Kyoto West

There are many really interesting things to see around Ōsaka, but not really in Ōsaka^^. So also on the third day we were staying in there, we left early in the morning to explore temples on the west side of Kyoto. Unfortunately René had a bad stomach starting from this day and was in constant search for toilets which certainly made his experience much worse :-(

Right after leaving the train station the way to the first temple was already very beautiful! The street was lined with many many Sakura trees and accompanied with them many girls in beautiful kimonos. Since all the temples are extremely touristy there are always lots of people around... For the first time I saw a Rickshaw kind of wagon which was pulled by a walking man. I really didn’t envy these poor guys with calves like tree trunks, pulling fat tourists all day long… At some point the path was going along a nice river on which old staking boats were transporting more tourists^^

Before reaching the first temple we had to pass a cool bamboo forest which seemed to amaze all the other people much more than me judging on the time we needed to pass it… But the temple or better saying the garden of the temple was really worth it. It’s a gorgeous Zen-Garden with many trees and plants blooming in all different kind of colours on a slight slope around the temple. On the highest point we had an amazing view on the temple lined with cherry trees almost in full blossom! Every Zen-Garden also has to have a clear lake with Koi which is so elaborately nurtured that I also want to have one :-( And also came the moment we needed the 1 Yen coins I was collecting during the whole trip so far. We came to several small ponds with different statues inside where had to throw them on top of the frog's head or in some small basin to get lucky. But since these coins are just aluminum that’s much more challenging than one would might think and I think no one of use hit the jackpot :D But just judging on the amount of money which is thrown there I can understand how they finance these beautiful temples and gardens :D

After a couple more toilet breaks, several small temples and a second big temple we came to a truly amazing place. A whole city out of temples! On an area of maybe 1,5 x 1,5 km there so many different kinds of temples or shrines or temple-like building that I felt in a completely different world. Some of them were even connected with wooden bridges and in many of them were even residences of wealthy families which was already indicated by the many different emblems on the keystones of the roofs but what we also learned when Claudi was kicked out one of them sticking here nose a little bit too deep inside^^

After passing this city everyone was hungry and we went to the first place to eat that we saw which happened to be a small Udon store. So I had my first Udon, which is a thick wheat noodle with light taste in a smooth broth which is not so strong and completely different from Ramen and with much less toppings. Even though I prefer the very strong taste of Ramen this is also a very delicious meal!

The we had to walk a long way to see another highlight of the trip: The Golden Pavilion. After unsuccessfully trying to enter the back entrance and skipping the fee we entered it’s area. And while usually there are many other things before you see the main act here you’re directly overwhelmed by the view of the pavilion. It sits on the shore of a beautiful Zen-Pond and is a gorgeous building completely covered in gold leafs. While we were there the sun was slowly setting and reflected by the building… A truly terrific view!

Having many more chances to throw coins on several things – and failing – we took the train back to Ōsaka.
And even though all these days were very amazing we were always covering a lot of ground by foot mostly on paved streets which was very tiresome for everyone… And so the evening program usually was short with a single beer at home :DRead more