Trip Final: Return To Kyoto

On Thursday our group was offered an Osaka City/Shopping Tour, but we decided to return to nearby Kyoto. A half-hour ride on the excellent Japan Railway System (JR) allowed us to arrive in the ancient capital by 9:15 AM. We took a taxi to Ginkakuji Temple, another World Heritage site. Although it is famous for the "Silver Pavilion," which lacks any remaining silver leaf, the gardens are full of very old, twisted trees and raked sand plots that coordinate with the mountain setting. We then went to the Heian Shrine, a colorful late 19th century site built to commemorate the Imperial Family. It's a favorite spot of Jim's, who reminded me that it was where we had seen a performance of the mysterious Noh Drama on a previous visit to Japan. Then we stopped briefly at the National Museum of Modern Art before enjoying a Kaiseki lunch in the fabled Gion District. Our last attraction was the oldest Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, the Kemin-ji, noted not only for its architecture but also for its collection of screen paintings depicting demons, dragons and scenery. We returned to Osaka for a farewell group dinner at a restaurant located on the grounds of Osaka Castle. - Dan