Today we visited a couple of Kyoto's most famous sights.
After having breakfast in a coffee house near our hotel we took a taxi to Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, that is set in the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex. Just after the gate there was a huge bell which you could ring for 200 yen.
Almost straight away you come across the pavilion, across from the Kyoko-chi mirror pond. Made up of three floors the upper two are gilded with gold leaf, and it once was a guest house for the Emperor. It was topped with a golden phoenix. It was as beautiful as Joan remembered.
Once passed the temple there was a spring which fell on a stone which split its flow, Ginga-sen and a little shrine where you tried to throw coins in to a pot and say a prayer.
Later on was a small tea house which catches the evening sun. Despite being busy, the place had a tranquil atmosphere, and was certainly magical.

Next we walked about half an hour to Ryoan-ji, where there is the most famous Japanese dry garden, comprising of 15 stones surrounded by moss, in an exquisitely raked stone courtyard. Lots of people sat and contemplated the garden which is allegedly depicting a tiger and her cub crossing a river. (we couldn't see this but this did not detract from the garden's serenity.)

Around the back of the temple building was a stone basin with the motto "I only learn to be contented." This is a zen teaching, eschewing materialism for a spiritually rich life.

Further round the garden was a memorial to the Japanese who died in the Burma conflict.

Finally there is a Buddhist restaurant which sells Shojin Ryori lunches, that is, Buddhist vegetarian meals. When Joan came in 1990 she saw this restaurant but couldn't afford to eat there (though it wasn't that pricey.) We ate there on a tatami matted floor overlooking a serene garden. The food was delicate and delicious with tofu simmered in a light seaweed stock with cabbage, carrot and mushroom with an assortment of pickles, rice, dofu and other strange but tasty treats. It was a wonderful experience!!

Finally we winded our way abck to the train station, and accidentally came across the Myoshin-ji complex of temples. This is the HQ of Rinzai Zen Buddhism, and was an estate of temples, linked by narrow roadways. As the waqs no interpretation in English and it wasn't in the guidebook, we had to appreciate the architecture for what it was.

Once back at Nijo station we headed back to the hotel and came across another temple with bright red bridges. A family group offered to take our photo. They lived in three different countries, USA, Japan and Taiwan. We reciprocated and took their photo and they moved on. About ten minutes later we realised they had left some carrier bags behind so we went off to look for them and luckily found them and returned their goods. As a reward they took our photo, which was nice.

Being tired, we decided to get in a few snacks for dinner rather than eating out.