Today is the last day to sample amazing Kyoto.There are many significant World Heritage sites here and we spent this last tour day in Japan at the beautiful Zen Buddhist Tenryuji Temple, which featured "houses", multi-leveled gardens, a large koi pond, and an amazing bamboo forest.Though we have seen many temples and shrines on this journey, they have each had their own uniqueness and mistique to the western eye. There is much beauty preserved in the heritage of Japan, though its history reflects long reigns of conflict among the emperors and shoguns, and, as an island, distruction by typhoons and storms.
We had time this afternoon to do our shopping at the Craft Center before attending our Farewell dinner.
The Farewell dinner is always a special event. One last chance at public transportation, we went by taxi, muni train, and a long walk through the Geisha neighborhood, to a lovely river view restaurant for our gourmet dinner. This has been an active and compatible group of 16, with an outstanding trip leader.
Some of us head back to the states tomorrow while a few take the post trip to Hiroshima.
Last blog tomorrow - Comments and impressions.
Pic 1: sakura blossom "snow" falling in the Okochi-Sanso Japanese garden; