Christmas in Kyoto

This is the Ryoukan Shimizu in Kyoto Japan, Its the cutest little traditional Inn ever! The staff spoke English and were the most charming ladies ever! On Christmas they were wearing Christmas hats and even put them on the welcomeing cat, and the mini Godzilla!

This Dragon fountain is at one of the major shrines in Kyoto, its the largest wooden structure still in existence and the fountain is beautiful. Because the temple is an active religious site, there were no pictures to be taken inside, but all the details were lined with gold, its was breath taking.

These pictures are from the big shrines garden located a few blocks from the shrine its self.

These are from my stamp book, you take it around to the shrines and give them 300 yen and they stamp and sign the book for you, I'm going to have to go back to finish the stamp collection sometime.

These are from the Sankusangenji (I think that's what it is...) This temple houses the thousand multi-armed goddesses, and something like 28 gods. It was amazing and beautiful, and this time of year many Japanese go here to absolve their sins, to start the new year clean and fresh!

Also, there is a archery contest held hear every year, where the archers shoot one thousand arrows to the beam at the end of the court yard, the one who makes the most shots is the winner.

This temple houses Japanese national treasure of screen paintings they were pretty, but the garden was more entertaining. It was raining, and very cold, and you have to walk around with no shoes on while inside, but the "inside" wasn't really inside it was open to the air and everything!

These two pictures are of Mount. Fuji taken from the Shikazen. the Shikazen is a train that goes 210 mph or 300-ish kph I had to lean over an sleeping old man to get them, his wife wasn't too pleased, but it was worth it.

This is Fuji from Tateyama beach, about 11:00 am.