Kyoto Day 3

Our last full day in Kyoto and it was back on the bikes. 31 degrees max predicted so were were keen to get going. First stop was Kinkakuji Temple, or the Golden Pavillion. It was about a 30 minute ride, slightly uphill, so we're were quite hot and sweaty when we arrived - and the crowds! It was shoulder to shoulder all the way. Once inside we could appreciate why so many were there..

...but it did detract from the overall experience and we were relieved to get out. We then rode to Daikakuji Temple complex, reputedly with the best Zen garden in Kyoto. The gardens turned out to be the rock gardens of Daisen-in.

The garden was constructed in 1509, and expresses the spirit of Zen through rocks and sand. No photos were allowed, but God (sorry Google) provides. It presents the entirety of mankind's struggles from birth in the mountains, flowing through streams and lakes, conflicted by turtles and herons...

...til the ocean is reached with pillars of salt, and one realises the meaning of it all.

Now I know why I am not a Zen Buddhist!

Next stop was Nishjin textile centre, with weaving demonstrations...

..and a kimono show.

We had pre-booked a tour of the Imperial Palace, so rode down ther for lunch and a ride around the gardens..

..before joining the group for the tour at one of the gates in the outer wall.

Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan for a thousand years, so there is a lot of history here. The walls are 450m by 250 m and there are just 6 gates, mostly like this.

Interestingly the rooves, which we assumed were rice thatch..

..are actually Cypress pine bark, in layers upon layers. Hard to imagine the work involved in this. Also it lasts 30 years and it takes 25 years to replace all the rooves in the palace - do I hear any references to painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge?

We saw quite a lot, but will limit the photos to the main coronation building..

..and the private gardens..

..plus some of the 1800 odd artworks in the complex.

We then scurried home to get out of the heat. We are now pretty confident with our bike riding and head for the narrow back streets when covering any distance.

We headed out again at about 6:30. Now much milder. We had been told about an okonomyaki restaurant some 2 kms away, however we found out when we arrived it is closed Mondays. There was a very basic and slightly Stambolieff tonkatsu restaurant next door, and the lady spoke English so we decided to go there. It was a good choice. A breaded pork and prawn cutlet menu, including salad, miso, rice, pickles, tea and an ice cream for $12...

...plus a lovely man and wife team who had run tonkatsu restaurants for 40 years (boring)! They showed us a photo of their grandson, the same age as Ari, and gave us present when we left!

It was now early evening, so lights required for the ride home. We were firmly warned not to ride after dark without them being on.