GeoffBrady

The geisha at the hotel the day before gave us a guide of what to see in the city. We first went to Nijo Castle, which was pretty much on the doorstep of our hotel. The castle housed the Shogun (supreme general of the samurai) and featured local courts. As such, the castle is surrounded by nightingale floorboards: these are loosely fitting boards that squeak when weight is applied to them. This meant that assassins would have a harder job…

After Nijo castle, we wandered off to the north west, seeking temples and shrines. Our first stop was Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavillion). It was rebuilt in 1950 after an obsessed monk burnt it down. Secondly we saw Ryoan-ji, with its ‘amazing’ Zen garden. It has fifteen stones and white pebbles. Finally we visited the Ninnaji complex, with several temples and shrines and a cherry blossom orchard. Many a photo was taken.

We managed to find our way back to the hotel (eventually). Weiran tried to get us lost, and nearly succeeded!

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