijō Castle
At the Shinto gate outside the Westin Miyako Kyoto, trail to the bird sanctuary
At gate 17, Osaka Kansai Airport, getting ready to board our flight to Honolulu
You must be logged in to post a comment.