... we set off to the extreme east of Kyoto, the districts of Higashiyama and Gion. Here there are warrens of tiny streets and traditional houses.
Towering above them is a huge statue of Buddha,
an ancient Pagoda,
and the impressive Kodaiji temple. Though far less well known than many other temples in Kyoto, we found this one to be really impressive, with its 16th century buildings, tea houses, gardens, pond and bridges.
Sitting at the border between mountains and city, Kodaiji also seems to bridge the old and the new in Kyoto. Being the first to arrive, we also had the temple almost to ourselves.
After a long explore of Higashiyama in the sunshine, we squeezed in a visit to Yasaka shrine, and then headed to the train station to go to our next destination - the port city of Kobe.
Kobe was, of course, badly damaged by a giant earthquake in 1995, but much has been rebuilt. We are staying right in the centre, amidst the bright lights, neon signs, food stalls and pachinko halls. The hotel itself had styled itself on a 'British theme', including Oxford college crests on the dining room wall (!) which seem crazily incongruous in this setting.
Above 'feeling at home'; below 'sushi on the Union Jack'
It is now New Year's Eve, and so for our last adventure of 2013 we headed to Ikuta shrine in Kobe to see the preparations for the celebrations. Dozens of stalls were being set up to sell food, including toffee apples and fried chicken (which the boys headed for), and fried octopus on a stick (which seemed less appealing).
Location:Kyoto and Kobe
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