Classy Kimonos, Buddhist Temples, and Shinto Shrines

For the first time ever, LeRon did the research and hotel and train bookings for this trip to Japan.  In all our years of travel, I have done the planning and bookings and I wondered what kind of trip LeRon would plan.  But I should have known.  When LeRon researches, he researches thoroughly.  Plus, he knew what he wanted to see again.

In his research, he discovered some wonderful youtube videos about traveling in Japan, which helped immensely.  If you're interested in traveling to Japan, google for Abby from PiQtour Japan.  She's an American photographer living in Japan (and married to a Japanese) who runs a tour company and also puts up videos with great tips.  We learned very important things:

• We learned that there is NO TIPPING in Japan.  People are paid enough that they don't need to depend on tips.  In fact, if you tip them, they will give it back and they may even be offended, wondering if they have given you good enough service.  

• We also learned that Japan is very clean but you will not find public garbage cans.  People carry their garbage home with them.  I have never seen such clean train stations and parks.  So nice.

• Convenience stores in Japan have amazingly good products (unlike in western convenience stores).  Called "Konbini" (pronounced con-bee'-nee), they are known for quality meals, great pastries, and delicious egg salad sandwiches.  They provide hot and cold food, tickets, ATMs, bill-paying services, mail pick-up, and the usual items.  Fast service here in Japan does not mean low quality.  For more information, see https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2071.html.  Sounds like many people shop here on a regular basis, not just tourists.

Now on to the pictures . . . Today we're in Kyoto, which was Japan's imperial capital for thousands of years.  It's famous for Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, and Geishas (who are are female artists of traditional music and dance).  Here in Kyoto, they are called geiko rather than geisha.  A geiko in training is called a maiko, meaning "dancing child." 

Be sure to click on the pictures to enlarge.

A video by Abby from PiQtour suggested renting kimonos as a fun touristy thing to do.  She said that Japanese people think it's great when a tourist does it.  So we did it.

They curled my hair with electric curlers (haven't seen those for many years) after they dressed me up in the many layers that make the kimono.  First there's a slip-type dress, then an under-kimono dress, then the actual heavy kimono and the obi sash (which is always tied in a certain way).  Makes for a very hot dress!  Plus, it's quite tight so you have to walk in baby steps.  We saw many Japanese girls wearing kimonos in the streets of Kyoto.

A photographer led us around the Maruyama Park and the Yasaka Shrine and took many pictures.  Here's my white-headed-looking LeRon in his kimono.

The photographer always wanted us to "look at each other, then look at me."  We felt a little silly.  We're really not much into photo shoots.  But the backgrounds are interesting and it was fun, though extremely hot.

The Yasaka Shrine is a Shinto shrine (as opposed to a Buddhist temple).  I took a World Religions class at BYU where I learned about Buddhism and Shintoism but I don't remember much anymore.  We should be more aware and respectful of other religions.

Now LeRon is holding a traditional umbrella.  I am wearing the split-toe socks that separate the big toe from the other four toes, as well as the zōri thong-type sandals that truly hurt my feet.  LeRon chose not to wear the wooden split-toe sandals called getas as they are also super uncomfortable and hard to walk in, so he is just wearing his runners.

Reddy-orange is a dominant color in shrines and pagodas.

Torries at the Torii Gate. 
Torii gates mark the entrance to sacred Shinto shrines.  They are actually demarcations between the outer world and the inner world. 
Many people bow as they enter the gates.  In fact, bowing is a common practice everywhere in Japan.  They bow to show respect.  The deeper the bow, the greater the respect.

Love that umbrella.  And aren't we cute?

This was our choice for a photo because LeRon loves the stone lanterns.  We may yet see a large stone lantern in our yard at home (but maybe not quite this large).  We have a very small one already.
Notice the fan LeRon is using.  Yes, men in Japan definitely use fans.  Either the traditional fans or the battery-powered ones.

Very narrow stone bridge.  It was a little hard to shuffle along it with my pinched toes!

Parks in Japan are filled with greenery and water features.  So lovely, even on a hot, hot day.

Now the photographer is gone and we are wandering around the Yasaka Shinto Shrine.  The main hall is lavishly decorated with lanterns and heavy sacred ropes.  

Hundreds of paper lanterns adorn the main hall at the Shinto Shrine.  Anciently they were lit with oil lamps but now they use LED lights at night.

We met these lovely ladies from Mexico who had also rented colorful kimonos and were enjoying the Shrine and the heat (after all, they are from hot Mexico).  Notice that I have changed into runners.  No more split-toe sandals for me.

Here's LeRon beside a small purification fountain.  

The bamboo spout feeds water into the stone basin and the wooden ladle is used to scoop water for ritual cleansing.

