Kyoto: Higashiyama and Gion

I hope you enjoy some of the pictures we took during our visit to Kyoto.  We spent three days in the city.  We stayed in the central area and took public transportation to three major sightseeing areas and then we walked and walked.  The best way to experience a city, walk.  We had beautiful sunny, crisp fall weather.  We took so many pictures that I will start with our first day in the Higashiyama and Gion districts where we visited three temples, wandered through old Kyoto streets, spotted lots of women dressed up in kimono, met a few Geisha, enjoyed an Indian meal for dinner, and ended our evening with a Japanese cultural arts show.

Autumn is one of the busiest tourist seasons to visit Kyoto, people flock to see the temples surrounded by Japanese maple in full color.  The crowds and the colors did not disappoint.

Kiyomizu-dera temple is set up on the hillside, rising above Kyoto. You can see Kyoto Tower in the distance.

Many Japanese school children visit Kyoto during their school trips, here is a bunch enjoying the blessed water.  We witnessed many forms of Japanese worship during our visit to the temples.  There are many trinkets for sale that they buy for luck in health, business, love, etc. They pray to statues, ring bells, clap and bow.

Our first Geisha sighting.  I loved the shops along this street.

Todd was excited to show some Steeler pride alongside his new friends, if only he had brought the terrible towel.

From one belly to another, some Buddha belly luck.

We ended our day with a show that included performances of traditional Japanese arts.  We saw a tea ceremony, flower arranging, harp, court music, a noh play, geisha dance, and a puppet skit.  I especially enjoyed the dance and learning a little more about Japanese arts.