Temples and shrines

A full day in Kyoto visiting Kinkakuji, the beautiful Golden Pavilion which was the retirement villa of the Shogun. Then Tenryuji Temple, one of Kyoto’s five great Zen temples including the famous Arashiyama bamboo groves. We had lunch in the Buddhist temple, an impressive vegetarian meal sitting on the floor. Then we finished the day with a visit to Nijo Castle dating to 1603, the Kyoto residence of the Shogun with its famous decorated sliding doors and ‘chirping’ nightingale floors. A cold rather overcast day with only traces of the snow of the last couple of weeks. When the snow was on the Golden Pavilion there was a three hour wait!
An impressive city.