Kyoto!
I don't know why but I have Kyoto in my head as the mid-way point in my travel. It probably is. Or close to it anyway. Makes me kinda sad knowing I've only got 3 weeks left! But the time I've had so far has been awesome.
I got to my hostel around 2, after walking the 2.5km or so from the station. So I was knackered, but luckily Kyoto Museum was just down the road!
One of the two buildings of the museum was closed off, but I was told they had moved the exhibitions into the other building. It was pretty swanky and modern looking for a building about history!
Inside the first floor were these incredible statues of Buddha and other Buddhist deities. I actually rented audio guide this time, and it was a good call. Only the names of statues were translated. I always find it interesting how Buddhism moved across Asia and ended up in Japan with elements from India and other cultures. Most of the statues were painted or covered in gold flakes, but I found the wood ones somehow more powerful. The basic level of love for Buddhism seemed to be shown in them better somehow.
Most other floors were about textiles and calligraphy which I've already heard so much about from other museums I just flicked through the sections.
The sections on pottery, lacquerware and folding door art does interest me though. They had a timeline of how pottery changed in Japan, from basic clay to intricate gold design on lacquer porcelain. You could see the influence from other countries and how other countries copied them. We even have some at my house.
When I was finished, the museum was about to close (5pm) which meant all other things would be closing so I went back to the hostel. I took a nap. Then went out to Gion!
That place is beautiful by night. Lights are shone on the trees so the cherry blossom look like fairy lights going over the streets. In the smaller alleys, there were many places to drink and eat - mostly in Japanese- and so, many, gentlemen clubs. Men in suits would stand outside coaxing men in by advertising the girls they had. I saw girls because that's the look they play into. No idea how old they actually are, but the photos make them look about 18. Kind of odd having gentlemen clubs and strip clubs being so openly promoted. I found a nice restaurant (turned out to be Italian) by the little river that had loads of blossom lining it. Very pretty place to have dinner.
Then I cheated and got a taxi back...