We woke up this morning to head for the main attraction of Kyoto the Nijo-jo Castle.
It is a site of considerable importance as this is where the tranfer of power from the Tokugawa shogunate transfered rule back to the Imperial Court ending the Edo period in Japan. It was also here that the Tokugawa established their power along with the peace and prosperity that would follow.
The main palace gate:
Unfortunately photos were not permitted inside the palace. Entering the palace a visitor would first come upon imposing images of tigers and leopards, representing the shogun's power. Interestingly leopards were intially thought to be female tigers and are protrayed in this manner (cue tigers and leopards flirting). As the visitor progresses more images of landscapes with pines and chinese scenery are encountered in the decorations of the rooms. It is interesting how much influence there is from China and the insistance, such as at the National Museum, that in certain instances there was no chinese influence and explicitly states the point and at other points is cool with the influence.
Further information from wikipedia.
A view of the main palace. The aerial design of the palace was to represent geese taking flight
After visiting Nijo-jo Castle we headed for a tonkatsu lunch. The entire lunch was an experience. We were first presented a small bowl with toasted sesame seeds and a wooden pestel. The bowl has a raised pattern design allowing for the seeds to be ground down and then have a sauce of our choosing added. All the sauces were a savory sweet containing various fruits as a base flavor. Accompanying the sauces was a pickled cucumber and cabbage with sesames that was delicious and an extremely spicy mustard.
It was rather beautiful and I took many pictures. I will let them explain themselves.
It is a site of considerable importance as this is where the tranfer of power from the Tokugawa shogunate transfered rule back to the Imperial Court ending the Edo period in Japan. It was also here that the Tokugawa established their power along with the peace and prosperity that would follow.
The main palace gate:
Unfortunately photos were not permitted inside the palace. Entering the palace a visitor would first come upon imposing images of tigers and leopards, representing the shogun's power. Interestingly leopards were intially thought to be female tigers and are protrayed in this manner (cue tigers and leopards flirting). As the visitor progresses more images of landscapes with pines and chinese scenery are encountered in the decorations of the rooms. It is interesting how much influence there is from China and the insistance, such as at the National Museum, that in certain instances there was no chinese influence and explicitly states the point and at other points is cool with the influence.
Further information from wikipedia.
A view of the main palace. The aerial design of the palace was to represent geese taking flight
After visiting Nijo-jo Castle we headed for a tonkatsu lunch. The entire lunch was an experience. We were first presented a small bowl with toasted sesame seeds and a wooden pestel. The bowl has a raised pattern design allowing for the seeds to be ground down and then have a sauce of our choosing added. All the sauces were a savory sweet containing various fruits as a base flavor. Accompanying the sauces was a pickled cucumber and cabbage with sesames that was delicious and an extremely spicy mustard.
The meal itself was delicious as we were served pork filets that are fried and are accompanied by a cabbage salad, miso soup, and sticky rice. We also tried a vegetable croquet that was, you guessed it, delicous. Aina declared it our best meal so far and it definitely did not disappoint. A fun part was that it was like the never end soup or salad from Olive Garden! haha but seriously we had seconds on the cabbage salad and miso soup.
In the evening we headed to the Gion neighborhood of Kyoto. This neighborhood dates from the middle ages developed in the surrounding areas to the Yasaka Shrine. The area is known for its geishas or geikos as they call themselves. Tonight the streets were lined with lanterns for a light festival and the shrine was kept open.
There was even a parade celebrating the fox's wedding. People wore masks and made their way through the temple. Apparently, foxes are crafty folk and thereby the floating lanterns are a trick on us humans or something along those line and has a spirtual / mythical connection. More information.
It was rather beautiful and I took many pictures. I will let them explain themselves.
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