Japan.It's Bloomin marvellous.

[drron]

Past the first Torii gate there are many different shrines but also a couple of temples.Nothing to do with size.A shrine is a Shinto place entered through a tori gate with usually a pair of lions or dogs guarding the entrance and a place to purify by washing hands and mouth.A temple is a Buddhist place of worship with a Buddha and incense burning.So a few of the scenes once through that original tori gate-

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There were some kimono wearers that had obviously hired them-

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It was the tattoos that confirmed it.

 

[drron]

Walking further you entered Muruyama gardens.Cherry blossoms plus crowds.

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Lots of food outlets.Some with very recognisable things-

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And some classic Japanese offerings!

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They were ready for even larger crowds at night-

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[drron]

Here it seemed that cherry blossom viewing-hanami-was a good excuse for a good ole binge-

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But I went looking at the gardens-

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The crows were looking on in anticipation of their own party later on.

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[drron]

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I love Japanese gardens.They don't rely just on colour for their beauty.Also the reverence they show for the older plants.In Australia that cherry tree would be chopped down as it is too old and getting diseased.Here they coddle it,supporting heavy limbs and wrapping parts to protect it.

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The lamps in the trees are for night viewing of the blossoms.

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The last picture is one of the reasons I love coming to Japan.it is of grandparents with their granddaughters.Grandfather was taking the photo of the others.I offered to take all of them with their own camera.Much gratitude expressed.But then others came up asking if they could take the photo and they willingly obliged so I took my own shot.As I walked away then looked back they were still posing.Beautiful people.

 

[karen blancfield]

I wouldn't have been at all surprised to see one of our group of four in the background of your photos! Wouldn't that be fun! We certainly walked the same paths at pretty much the same time, just so beautiful. In Nara, we stayed in a ryokan inside the park gates and after seeing the bus loads converging, we got up and visited next morning at 7am. Excellent decision! Lovely to see your photos, thanks.

 

[drron]

There was even a small side show alley-

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The lady on the laughing ninjas didn't want a photo taken.
I would heartily recommend a visit here if you are in Kyoto for cherry blossom time.Not only the blossom but interesting people watching.I now caught the train back to the hotel.Lots of worried commuters as it was 2 minutes late!The blossoms on the incline were now nearly at peak-

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And saw our only sunset in Kyoto-clouds spoilt them all including this one-

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A light dinner in lounge with some cakes afterwards.We had also bought a packet of Japanese sweets.Turned out to be their version of Turkish delight but not as sweet so we thought it better and bought a box.

 

[drron]

Friday and we had brekkie in the lounge where we met an English couple who were going to be on our cruise.
We had scheduled a visit to Arashiyama today as the blossoms there usually a bit behind Kyoto.I had hoped to do the Romantic Steam train ride up the river valley and then come down the river on an old wooden boat they used for river transport 2 centuries ago.However it was raining.We put off leaving but the rain continued.Would have been spectacular if fine.Still huge crowds but not pleasant so a quick walk around the town and over the bridge which is the recccomended spot for cherry viewing-

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[drron]

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Well it was the weather for ducks.

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[drron]

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A lovely Japanese downpipe-

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[drron]

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[drron]

Now time to start the walk back to the train-

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And street flowers-

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[drron]

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From the train back to Kyoto-

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Back at Kyoto station it was time for a late lunch.We went to a tonkatsu place on the top floor of Isetan.Mrsd had the straight tonkatsu and I what was described as tonkatsu on noodle soup with egg.

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It was time for a couple of food shots to break the floral monotony.Whilst eating a family sat at the next table.They had a~ 2year old son.As usual I scared the life out of him.I have been called by young kids oni or youma amongst others including here in Niigata by some very young schoolgirls.I believe some AFFers also think I might be an ogre or demon.:shock:
The lunch was very tasty and reasonably cheap.

 

[drron]

After lunch we went down to the basement to see if we could buy some fruit.Not a great range and everything expensive so we did the next healthiest thing and bought some cakes!

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Then through the shopping arcade where we passed a Laura Ashley store with a 4 letter sign outside. Wasn't going to be able to stop mrsdrron going in and picking up an item or 2.Also many examples of Jinglish.This a cosmetic store with a brand that probably wouldn't make it in Australia-

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Some shots from the shuttle of the riverside cherry trees-

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[drron]

More of the riverside-

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back at the Westin the rain had eased to showers but the wind had strengthened.I decided to go for another walk but mrsdrron thought I was crazy.Didn't have to go far to see more blossoms-

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[drron]

I was off to the Heian Jingu shrine.Quite a bit to see along the way-

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Turn the corner to the shrine and a very large tori gate-

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A very good idea for an information office,an old tram.At the shrine they were setting up for a weekend celebration-

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[drron]

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A very old cherry tree being well looked after-

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[drron]

Wishes being displayed.Certainly complements the blossom at this time of year-

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The sky darkened and the wind started to roar as I began to doubt the wisdom of my walk.Fortunately that only lasted about 10 minutes so I walked home via the canal leading to the incline-

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[drron]

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[drron]

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And now back to the incline where the blossom and photographers were in full bloom-

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Back to the hotel.Up to the lounge which was packed.We were shown to the checkin room for the Executive floor and had it all to ourselves with personal service.So the did KWIW!

 

[drron]

Karen I just might have you in one of my pictures.This is only a fraction of them.going over the Kyoto pictures there were a group of women in the pictures on the Philospher's walk that were on our cruise.Must be an AFFer somewhere!.


So Saturday and we are off to Osaka to join the cruise group.In the morning we walked around the Westin's grounds-not too shabby-

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And their chapel-

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