24-MAY-2010
Rainy Day at the Imperial Palace
After walking through the huge front lawn of the Imperial Palace to see its landmark double bridges
Nijūbashi 二重橋, we were all soaked by the time we got back to our bus, parked near this statue of
Kusunoki Masashige 楠木 正成.
Umbrellas could not protect us from the wind-driven rains. Fortunately, that was the last time we encountered any heavy rain on this trip.
24-MAY-2010
In Front of Asakusa Temple 浅草寺
By the time we arrived at the Asakusa Temple, the morning downpour had tapered off to a light drizzle.
We passed through the famous Buddhist temple and turned south into the shopping alley of off Nakamise-dōri
仲見世通り.
24-MAY-2010
Early Lunch in Asakusa 浅草
After lunch the rain stopped. We were able to stroll around the
temple in relative dryness.
24-MAY-2010
Shopping at the Ginza Yon-chome Crossing
On the intersection of Harumi Dori
晴海通り & Chuo Dori
中央通り at the center of
Ginza, in front of the 1932 Neo-Renaissance style
Wako 和光 Building.
24-MAY-2010
Entering the Meiji Shrine
Passing under the large 12m tall Torii, the largest in Japan, we enter the outer gate of the
Meiji Shrine.
Shooting photos towards the inside of the shrine is not allowed. Unfortunately, I was not prepared when the wedding party exited right from the shrine.
25-MAY-2010
Coffee, Tea, or Whatever You Want
With low crime rate, especially vandalism, Japan is a nation of vending machines. We marveled at the varieties of drinks available at this rest stop in Oyama Town, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture
静岡県 駿東郡 小山町 on our way from
Tokyo to
Hakone 箱根.
25-MAY-2010
At the Top
We all posed for photos at the boiling hot spring.
We took it to
Lake Ashi , where our lunch was ready.
25-MAY-2010
Garden Tour
Touring the European style terrace garden of the Hotel New Akao. Many Japanese couples love the romantic setting of a Western style garden as their wedding venues.
Please click here to read the next page, as we continued our tour from Atami to Kyoto and beyond.
25-MAY-2010
Traditional Japanese Kaiseki 懐石料理 Banquet Dinner
For many of us, this is our first experience in traditional Japanese Kaiseki 懐石料理.
We love the variety of dishes and the Karaoke afterward.
25-MAY-2010
After Dinner Entertainment
After a traditional Japanese Kaiseki dinner 懐石料理, we enjoyed karaoke. The young men flipped through the thick book of available songs, but could not pick any contemporary songs they like.
26-MAY-2010
Shinkansen 新幹線
For many of us, this is our first ride on the Shinkansen
新幹線 bullet train. We took snap shots of each other as we departed
Atami. Two hours later, we arrived at
Kyoto Station with its
modern architecture.
Of the three types of trains, this is a hikari (medium speed) with stops at some small stations. According to my GPS tracker, we reached a top speed of 268 km/hr (or 166 miles/hr) on 12:23pm, somewhere between Nagoya and Kyoto in Fuwa District, Gifu Prefecture 岐阜県 不破郡.
26-MAY-2010
History of Nijo Castle 二条城
We learned the history of how Tokugawa Ieyasu
徳川 家康 became Shogun
征夷大將軍, the ruler of Japan, before we entered his
Ninomaru Palace 二の丸御殿.
By the time we finished touring the interior of this national treasure, the rain stopped. This was the last time we encountered any rain on our tour.
27-MAY-2010
Romantic Crossing
Legend says that couples that stroll across the Togetsukyō Bridge 渡月橋 together will stay as couples in their next lives. I am not sure whether such strolls must be under moonlights.
27-MAY-2010
Good Food, Good Conversation
Although we started as strangers on this tour, we became fellow travelers as we shared platters of meat for lunch at the
焼肉南山.
27-MAY-2010
Entering the Golden Pavilion 金閣寺
Our guide John pointed out important sights before we entered the Rokuon-ji Temple 鹿苑寺 to see the famous Golden Pavilion 金閣寺.
27-MAY-2010
VIP Seats
Outside the Sekkatei Teahouse
夕佳亭 is a rock for VIPs to sit on
(貴人榻). It is supposed to have the best view of sunset over the
Golden Pavilion.
Since this was early afternoon, we settled for posed photographs. Besides, seasonal plant growth blocked the view.
27-MAY-2010
Tea Ceremony
their staff welcomed us with bowls of matcha 抹茶 (thick powdered green tea) and plates of sweet wafers.
About an hour later, they welcomed another group in the same manner at this two level lobby.
28-MAY-2010
Trying out as Protectors of Kiyomizu Temple
After posing for a group photo in front, we followed the crowd into the Kiyomizu Temple
清水寺.
Lots of people wanted to test their strength lifting the 200-lb spear of Musashibo Benkei. Its square shaft had been worn smooth in the past centuries. Those strong enough to lift it straight up are worthy to be the Temple’s protectors. We chickened out with the lightweight version.
28-MAY-2010
At Kiyomizu Temple 清水寺
These wooden structures were built almost 400 years ago without any nails.
28-MAY-2010
There is Gold in that Water!
According to a legend, Toyotomi sank gold bars into this well to improve its taste. However, archeologists never found any gold.
The canopy of this well can be seen in
this photo just peeking over the stone pedestal of the tower.
28-MAY-2010
At Dotonbori 道頓堀
John pointed out the plethora of dining choices at Dotonbori 道頓堀,
29-MAY-2010
Free Samples
After learning the art and method of sake making, we ended our tour of the Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewing Co. 菊正宗 in its gift shop, with free samples of its sake and plum liqueur.
The rice and water from the Kobe area is perfect for brewing sake.
29-MAY-2010
At the Port of Kobe
Later this evening, we will view this area again, from Kobe Mosaic on the other side.
29-MAY-2010
Shopping in Kobe
Across the Meriken Road from Dismaru 大丸神戸店, John explained the layout of Kobe's main shopping district as two parallel streets running east-west.
On the north is the covered shopping street of Motomachi
元町.
On the south is Nankinmachi
南京町, Kobe's Chinatown.
29-MAY-2010
Anxious for a Taste of Kobe Beef
We reached a street full of dining choices, north of the Sannomiya Station 三宮駅. While the 神戸牛 ステーキ 専門店 restaurant on 6/F is large enough to accommodate many groups of our size, the small and slow elevator is the bottleneck. John was explaining the complicate route to more elevators on the other sides of the building. After arriving on separate elevators, we were not disappointed.