Today was our last day in Japan. It was a very nice - warm enough for just a sweatshirt and no jacket - and sunny. After having breakfast and heading to Toys-R-Us to get a gift for Christophe's son we took the train to Kyoto.
The first sight we saw in Kyoto was a Buddhist Temple, Higashi Honganji. Inside the temple was another large hall, the Amida Hall, one of the largest wooden structures in the world. You had to take off your shoes to enter the hall as floor was covered with straw mats, or tatami. There were people kneeling in worship in front of the main alter.
Kyoto was home to the Imperial family from 794 to 1868 and at the city center is an Imperial Palace. After the temple we decided to walk several miles to the Imperial Palace. We discovered that like the Imperial Palace in Tokyo you can walk the surrounding gardens, but you are unable to enter the palace itself. The palace is surrounded by walls that you are unable to see over so the area is more a park than anything else.
After walking for a couple of hours we decided to take a taxi back to the train station. We grabbed some snacks before getting on the train and then we headed back to the hotel. Once again, we did a great job getting around. Taking the Japanese Railway is fairly easy and the people staffing the rail service are very helpful. All in all it's been a nice trip.
We finished off the day hanging out and watching Japan play Korea in the World Baseball Tournament. Japan lost 3-2 - what Steve says is a tremendous upset.
I am all packed and ready to head to South Korea tomorrow. Our flight leaves here at 1PM so tomorrow will just be a travel day. We will spend 2 days working then Steve and Christophe will head home and I will head to China.
Here are some pics from today..
The city of Kyoto.
Higashi Honganji Temple.
The Imperial Palace Garden.
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