Cole’s Recap, Day 3: On the way in taxi C sees Ohsho, a popular Japanese restaurant chain serving gyoza and other food from Japanese Chinese cuisine. There are over 700 Ohsho restaurants in Japan. C tells driver to stop. CV excited. CVBK wait for table to open. Go upstairs and sit in small booth. CV order food. Gyoza. Sweet and sour pork. Ham fried rice. Smells good. Tastes so good. C orders more gyoza and rice. C says that Yasaka shrine is close and lit up at night. On the way BK see antique shop. Stop. Buy things. Cookie cutters made from wood. Iron ornaments to hide nails on doors. Exit store. Dark. Cold. Approach shrine. Beautiful. Shinto. K likes the lanterns. Walk through shrine to Maruyama Park. Trees lit up. Bamboo lanterns line the river. Lit ikebana pepper the twilight with illuminated buds and branches. Cold. Very cold outside. Talk about more temples. More lights. More shops. Now walking through Gion again. BK realize they are now near Kiyomizudera again. Descend stairs. C hails taxi. Return to Kyoto Garden Hotel. Make brief stop at konbini (convenience store). Buy supplies. Return to hotel. The ofuro (Japanese bath) is calling.
Things to Know:
*Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan
*The shrine was also once known as “Gion Shrine” and is one of the neighborhood’s most iconic landmarks
*Gion is Kyoto’s most famous geisha district
*Maruyama Park sits in the heart of Gion District and the main entrance to the park is through Yakasa Shrine
*The park is the oldest in Kyoto and very popular for cherry blossom viewing in April and New Year’s Eve festivals
*Ikebana is the art of Japanese flower arrangement according to strict rules
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