The Kyoto train station looks quite futuristic. I travelled from Okazaki to Kyoto by the cheap route: three hours, several trains, and a good bit of disorientation. On the way back, I shelled out for the direct 40 minute bullet train.

Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, is covered in gold leaf. Like everything else in my photos here, I'm sure the colors would have been better a bit later in the season, with sun and without rain.

Nijo-jo, the shogun's castle. Inside are "nightingale floors," which creak intentionally so the residents can hear ninjas sneaking in. I especially liked the watery garden in the grounds.

This dessert features Kiyomizu temple drawn with some kind of tasty powder. The balls are dango, made of rice flour, floating in sweet red bean soup. It was almost too pretty to eat.

I saw an amazing assortment of fortune-telling paraphernalia everywhere, and that's my best guess for what this stand is selling: your fortune, based on your birthdate, gender, and blood type. I thought it was funny, anyway.

This bonsai seems to be more flower than anything else. It was about eighteen inches tall.

My favorite temple was Adashino Nembutsu-ji, which was much quieter than those in the city center. The little stones (~8000 of them) are grave markers which were collected from the surrounding area. It was described to me as "most mysterious and beautiful," and I agree.