Hello!
This morning we got up at 6am (cue my family to collectively faint)
So brekkie was nice and relaxed before setting off to wander the streets and browse shops. Maureen was in heaven finding some great materials
That’s quite the start!!
We popped back home for lunch then decided to jump into real sightseeing – two stops down the local subway line to Nijo Castle.
The site and some buildings have been here for 400 years!!
Super ornate gates!!
A snap looking straight up as I walked through.
This is the main entrance. Always a bit sad that there is a no photos rule (but understandable) The painted sliding doors and ceilings are numerous and magnificent. And the Nightingale floors sing to you as you walk along them. They were constructed in a way to make noise so people couldn’t sneak in with nefarious intentions. They actually sound beautiful.
After enjoying the palace, we took a walk around the grounds. Sadly the weeping cherry blossom trees were past their best but it was all beautiful, regardless.
Love the stone lanterns
The outsized stone block walls!!
And here is Maureen for scale!
We might have missed peak cherry blossom time, but the azaleas are starting in fine style.
We did find a small pretty area of cherry blossoms (cue selfie)
We finished up the day by having dinner with my long term friends, Mari & Koichi. I was shocked to realise it’s been 33 years since we first met! It was fabulous seeing them again. Mari never seems to change, even though she is a grandma now!
Ok… must be my bedtime.
Xxx.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks so much for taking us along on your trip. Your pictures are beautiful. I’ll have to read up on the Nightingale floors. I’ve never heard of anything like that. How neat!
Hi Julie! Glad you are enjoying… I certainly am and Maureen is like a little wide eyed kid!! I hope there is an audio somewhere on the internet of those squeaky floors… I’ll have to search later and link it if I find one.
Loving the trip pics! I lived in Japan for two years and collected a lot of fabric, but not cat and dog prints, rather I loved the baby chick prints! There were so many to collect.
Hi Laura! Japan is the best for that kind of stuff! How long since you’ve been back? I feel so at home here again and loving it
Hi Lisa, I was in Misawa in Northern Japan in 2000 and in Okinawa in 2001. Both were great places! i’ve been to Tokyo but not Kyota. Have not been back since I left so I definitely would like to visit again in the future. Always miss it and think of it!
That’s two places I’ve not been!! It’s very busy here now with tourists! When I first lived here I was def a novelty…now it’s full of foreigners!!! But it’s still awesome.