2022.10.15

It was cloudy and fine.

I wore kimono and went to the nearby shrine as a ritual of the 15th of the month.

I headed for Shinagawa to get on Shinkansen bound for Kyoto.

I came to the hotel first to leave a suitcase and went to Omotesenke Kitayama Kaikan, Tea Ceremony museum. I have been a member of Omotesenke Tea school sect for a long time but this was the very first time to visit there.

After that I walked along the Kamo river to the bus stop and headed for Kodaiji Jugyuan to have dinner. We had very delicious dinner. There were maiko∼san and geiko∼san and we enjoyed their performance.

It was a nice day.

2015.10.17

It was rainy at home but fine in Kyoto.

I took Shinkansen from Shinagawa at 11:21 and arrived at Kyoto around 13:31.
I ate lunch on the train. The lunch sold at station is called ekiben (駅弁). I chose Shinagawa meibutu kaizukushi(品川名物 貝づくし) at yen 960. There were four different shell fish and it was tasty.
After arriving at Kyoto I headed for Toji (東寺) and changed to my favorite kimono. This kimono and obi are rose ensamble which I fell in love with the first sight.
After checking in the hotel, I went to Gion(祇園) by bus. There I went to a tea shop where I have long wanted to visit and ate kuzukiri (くずきり). It was rather expensive, but I am glad to visit there finally.
After that I went to eat dinner at a Japanese restaurant "Takeshibaro(竹芝楼)" and ate delicious meal with kimono friends.
There came special guests, maiko san (舞子さん) and Geiko san (芸子さん) and enjoyed taking pictures with them.
To walk around Kyoto with kimono was one of my dreams of the last few years, so I am glad to make it come true.

2015.7.26

I came to Kyoto by night bus. I arrived around 5:40 am. First I went to New Miyako hotel to buy a discount one day subway ticket for the night bus riders. However the places I wanted to visit today was better to visit by bus. So I bought one day bus ticket for yen 500. Since flat rate of one bus ride is yen 230, if you ride more than three times, it is better to buy this ticket. I used more than seven times.
I went to Toji (東寺) temple first. Lotus flowers were very beautiful. There was a talk by a  priest from 6:45 to 7:00, so I attended. Then I ate breakfast and visited my hotel to leave the buggage.
Then I left for Shimogamojinja (下鴨神社). There was a special event to enter the river which only happens once in a year, so I tried.
After that I went to Kamigamojinja (上賀茂神社). There was also special exhibition only happens today. So I feel lucky.
Then I went to Fushimiinari taisha (伏見稲荷大社) where is the most popular place among foreign people. There are about 10000 torii (鳥居) gates. I did not have enough time so I could not climb up the mountain. Therefore I hope to be back someday.

I went back to Kyoto station to see my friend from Expo 92. We walked around the station to find a nice place to eat but it was difficult. After all we went to a tea room and ate sweets.

She was interested in Kamigamojinja.  Since there was a special event there tonight, I recommended her to go and she did and enjoyed.

I went to Chokenji (長建寺) temple to observe the fire festival which only happens once in a year. This was the main reason for me to come to Kyoto this time.

After the festival when I came back to Kyoto station, there was sound and fountain show. So I enjoyed 15 minutes event.

I have looked for a restaurant and most of them were closed, but I could find the one where I could eat Kyoto dishes.

It was fine and very hot today.
And it was a very long day but I enjoyed many things.