My journey started at the beginning of March when I boarded the night bus headed toward Tokyo. Arriving in Tokyo for my second tour of the city I remembered well the scene at the station during the morning rush to work, and avoided the station until well after the business day had started. I spent the next few days rushing about the city, visiting the various markets, taking pictures, meeting friends, and doing my best to look like a tourist.
Being a college student, it was, of course, a must to pay homage to the always affordable, easy to make, and ever-so tasty Cup of Ramen at the Ramen museum in Yokohama. It was a special experience, unfortunately they emptied all of our thermos containing hot water and our dinner plans were spoiled.
Below are a few pictures of areas around Tokyo including the Tsukiji Market, the famous fish market of Tokyo, as well as some pictures of Shibuya, an area known for its energy, youth culture, and the central crosswalk where one can watch thousands of people cross the street in a hurried rush from above in the nearby Starbucks.
After spending time in Tokyo, I boarded another night bus and made way for the old capital, Kyoto. Kyoto, as before, was an enchanting city filled with ancient history, epic legends, narrow streets, local shops, with the hum of the city life in the background. I explored a few more of the local areas, famous landmarks and buildings and was again taken-in by Kyoto's unique and charming atmosphere.
Kiyomizu-dera was one of the favorite temple's I have visited. It was an astounding monument to both architecture and design. The temple dates back to 778 and the current structures that can be seen today were built in the Heian period in 1633. The temple itself is an impressive sight to behold, yet perhaps the most impressive aspect is that the entire complex has been constructed without the use of a single nail. The temple is named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must see for anyone visiting Kyoto. A popular expression "教水の舞台から飛び降りる勇気ある？" meaning, "Do you have the courage to jump from Kyomizu's stage?".
Within the temple complex there are several other shrines one of which is the Jinshu Shrine, dedicated to Okuninushi the god of love and good matches. Within the shrine there are two love stones set 20 feet apart from each other, it is said that if one walks from one stone to the other with their eyes closed, they will find true love. Fortunately people around the area of the stones stay clear of the lover's path and help him or her reach the stone successfully.
Below are some pictures of the entrance to Kyomizu-dera as well as some pictures within the temple complex. However, if you would like to see a picture of the famous stage I encourage you to check out the following link: Kiyomizu-dera Information.
The entrance into the Jinshu Shrine, dedicated to Okuninushi the god of love and good matches.
Another stop on my adventure in Kyoto included Tenryu-ji, the Temple of the Heavenly Dragon. It is located in the Sagano district of Kyoto and is the head temple of the Tenryu-ji branch of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. It was established in 1339 and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The landscape garden behind the Main Hall is one of the oldest in Japan and retains its original form as designed by Muso Soseki in the fourteenth century.
Some photos of Kyoto.
