Kyoto - day 2 - Gion area

We started the day with a bus ride back to the Gion area. Come here. We walked up the hill to the Chion-in temple that we had seen in the dark last night. The temple complex is very big with a massive central main hall. The entrance gate is also very tall and well over two stories. After looking around the main square area we walked on and explored the temple gardens and the massive temple bell. It was cast in 1633 and is the largest temple bell in Japan and apparently takes 30 monks to chime it.

Having visited the temple we continue on and so the tallest Buddha in Kyoto which sits on the hillside near that temple.

We retraced our route that we had seen previous evening in the dark. Only this time the streets were far busier with tourists. The area was pretty with lots of little school shops and street food vendors.

We continued on past the five story pagoda and back through the streets of Gion where again there were large crowds.

As it was now after 12 we stopped for some gyoza's before heading to the metro.Read more