Berry's SEAJ trip Day 57: Last day in Kyoto (8/1/15)

After breakfast, Takao, Berry, and I head to the Kiyomizu temple which has some pretty nice views of the city and beautiful buildings within its ranks. The walk up to the temple is nice as it is up this winding, narrow road with all kinds of shops lining both sides.

Almost to the temple. Huge buildings to explore.

Great view. Beautiful roofs nestled among trees. Automobiles ruining the shot :)

Alright we have made it. Lets go explore the temple.

Part of the temple. With plenty of red and fresh white to contrast. Really cool.

Temple in the woods. Berry wants to go see this temple. Time will see if he gets to.

Down at the end of the path, there was a line of people waiting to wash their hands. We would skip that line as it was incredibly long.

I thought the decoration of the lantern was pretty awesome. 

Dragon artwork? Amazing!

Crowds galore checking out the temple. Smart most of them staying in the shade as it was hot.

Berry helping me draw the stick out of the box to get my fortune. What a helpful pal.

My fortune. Berry wanted to document it, unfortunately it is not in English. :) 

Berry pointing to my luck ranking. Right in the middle.

We were just in there. Thats where the fortune was read right in that closest outcropping. 

As we started down the path, Berry met some modern ladies whom wanted a picture with him. Lady killer right there.

We made it to the temple Berry wanted to walk to earlier. Lucky bear!

Berry enjoying the nature looking back on the temple where he just was. Tiny people everywhere.

View of the temple where we started. The path takes you a ways away from the entrance (if you want to walk it).

Walking around found an old shrine. We would run across these things on multiple occasions.

Once inside, I got my fortune read (shook a box until a stick came out and that gave me my lucky rank (4 of 7) as well as some future predictions. The sheets were all in Japanese but Takao translated it for me and it was interesting. We then walked around and checked out the grounds (Berry met some geishas) before heading to the bus stop to get to the 1000 statue temple (sanjusengendo). Its grounds aren't too impressive but the inside is kinda cool with many statues and a big Buddha in the middle of his army of statues.

What a beautiful building. No cameras allowed inside so Berry took his photos outside.

From within this garden, you can look up and see the train station rising up over the old architecture. Berry seems to like the contrast.

This building is long! Makes sense having 1000 statues inside.

We got to walk around a beautiful small garden within the temple walls.

Bell tower on the grounds of the temple. Berry has that devilish look in his eyes like he wants to get into trouble.

After exploring that temple we go to explore sichjo street where I walk into a Pachinko place, which is their way of gambling; they are these incomprehensible slot games that make tons of noise and have more flashing lights than a rave. No joke, just being in there had my blood/adrenaline pumping and I had to leave after ~5 mins walking around. After that, we get some beef dombuie (rice bowl with beef) as we walk around until we end up at the yasaka shrine. Walk in and check it out real fast before we head back to the house to rendezvous with the family before heading out to a nicer sushi conveyor place (I wanted to treat them for all of their amazing hospitality so I let them pick the place) that didn't have my bonito but had delicious salmon and tuna. After dinner we head to a festival where they have a drum corp doing traditional songs followed by Geishas (and whomever wants to join in) line dancing in the street.

This place had different prices for different colored plates and came and counted it all up at the end for your check. That was the damage done :)

Me with the gang at dinner. We are all happy as we just finished feasting on sushi.

Berry is famous!

Outside of the Very Berry Cafe. Murica! Def very Berry says Berry.

Berry enjoying the night watching some drummer people start the festivities.

Watching the drummers go to town.

Drummer boys and girls tearing it up!

The shoes the ladies would wear. How and why I am not sure.

Berry watching the local ladies doing their thing.

Dancing ladies at the festival in those odd shoes. Power to them.

After enjoying the festival we head nearby to a shrine that is lit up and allowing entrance at night which was awesome as you get to see the shrines in a different light (literally) and get to enjoy the amazing lanterns all lit up. You also get to enjoy the shrine without suffering with the heat of the sun beating down on you. They also had the river lit up with various lights as you walk along which was pretty and relaxing. After that, we head back to the house for one last hangout before bed.

Berry wanted a picture of this gate and lanterns. Pretty cool.

Walking away from the festival to the Temple. Berry is liking the streets lighting up now that its dark.

Berry found the shrine we were going to. Good job dude!

Entrance to the shrine. 

Walkway of the temple with lanterns all lit up. Berry really enjoyed this.

Berry found a bridge with tons of different colored tags above it. Part of the temple no doubt.

Side view of the bridge had tags hanging above it. Not sure what they were for.

Back wooded area of the temple. Was nice being able to walk around at night without the crowds.

Tonight was a sake and snack night. Not a bad way to spend your last night around some good people.

Some more snacks Tomoko brought out for me to try. Dont mind if I do.