The second of our scheduled Japanese city tours was in Kyoto, on a hot Sunday afternoon. Unlike our tour in Tokyo, we didn’t ride a bus around town for this one. We arrived by bus at the prearranged area, then hoofed it for four hours to three different shrines, up paved and unpaved roads and down steep graveled hills and steps!

We were surprised and delighted to discover that our personalized tour had just one participant, and that person was Daniel, whom we were pleased to meet on our first tour last Wednesday in Tokyo! He was born in Brazil, but now lives in NYC, and very friendly and fun. It was great to see him, and since he’d been on roughly the same week-long tour as us, we enjoyed hearing all about his solo adventures in rustic Hakone.

Our Japanese guide was Amy, a woman in her mid-50s, and naturally she was a former English grammar teacher! She talked fast, and had that distinctive (and adorable) accent, but between the three of us we were able to figure out most of what she said.

It was a hard climb uphill for many, many blocks to the Kiyomizu Temple, on streets permanently closed to traffic. Many shops at the foot of the hill rented kimonos so you could experience the Temple tour in traditional garb. Those who wore kimonos got the additional benefit of discounts at most shops for being in Japanese attire.

This was definitely a tourist-oriented commercial district, and all sorts of goods were for sale. I didn’t buy anything on the way up, and to my credit, only a green tea ice cream cone on the way back. (And believe me, I’d earned it!)

We extensively toured the Kiyomizu Temple, participating once again in the hand-washing “purification” ritual and incense burning. We hiked up and down many steep steps and paths, and Miriam (have I mentioned that she’s 82 and has had a knee replacement?) was grateful that Daniel offered his arm to help steady her as we descended loose-gravel slopes and stairs without handrails.

We toured the nearby Kodaiji Temple, a stark contrast to the first one, which was based more on nature, and requiring us to take off our shoes to enter the main building. It built by a widow honoring her husband, and was well-landscaped and very beautiful. We all gratefully rested there for a short time in quiet contemplation.

Our third stop was at the Yasaka Shrine, where we were fortunate to see the enormous bell being rung, and then a quick sojourn in the Gion District, where geishas go to school to learn how to perform their dances and continue the mystique of this culture. (More on that in the next post.)

This walking tour was strenuous, so the four of us opted to split a cab fare back to the Kyoto station instead of taking the bus. My legs hurt so badly I could hardly walk, but I was truly grateful for this fabulous day!