Kyoto

Kyoto - Day 1

The best weather day of the trip so far with temps approaching +22C/72F and  glorious sunshine.  But first, a little breakfast and with a great view from our room, why go downstairs? Delicious breakfast and great service.  Farm fresh orange eggs.  Yum.

Our wonderful guide Michiko met us in the hotel lobby just before 10AM for the first of two days of touring Kyoto.  First stop this morning is the Heian Jingu Shrine, beautiful Shinto shrine built in 1895 to commemorate the 1,100th anniversary of Kyoto.   

Make sure the pay the 600 yen to tour the glorious park which surrounds the shrine.

And back outside where our excellent driver was waiting for us.

To the Kinkaku-ji Temple (The Golden Temple) constructed in the 14th century.

Our guide and driver dropped us off downtown near the Kyoto Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcade, the second oldest arcade in Japan.

Then a walk back to our hotel to rest us for tonight's special private teppanyaki dinner at the Ritz-Carlton's Japanese restaurant, Mizuki.  Teppanyaki is served in a beautiful private room within Mizuki.

Chef.

A glass of delicious sparkling sake.

Fresh Vegetables with salt, dip sauce.

The first of many OMI beef tastings tonight.

Fresh wasabi.  Yum.

Next up, abalone.  Very alive at the moment.

Seriously??

nd finally, dessert from Pierre Hermé Paris.

Wow, what an enjoyable and decadent three hour treat.  

Kyoto - Day 2

What a difference a day makes, from the best day weather of the trip to the worst.  Overcast and a little rain.  Temps only +14C/57F with a healthy breeze.  First stop is the Gion district and the beautiful Tatsumi Bashi, the bridge featured in Memoirs of a Geisha.

Busy this morning with couple having their wedding pics taken.

Next, we're going off the grid.  Mrs. SFO loved Japanese strawberries so much that she wanted to visit a strawberry farm.  Our guide and driver found a farm that is open to the public to pick and eat all you can for only 900 yen.

Next, we headed to a park overlooking the city. 

Before heading back down to the city.

And the Chion-In Temple, featured in The Last Samurai.

And finally, Nijo Castle, originally built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyusa.

Then back to the hotel for a late lunch in La Locanda, which oddly has the same menu for both dinner and lunch. 

On our final night, we went to a touristy maiko dinner at Gion Hatanaka.

Where I was the only one to "beat" the maiko at the drinking game. 

Next up: The long 22 hour trek home.