Jonangu Garden and Geisha Show - Kyoto

I went with the intention of seeing a festival.  When we got there it was around 9am and we walked around and enjoyed the peaceful morning in the gardens.  At 10:00 we saw a line forming and asked what was going on.  I guess the festival actually starts at 2pm -4 pm and they wanted front row seats to see the performance.  Well, we decided we were not going to sit there that long so we left.  After much discussion, we decided to try and get tickets for today's Autumn Show with Geiko's and Maikos. 

There are many different styles of lanterns in Japanese gardens.  This one looks like they stacked natural shaped rocks to make it.

Nonetheless, it was a beautiful day for a stroll.

You can always hear the sound of water when viewing the garden.  This one had a small brook.

 

We ended up getting on a train and finding our way to where we could try and get tickets for the Autumn show of geisha's and Mioko's.  We were very lucky to get tickets for all 3 of us including a tea ceremony with a geisha.  Loved that we were right up front by the geisha and we even got to keep our tea plates.

 

Tickets in hand and ready for the Geisha Autumn Show here in Kyoto, Japan.

We are back at hotel and this butterfly painting is on the train station wall by our hotel.

10,000 Red Tori Gates - Fushimi Inari Shrine-JTB Sunrise Tour

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is home to 10,000 Torii gates that are seen as an entrance to a sacred shrine in Shinto religion. The Torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine give me one more reason to love historical Japan. These gates date back to 711 A.D., and as a foreigner with only a 250-year-old country, 1300 years old is an age I can’t even fathom.

To give a little background, a Torii gate is seen as an entrance to a sacred shrine in the Shinto religion. They mark the pathway to shrines across Asia, and I’m sure you’ve come to know them as a symbol of Japan.

They have foxes at this shrine.  This was an agricultural area and the foxes protected the rice fields because they ate the sparrows which fed on the rice.

What is unique about the Torii gates at Inari Fushimi, though, is their background. Each gate has been donated by a company or organization giving thanks for their prosperity and in hope of good fortune in the future. I only wished I could read all of the names engraved on each gate, but for now, it remains to be beautiful artwork representing Japan’s past.

Before entering a shrine it is tradition to prepare yourself by cleansing.  You get a ladle of water from the fountain and rinse your right hand, then your left then take a drink.  No one really drive 's it now.  Only pretend to.

This ice cream is sooooooo good!!  It doesn't melt, the ice cream is covered in a cone and chocolate in the middle.  Its our favorite Japan treat!!