1. Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-dera was one of the first temples we visited in Kyoto (Kyoto city can be seen through the afternoon mist in the background), and it was one of my favourites, it was really quite impressive.
2. Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji
Kinkaku-ji, aka the Golden Pavilion - infamously burnt to the ground by a monk in the 1950s for no real reason, this is a perfect reconstruction (like most Japanese temples these days). This temple has the distinction of being covered in gold leaf, setting it apart from it's non-golden peers. Looks impressive even on a cloudy and rainy day like this one!
3. Kyoto: temple roof detail
Sadly I can't remember which temple this roof detail is taken from, but it's a good example of the stunning traditional architecture found in Japan.
4. Kyoto: Pontocho Geisha dances
We were lucky enough to see the once-a-year-only Geisha dances in Pontocho, one of the oldest Geisha areas in Japan. Yes, these are all real, practicing, professional Geisha, not just actors in costume!
5. Kyoto: Ginkaku-ji
Ginkaku-ji - Almost a sister to the Golden Pavilion, in that it was intended to be covered with silver leaf. This was never achieved, but the raked white sand lawn reflects a silver glow onto the temple in the mooonlight. During the day, it looks like any other temple, but with, um, a cool raked lawn.
6. Kyoto: Nanzen-ji mountain walk
Hidden behind the Nanzen-ji temple grounds is a really stunning (and slightly eery) mountain walk, and this is one of the many shrines we discovered along the path, which are obviously still used, but we didn't see a single soul even though we were walking through the forest for several hours.
7. Nara: Ryokan Seikan-so
This is the ornamental garden in the ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn) that we stayed at while in Nara. Nara was the first national capital of Japan (for 75 years, until it was moved to Kyoto in 785AD). Part of this ryokan used to be a Geisha House.
8. Nara: yukata fun!
This is a slightly dodgy picture of me and Emma posing in our yukata (kind of a casual version of a kimono) in our room in Nara ..... attractive, no?!
9. Himeji: Himeji-jo
Himeji-jo ('jo' meaning castle) - possibly the most famous castle in Japan, as seen in James Bond's You Only Live Twice, amongst other things. It's bloody big, and some of the stones used in its construction are simply massive.
