• Susan WaglandJapan 88 Temples PilgrimageTraveler
    Efficient temple guidePalace gate, cedar wood3Garden within palace1Tea and toast laid out with careTea and toast shopNikiri: chopstick shopRice crackers1Octopus on sticks2I had a strawberry chocolate daifukuHairpin shop3Many flavours of KitKatI had shrimp tempuraA taste of Wagyu beef4Nikiri MarketYasuka templeGirl who had rented a kimonoGarden at Hideyoshi shrineKiyomosu TempleView from Kiyomosu Temple

    Kyoto palace and temples

    October 4, 2025 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    Kyoto's Imperial Palace was rebuilt in 1869 in traditional 8th century style in cedar wood after it burned down, as it had several times before.

    The guide's English was perfect but I couldn't hear him over the rain on umbrellas and the feet on gravel. After a few big cedar gates and halls, I was ready for tea in an old Japanese tea shop. This particular place was the woman's grandparents' home. They loved Japanese art, and she showed me a beautiful book on the art of Japanese screens, which I read for half an hour.

    Nishiki market was my next stop. It was very busy - it is Saturday - but fun, and dry. I bought snacks! Then I went to Yakima Temple, Hideyoshi shrine which I loved, even in rain, and  Kiyomosu temple on top of a hill. I didn't go inside as I'd had enough of crowds.    Read more