Rainy Day in Kyoto

Typical Bicyclist in the Rain 

Hiroshi Saito    

Rock Garden at  Ginkakuji Temple

Rain won't stop an iPhone user

The Gates at Honenin

Rock Garden at Korin-In

Moss Garden at Korin-In

Masa and Cathy looking at Ceramics

Tempura

We awoke to a rainy Kyoto morning. The weather report said the rain would clear up and we would probably not have any more rain the rest of our trip. I had developed a cold from the weather, but Scott had some Sudafed like medicine and I decided to take his medicine and ignore the cold.

After breakfast we were met by our Guide: Masa Fujiwara. We had been with Masa before, he is a gentle soul with a deep understanding of Kyoto. We were happy to have his services. The hotel provided us umbrellas. Interestingly inside some of the taxis there are available umbrellas. If you need one you just take one, and the next time you are in a taxi you return an umbrella. It is a very Japanese way. There are a lot of bicyclists in Kyoto (it is fairly flat city) and they ride in the rain with one hand holding up an umbrella the other steering. It is a funny sight to behold.

We started our day with a visit to Hiroshi Saito. He is a textile artist and painter. We spent a lot of time with him. He had an accident falling off a ladder, that compounded with the Earthquake and Tsunami profoundly affected him. It changed the arc of his life and the art he produced. He is very involved in charitable work helping victims of the tragedy.

We then went to Ginkakuji Temple. The rock garden at this Zen temple was started in the 1400’s. It represents waves of water. We walked along a windy path that uses huge stones as steps that circumnavigates the Temple and gives one views of the trees, rock garden and pond. It was treacherous in the rain but we and many others were taking the treck.

Of everything that is special about Japan, I think Scott is most enthralled by its cleanliness. There is no litter anywhere. If there was litter someone would pick it up. You would never see a Japanese person walking down the street eating and throwing away the wrappings. Because there is no litter, you don’t see waste baskets on the street, if there were, they would be empty.

We then went to Honenin Temple. We had been there on an earlier trip and it was a delight to return. The temple is marked by a long approach with a gate at the end that frames the temple. It is perfect way to present the Temple. We then took the famous Philosophers Path to a noodle restaurant we had previously been to Men-o. After the cold, damp morning the hot soup was a tonic.

After lunch we went to Korin-in, another Temple. I immediately recognized it as a Temple we had previously been to. I checked on my iPhone and tomorrow (today as I write this) is the 10 year anniversary of our previous visit. We talked to the abbot, he is a very jolly guy.

We had paid our dues at all of the temples, the sky has cleared it was time to shop! For me the highlight was Aizenkobo, on a previous visit I had purchased a reversible coat, that I wear all the time in Los Angeles. I knew I wanted to get another garment. All of material is dark blue Indigo, and I love it. I found a heavy farmer’s jacket, that I bought. Scott also bought a jacket. We walked to a ceramics store (no purchases) jumped in a taxi and headed back to the hotel. Half way there we decided to continue shopping and directed the taxi to the central shopping area of Kyoto. From there walked the maze of streets to Sou-Sou where Scott bought clothing and shoes.

We finally returned to the hotel, had cocktails at happy hour and proceeded to Tempura Yoshikawa, where we were satiated with tempura, sitting a sushi like bar. We met some interesting people and then retired for tea and dessert in a different room.

We taxied back to the hotel and fell wearily into bed!