Ringing in the new year in Kyoto

After the craziness of Tokyo, it was a relief to get to Kyoto - a more compact, easily navigated city (in other words I didn't get lost once!). Continuing my return to hostels after a long absence I can highly recommend Khaosan Kyoto Guesthouse, a fabulous hostel in which I blissfully had my own room. On my first full day I went on a tour run by some lovely local university students. The walk went through the old streets of Gion past the geisha houses and to a temple that from memory was dedicated to to the god of the liver (yes, I know, that's one god I should be getting on side!). Then on to one of the most popular temples, Kiyomizuda. The temple is two stories off the ground and the story is if you jump off your wish will be granted. And apparently most who have attempted it have survived. But I think the practice had been stopped now.

It's interesting being in Japan at the new year. All the shrines and temples are busy with people getting ready to literally ring in the new year by ringing the bell of the temple so the god will hear their wish. As for Kyoto's other sights - I had a wander through the Nikishi Market - it sells fresh pickles, seafood, miso and so on. Its a long, narrow lane so crowding and bottlenecks are inevitable! I also visited the "bamboo forest" in Arashiyama by way of an adorable electric railway. Now, being from Australia where it takes a concerted effort to see snow, when it falls somewhere like the middle of a bamboo forest I giggle with wonder like a child! Luckily it was a few flutters of the stuff not a blizzard so it was romantic without me worrying about frostbite!

Even lovelier was the Fushimi Inari temple, most famous for its lines of orange tori (gates) winding up the hillside. And when you got off the main pathways into the surrounding woods there are smaller shrines to discover and its own bamboo forest. If you've only got time to see one major temple in Kyoto, make it this one!

I also walked the Path of Philosophy that has many smaller shines branching off of it. And just in case you are thinking it was all temples and philosophy, I did end up on a pub crawl and at a club (yes, a smoke machine, laser lights, expensive drinks club) on New Years Eve for the countdown with a bunch of other backpackers. We will never speak of this again ;-)

Hiroshima next. Signing off. H