2015 Hiroshima & Kobe/Kyoto

The captain and staff have been busy during the evening and so we have the option of a city tour while he deals with Japanese bureaucracy (difficult!!) and they attempt to sort out the tender, being lowered here.

The tour turned out to be an unexpected pleasure, an ancient castle somewhat more accessible then the previous one, larger and more museum like

with an interesting notice

and a good view from the top.

Inside were interesting artifacts and drawings.

How anyone can read this is a mystery to me, just looks like squiggles rather than the formal printed characters

and in the grounds a tree which survived the bombing.

This was followed by a visit to the art museum where there was a stunning display of Japanese ladies symbolising the seasons, at their toilettes including 'teeth blackening' all the rage in the late 19^th century apparently(!!) and enjoying themselves playing shuttlecock and board games. No pictures but this is a photo of the artistic entrance to the gardens.

A number of ladies had commented on the loo's which up until now I hadn't used whilst out, however I got my chance and I thought you would like to see the controls for a 'western' one, the alternative being the traditional 'squat'. You can get squirted just about everywhere while sitting on heated sometimes hot seats with automatic flush when you get up. There were a number of misadventures!

We then went on to the peace park, amazingly this building only now showing signs of deterioration survived the original bombing.

A peaceful place with the inevitable bell,

clock which chimes at the exact time of the bombing,

a lovely memorial to the children killed (alesso lemon squeezer anyone?) 

and an eternal flame. 

Situated in the heart of what is now a modern city although not very high rise the park is a very gentle place and the very well behaved children get brought to remember too.

Back to the boat and fortunately we were allowed to sail, so Kyoto is on.

Up early to drive through Kobe on the anniversary of a major earthquake so the Emperor was visiting, fortunately not impeding our progress! Kobe is stretched out along the coast between the mountains and the sea and suffered a tsunami as well as the quake. It rather runs into Kyoto and where one ended and the other began was not easy to judge.

Our first stop was the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji Temple), originally built in 1397 (as a retirement home for Shogun Yoshimitsu) the photos show a reconstruction after a disaffected monk burnt it down in the early 1950's. Fortunately there were enough photographic and archaeological records to allow a faithful copy.

As you can see it is in a stunning position , 

whether the phoenix was always on the top I'm not sure!

They are so clever with the reflections too. The gardens surrounding the palace are quite naturalistic in places,

I'm not sure if you will be able to see much of this poster which shows views of the palace inside, not open to the public and one of it in the snow.

After an early and splendid lunch (great tempora) with these stunning orchids and very smiley greeter

our next visit was to Nijo castle built in 1603.

An extraordinary place now a world heritage site where one wanders around in mules as definitely a 'shoes off' place, with the floorboards making a warbling sound so that any intruders would be heard. Unfortunately a no photo's place inside where there are some beautiful wooden panels on the walls, so you will have to make do with this beautiful gate

up close too

and some workmen keeping the topiary up to scratch, most of which is done by hand with fingers rather than secateurs!!

Our final stop was Kiyomizu temple. On the way passing some traditionally clothed young people.

This shrine is on the side of a hill, a very garish temple gate

and city view from the veranda

working our way down we stopped at a fountain with 3 streams, one for good relationships, another for good job prospects and the last for good health. Many people were queuing up to drink the water!

Looking up shows how high the veranda we had come from was.

Plenty of shopping opportunities and this display of fans caught my eye.

Back to the port where the tower reminded me of the 'Orbit' in Olympic Park in London

and as we sailed out in darkness the inevitable 'big wheel' (all cities seem to have them these days) had a stunning light show of which the following shots are a sample.