Almost finished with the kimonos.  Notice the pink and white papers tied to the wall.  We see colored papers like this a lot.  They are "omikuji" or fortune-telling paper slips.  For a few yen you can choose a paper to tell your fortune.

And no, we didn't buy a kimono.  Very costly.  Plus, it's an art to put it on and you have to do it right, so there's not much point in buying one.  I do have a simpler yukata that LeRon brought home from his junior mission to give to his wife, whoever she turned out to be.  (Thankfully, she turned out to be me).  A yukata is lighter weight and less complicated to wear.  More like a housecoat or something for summer wear.

Now we're back on the street.  Here's a welcoming ceramic figure of a tanuki (a raccoon dog) on the right, along with a bamboo spout and stone water basin for purification.  Also notice those three hanging white pieces of fabric with writing.  You see that everywhere in entryways to stores and restaurants.  You have to duck under the cloths to enter.  Also notice the bamboo screening.

A tanuki is a real Japanese raccoon dog.  It looks much like a raccoon but is actually a member of the dog family and is also related to foxes and wolves.  It can even climb trees, unlike dogs.  Tanukis are also mentioned in Japanese myths as having magical powers.  Maybe that's why the ceramic tanuki is there to welcome visitors in the above photo. 

See https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/tanuki for images of the darling cute tanuki.  They look like they would make great pets but they are actually wild animals.

Now we're entering the well-known Teramachi shopping street in the Gion District of Kyoto.  It's a covered street with lots of shopping.

As a young missionary, LeRon and his companion often street-contacted in shopping malls such as this.  Today, it's very quiet.

Hidden amongst the stores are small shrines.  Could this round stone basin be a baptismal font or some kind of purification basin?

A Buddhist temple and lovely stone lantern.  Who knew there were so many places of worship on a busy shopping street?

LeRon with the old and the new.  You can see that I am the one taking the pictures since I'm never in them and we don't do selfies very well.

Yata-dera Temple on the Teramachi shopping street.  The bronze bell in the center back is rung during festivals to guide spirits back to the after-life.  Gorgeous colors too.

Many believe that this statue in the Yata-dera Temple has healing powers and they come here to touch the statue to access that power.  Notice the sliding rice-paper screens and the hanging lanterns.

Also within the Yata-dera Temple are stone statues wearing bibs or aprons.  The aprons symbolize protection from evil spirits and the bibs honor children who have died.  The red color traditionally wards off evil spirits and illnesses.

These Sukajan bomber jackets are very popular with tourists and locals.  Pricey too.  LeRon considered buying one but then he wondered when he would ever wear it.  So no, he didn't buy it.
  

A chopstick store!  Who knew there were so many different kinds?  (If you've lived in Japan, you know).  And those colorful things on the table are not cookies.  They are chopstick rests (hashioki).  Places to put your chopsticks to keep them off the table.

Many restaurants display their food in the window.  That way, you can just point: "I want this."  Kind of nice to see what your food is really going to look like.  A picture of the food is often nowhere near what the food actually looks like (at least in western restaurants).

Just off the shopping street is the entrance to the Chugen-ji Temple.  So many places to calm down from busy shopping and eating and to contemplate life for a while.  Contemplation is good for the soul.  Meditation is a significant part of both Buddhism and Shintoism and the parks surrounding the temples and shrines invite peaceful contemplation.

It's the end of a perfect day.  Yes, hot.  But perfect in every other way.  We're back at the Kyoto Train Station, which is like a huge city in itself.  Took us forever to find the many restaurants.  Now for a bit of food.  We love Japanese food and are anxious to have some more.  Fun to watch them prepare it.  See video below.

We shared a huge okonomiyaki -- a fried dish made with shredded cabbage, pork and other things and flour batter, topped with okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise.  Kewpie mayo differs from western mayonnaise and is so delicious.  It uses egg yolk (not the whole egg) and a blend of vinegars and MSG.  It's thicker than western mayo and has a tangy yet sweet (but not too sweet) taste.

The okonomiyaki was extremely filling and brought back happy memories for LeRon.  He ate it a lot as a young missionary.  He said it actually wasn't as tasty as he remembered.

Fun to watch the food being prepared.

We passed this Heather store (named after our daughter Heather, I am sure) multiple times.  We got lost and back tracked and asked and got lost again.  The Kyoto Train Station is gigantic.  Apparently there are over 300 stores and restaurants in the train station.  If you lived here, you would never have to leave the station!

At last.  Back at the hotel.  A "BellaBot" is trying to tell us something.  Japan has lots of robots.  After all, Japan is one of the top tech countries in the world.

Good night!  More to come as I continue to go through the pictures.  More days south of Tokyo and then five days in the cooler Hokkaido Island.  Such a fun (and exhausting) adventure.