10.14.2006


Simon, his girlfriend Leigh, Jean, and I.

10.09.2006


And here they are, about to hoist it into the shrine amid a huge crowd of people.

Here's a closer look at it, from the side.

The guys are trying to hold it up and dance at the same time. Craaaazy.

The big event, the o-mikoshi!

You can kind of see the tents below. It's weird how at eye level there was crowding and other weird stuff going on, but then there was this calm blue sky above it all.

Before sunset, on the shrine grounds.

One of our orders at Apricot, a hole-in-the-wall bakery dealing in handmade cakes and tarts in the arcade. I think I'll have to come back here. I picked up a walnut tart too, and it was real good.

And then there was this. Jean and I came upon it when we were in the shopping arcade.

They did this all the way up to the shrine. It took me a while to figure out they were conch shells too.

These guys were blowing on conch shells every so often.

I think that's a Noh mask on the guy playing the woman?

A better look at the costumes. That's a guy on the far right, if you couldn't tell from the first picture.

Sakaki tree, going up to the shrine.

Part of another procession, walking out of the shopping arcade.

Part of the festival procession on Sunday. That horse reared back and whinnied before crossing our block.

Sunday, Benzaiten Bridge, over the Uji River. Her symbols are a biwa (Japanese mandolin) and a snake.

Hanagasa parade, Saturday. Every now and then the guys stop by and jump up and down with those things. It was pretty fun to watch.

Uji River, late afternoon.

8.27.2006


Kamo River.

View from across the Kamo River.

After I poured what I thought was syrup on it (no, it was tea!). But it was still good, and the lemon was extra tasty.

The entire set. It's lemon-honey-ginger flavored, so I was especially keen on trying it.

more kakigouri! This time it's from this cafe off Matsubara-dori called Shibayo. We almost missed it.

View of Ginkakuji from the top, and all of Kyoto.

Cute little waterfall before we climbed up.

Mmm, perfect sand cone.

A look from the bottom.

Here's another view. Admittedly it's known more for its rock garden and nature, I think, than being a silver pavilion.

The sand garden, Ginkakuji.

The temple peach. From what I read off the sign, supposedly you rub it when you're at a bad age (yakudoshi), and it's supposed to ward off bad luck.

I wanted to get a nicer pic of the way the light was glinting off that leaf on the bottom.

Entrance to Seimei Shrine.

The tower at Ninnaji.

One of the lotus decorations, Ninnaji.

A pond, Ninnaji.

Final. It's all supposed to total fifteen, but we counted and couldn't come up with it.

Middle part.

The rock garden at Ryoanji.

This has to be one of my favorite shots.

The same temple in summer. Jean and I want to go here every season and take a look at the changing foliage.

Jean and I in front of Kinkakuji.

Taken from my hotel room. Not too spectacual, though I like that lit-up building.

A blue one. it's on its way out, though.

Some hyacinths at the Natural Science Building.

So-called living statue or something.

One of the acts nearby the Diag.

Here's a better view of the fountain.

Huge food court like place, before sunset.

This shows a bit better how long it really was.