This is us on the bullet train on the way to Kyoto. Spencer and Megan got to put their seats back.... it was soooo unfair. But we made it on the right train even though we were suuuuper tired since we had to get up at 5 in the morning.
It was POURING all day Saturday. So Spencer bought the first umbrellas they found (for 200 yen), and I waited and got a super cute umbrella at the 100 yen store. But anyways, this is in front of the first shrine we went to, Higashi Honganji. My favorite part of this building was the rain gutters coming off the roof, because they were made to look like decorative fountains or something.
Then, because after that shrine, we were practically right next to Kyoto Tower, we ended up going there, and I am really glad we did. It was really awesome to see Kyoto from so high up, and we also got to take tons of pics with Tower-chan (the figure in the picture). Also, on the way to the tower, we randomly met up with Sports camp people at the Starbucks there, the first of our many encounters (after the initial train ride, that is).
So, when we went up in Kyoto Tower, Aaron saw this garden, called the Shosei-en Garden, that he wanted to go to, so we went. It was beautiful there, and we got tons of crazy pictures there (but they would take too long to upload, sorry). I also got thirteen bug bites there, but that's unimportant. The best part was at the end, there was this strange little teahouse thing, and the Japanese people in there beckoned us in. We had to sign our names, and then we just went in, sat down, and they gave us really yummy tea (and I don't even like tea!). Spencer said it was kinda like joining a cult because it was so quiet in there and all the other Japanese people were giving us strange looks. We still have no idea what exactly we signed up to do, but there's the pic of Spencer and Megan at the table drinking tea.
After the garden, we went back to the hotel to put on some dry clothes, and then we went to the Gion district, aka Geisha District, and we saw a Geisha show with Sports camp people, which was pretty cool. It was a little expensive though... oh, well. Then we went straight to bed (after ice cream at Baskin Robbins of course!)
This is the Golden Pavilion, or Golden Shrine, or whatever, but it's the main attraction of Kyoto. It was pretty awesome-looking, but there were so many people there I felt kind of rushed. Anyway, it is called Kinkakuji Shrine, and there I got some charms. A good luck charm... and also a charm to hang in my car for safe driving... What?!? I figure I might need it!
ummm yeah it is most def not called geisha district. where did you get that from? and i went to that same show in Gion! i got to sit in on the tea ceremny :) and we went to starbucks too!!! gion is where i got my hair cut. haha! that place is awesome!
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