Biwako Island Temple

Lake Biwa (or Biwako) has a few rocky islands jutting out from its middle, and one of the largest is covered entirely in temples and shrines... with a few souvenir shops littering the entry to the staircase. It is absolutely awesomely mystical and ancient-feeling, and almost made up for the $40 it cost us to get there... But! Natalie and Molly and I got to watch people pray, smelled the incense and even met a monk who was admiring our picture-taking and appreciation of the flowers.

The shore was all cliffs and rocks except at the dock

Maybe the dorms where the monks stay

Mushu! Dragon that spit out the water for hand-washing

Molly and I looking very engaged in something

O yes. I climbed those steps.

Temple 1

It looked like a graveyard to me, but I'm not sure...

The pathways from temple to temple were impeccably groomed
and arranged with bamboo and stones.

A monk!

More temple 1

It looked like a really worn-out, bony Ghandi to me.
I think all those papers are prayers.

An old offering-place. The wood and paint was all chipped and ancient.

A prayer wall: people write their prayers on these special slips of paper
and tack them on the wall.

Some of the stones on these steps had really old, worn kanji carved into them.

Bamboo next to the shrine.

Steeeeeeep. And Molly.

It looked so fiery in the sun

A lot of the trees were held up by these structures
to make them grow in a particular direction.

Natalie said this guy is a Buddhist god that punishes wrong-doers
with his purifying fire. His fangs were facing in opposite directions too.

The biggest temple and Natalie in front of it

You can see the dock and the boat we came over on.

This pathway crossed over a small valley into an area being remodeled (maybe? there was definitely construction happening). If you looked out of those slats, you saw trees all around.

Beautiful.

Kyoto

Kyoto Tower

After an entire day spent in this incredibly beautiful city, I'm convinced that even a week there wouldn't be enough to experience the fullness of the ancient temples, steel and glass skyscrapers, and rolling mountains all mixed in together. Kyoto, located just a 45 minute train-ride away, probably has something for everyone, with all the history, shopping, museums, etc. sprawling all over the place.

Molly, Natalie and I bought a bus ticket and explored the underground mall, Kyoto tower, and the breath-takingly picturesque Arashiyama (Arashi mountain). We wanted to go to Kinkakujin temple too, but we ran out of time, and I'm sure we'll visit again. We ate some delicious food, were lucky enough to find two impromptu tour guides (who were heading to Arashiyama the same time we were) and took some amazing pictures. The full day made us exhausted beyond all reason, but really happy.

Prepare for a super long entry... But mostly just a bunch of awesome pictures.

Kyoto Station is super crowded

Geisha statue in the Tower

View of a nearby temple through the Kyoto Tower binoculars

More Kyoto from Kyoto Tower

Rice Field!

Arashiyama

More Arashiyama (and the next bunch of pics)

This restaurant in Arashiyama had meals for $100 - $200 o_O

The puppies liked us :3

Okonomiyaki! A yummy pancake that is placed on a grill and you eat it as you prepare it

A Buddhist graveyard at the end of a beautiful Bamboo grove (which was too dark for my camera to do it justice :c )