Saturday, October 22: Kiyomizudera, Heian Jingu Shrine, Gion Corner, Pontocho

• Saturday morning, Tom and Mary had breakfast out / Tom; [Tom]
• And they visited the temple near our hotel (Nishi-Hongan-ji) / Tom
• The temple near our hotel / Tom
• The temple near our hotel / Tom

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• On Saturday morning, we were joined by Sophia Boudeliou, girlfriend of Kitty's nephew Chris.
• This delightful young woman helped us navigate Kyoto all day long.
• Sophia / Kitty; [Sophia Boudeliou]
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• We took taxis to the base of Kiyomizudera and started to climb.
• Heading toward the temple / Jackson; [Marcia, Barry, Tom]
• Temple bell / Jackson
• Temple bell / Tom
• Wishes / Jackson
• Wishes / Jackson
• Wishes / Tom
• Wishes / Jackson
• View from main deck / Jackson
• Young woman in kimono / Tom
• Young woman in kimono / Tom
• Young women in kimonos / Kitty; [Steve]
• Turn around, let me see your obis (not you, Steve!) / Kitty; [Steve]
• View of the main deck / Tom
• Another view of the temple / Tom
• Kiyomizudera means "temple of pure water" / Jackson
• Other young women in kimonos / Jackson
• A more modern beauty / Jackson
• Main lookout / Jackson
• Main lookout / Jackson
• Taking refreshments / Jackson
• The walk down / Jackson
• Blossoms along the way / Jackson
• Heading towards the taxi rank / Jackson; [Kerstin, Steve]
• Sophia / Jackson; [Sophia Boudeliou]

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• We took taxis to the Heian Jingu Shrine to see end of Jidai Matsuri (festival of ages).
• Heian Jingu Shrine / Jackson
• We had some time, so we had lunch in a local restaurant.
• Local restaurant / Jackson
• Growing in front / Jackson
• Sitting down to lunch / Jackson; [Tom, Marcia]
• Sitting down to lunch / Tom; [Kerstin, Anne]
• Sitting down to lunch / Tom; [Jackson, Mary, Kitty, Donna, Steve, Sophia Boudeliou, Kerstin, Anne]
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• After lunch, we returned to the shrine ...
• Back to the Heian Jingu Shrine / Jackson
• The Heian Jingu Shrine / Tom
• The Heian Jingu Shrine / Tom
• The Heian Jingu Shrine / Tom
• The Heian Jingu Shrine / Tom; [Mary]
• The Heian Jingu Shrine / Tom; [Mary, Tom]
• The Heian Jingu Shrine / Tom; [Barry, Anne]
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• Then it turned out, due to the threat of rain, the procession was postponed a day!
• So we took taxis to the Pontocho / Gion area, starting at the bridge over the Kamo river ...

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• Looking over the Kamo river / Jackson
• Sophia and some of her friends! they were raising funds for earthquake relief. / Jackson; [Sophia Boudeliou]
• Praying for no more earthquakes / Tom
• Praying for no more earthquakes / Tom
• Praying for no more earthquakes (click to see a short, related video (although on its side)). / Jackson
• Walking in Gion quarter / Tom; [Barry, Donna, Kitty, Mary, Steve]
• Walking in Gion quarter / Jackson
• The Gion Center performance center / Kitty
• Schoolgirls greeting us / Kitty; [Steve, Sophia Boudeliou]
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• Pontocho (also Ponto-cho) is a small alley with shops and restaurants - and the Kaburenjo theater.
• This theater is where the Suimeikai is held in March and October. This is a presentation by geisha and maiko (apprentice geisha)
• Pontocho / Jackson
• Pontocho / Tom
• Pontocho / Jackson
• Pontocho / Jackson
• Pontocho / Jackson
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• We were by the theater and saw some maiko and geisha ...
• Maiko waiting outside / Kitty
• Maiko waiting outside / Tom
• Geisha stepping out / Kitty
• Whoa! It's raining / Jackson
• Later gator / Kitty
• There she goes / Kitty
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• Then it started to sprinkle. Before we left, Kitty wanted to get some pictures of the sculptures in the stream along the street ...
• Scultpure / Kitty
• Scultpure / Kitty
• Scultpure / Kitty
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• Then the rain came down in torrents and we caught a cab back to our hotel.
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• That evening we ate at an izakaya that was more expensive than we expected (although not out of our reach).
• Also, the service was very slow. (However, there were only two people working the whole restaurant.)
• We have no pictures of that evening. But all in all, an excellent day!