Kyoto – Temples and Shrines

Japan has rather a lot of temples and shrines. In fact, they are everywhere, at every corner and everywhere you look. Temples and shrines. Some that are in the countryside, others in the city. Some by rivers, some over water, some with lots of lanterns, some with lots of gates... get it? Temple and shrine central. In Kyoto, we visited a lot of temples and shrines... some in the hills, some in the city....

Other than temples and shrines, Kyoto seems a modern city full of temples and shrines. You can go shopping in a modern mall, safe in the knowledge that there's a whole host of temples and shrines not too far away. We walked the world famous Philosopher's Walk, which has plenty of temples and shrines surrounding it. Took a train out into the countryside to visit the temple and shrine complex in Kurama where apparently Reiki was invented.

Best of all was finding a small packed out bar to watch Japan versus Paraguay battle it out – great atmosphere and lots of friends made, and Japan so close too! Finished off with some more temples and shrines – ones with lots of statues of various Buddhas.

More pics of Kyoto here, Kurama here, and Nara here!