My first real day in Kyoto.  I walked around some last night, but couldn't tell much besides where the Baskin Robbins was at.  I went back to the Higashi Honganji Shrine first thing that morning to get some better pictures of it sans luggage.

 

 

Kyoto Tower in the distance.

 

The detailing of every element really made it for me.  For instance, I love how this column base meets the ground.

 

The gas station behind my apartment.  The hoses come down from the roof.  I can't say I have seen this before.

Fairly typical house and street scene.  Yep, the tile roofs were a big deal for me. 

 

Old Kyoto by the river.  Nice tight alley ways with several hidden restaurants, bars and clubs. 

There is a fish about the size of me in this picture, trust me.  Yeah, I can't see it either now.

 

Kyoto was kind of a random walking city.  After a few hours of looking at buildings, shops, markets and a few snacks along the way, I headed to Nijo Castle.  It was built in the 17th century and had an inner and outer palaces with moats for each (concentric circles).  Quite the complex in the middle of the city.

 

The palaces, which I couldn't take pictures of, where a series of boxes (designed after flying geese) that leads a visitor through a progression in order to get to the shogun.

 

I am really glad the sun came out for the gardens portion.  Very relaxing and a good break from all my walking.

 

Hmmm.  They were probably talking to me.

 

I didn't realize the Imperial Palace is only open 3 times a year and with special requests.  I was palaced out for the day anyway.

 

But I did manage to catch a neighborhood baseball game on the palace grounds.

 

A typical house with courtyard.  Fairly impressive. 

 

Kyoto is definitely more my speed.  The speed of Tokyo was gone and it was easier to feel like loafing around was allowed here, ha.  I started a routine of visiting a British Pub for Happy Hour before I set off for dinner each night.  There seemed to be more tourists in Kyoto also, but I am sure the ratios were about the same, but it was hard to tell in Tokyo because of the vast number of people.