J2 – Gary Comes to Japan! Part 4

The last Kyoto day~

Mitch got sick in the morning, so we spent ages at home waiting for him to feel better. We skipped going up into the mountains in the north, so we have something to do next time!

We had a bit of a mission trying to find a locker at Kyoto station in which to put our luggage; seeing as everyone else wanted to do the same! We did eventually find one and grabbed the train.

We headed over to the bamboo groves in the end, and explored the surrounding areas until our train home in the evening. It was beautiful, and the weather was much better, so walking around was really pleasant. We even found time to go into the fancy garden in the bamboo grove. We had a look to see if a guy I once bought a balancing dragonfly from was there, but I think the light rain kept him home that day. The garden had a secret quiet house which we spent some time dozing and enjoying the peace. I got to do a bit of calligraphy too!

The station at which we arrived; check out those mountains!

Pretty window scenery means posing

When you come out of the station, there’s all these poles with kimono patterns in them. I took the dragon pictures for my mum mostly; what a sop 🙂 Also I think this is where Mark and Rob got off when they went to Kyoto for a few hours, but didn’t get very far!

Peekaboo!

Peekaboo2!

We ate at Tully’s for breakfast/lunch

A rather flooded river and a fanciful bridge

In the bamboo!

Thankfully it wasn’t too crowded 🙂

We found amazing Japanese glass coke bottles for sale, so we got one each 🙂

Aren’t they cool?!

The garden in the grove started with this pretty rest area

Exploring the gardens

Stepping stone paths are always pretty cool

Peekaboo3!

A viewing platform in the midst

The rest house

Me attempting some calligraphy

Gary took pictures of the sliding doors; they were lovely!

I made us each a little thingy with the date and location. I forgot the forest part of bamboo forest…. but oh well!

We wrote in the guest book of course.

With your entry ticket you get a free green tea and small sweet.

Mitch wasn’t a fan haha!

Our tea and sweets

I love this photo

bamboo tops!

Gary with his friend

After bamboo goodness we went for moss goodness. Another place I’d been before but again it was great to slow it down! The walk back to the station took us through another cool temple too which was a nice way to end the day.

Moss time!

The whole floor is mossy

This stuff is soft soft soft.

Tree moss

Mitch moss

Gary at the cool homeward bound temple

Huge temple grounds

Are we about to be murdered by a giant red guardian thingy? Maybe.

Me attempting to be a crazy red guardian thingy.

We got back to the station in good time and ended up having Chinese food for dinner. It was really spicy, but super yummy. Gary and I got a crazy matcha dessert too 🙂 Then back to Tokyo/Chiba on another bullet train in pure styyyyle.

Dinner!

puddin’

Bye Kyoto!