Kyoto Visit

On May 1st, I met Sachiko at Kyoto station. We've been here many times, but Kyoto has over 15 World Heritage sites and is a very spread-out city. Therefore, it's the kind of place you can keep coming back to and still find something new to see. Our arrival happened to coincide with opening of the yuka season along the Kamo River. These are wooden platforms adjoined to restaurants that sit over the canal adjacent to the river. It's a lovely setting from which to watch people strolling along the river path, couples sitting at the water's edge. The next day we went to Kurama/Kifune, northeast of the city. Tengu goblins are said to inhabit this area, and Kifune Shrine uses hydromancy: you dip your fortune into water to read the hidden message. The yuka at Kifune sit only a foot above the rushing water of the stream below. This keeps diners nice and cool in summer, but nice and cold in May. On the 3rd, we visited Sanjusan Temple, noted for it's 1000 gold-painted statues that stand on either side of a big sitting Buddha. These words don't do justice to the power of these places.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/attractions/facilities/shrines_temples/83dn3a000000ei6u.html
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/kyoto-sanjusangendo.htm