Japan 2016. Day 5: Temple day

Today was an unforgettable day exploring Kyoto. We started off by indulging in a Japanese breakfast with an English twist at a nearby tea salon. The "toast breakfast" we tried was a unique blend of warm bread with a dipping sauce made from raw egg blended with Matcha, a cold omelet, and pickles. The cold brew tea was amazing and I will be making this when I get back to the UK.


After breakfast, we headed to one of Kyoto's most significant sights, Kiyomizu-dera temple. The climb up to the temple was steep, but the shop-lined pathway was lively and full of energy. We tried some of the local Kyoto delicacies along the way, including pickled cucumbers on sticks. 



The temple was a majestic sight, and as we approached its wooden terrace, we were greeted with breathtaking views of Kyoto. The 11-headed Kannon statue was a sight to behold, and it attracted many worshippers, making the temple bustling with activity. Before we left, we drank from the sacred Spring, where we had the choice of three fountains, longevity, love, or intelligence. Guess which we chose?

From there, we took the philosopher's path to the Nansen-hi temple. The journey was serene, and it was a welcome change from the crowds at the other temples. Along the way, we visited many smaller shrines and took in the beauty of the landscape. 




We later followed the path all the way to Ginaku-Ji, the silver pavilion, visiting many smaller shrines along the way. It had two sand gardens and a beautiful pond. One of the sand gardens was raked, while the other was a massive cone shape. We spent some time here, taking in the serene surroundings and appreciating the tranquility of the place. 





As the sun began to set, we headed to the Gion district, the old Geisha quarter. The lanes were beautifully lit up with red paper lanterns, and the atmosphere was magical. We walked around the backstreet lanes and found an old-style restaurant, where we indulged in a teriyaki chicken meal and a tempura noodle meal. The food in Japan is truly delicious, and we have yet to have a bad meal. 


                                                    



We ended our very spiritual day in a gambling den .........
Well, an arcade, before returning to our hotel for our naked spa 😂😂😂
 It was a spiritual and fulfilling day that we will always cherish.
















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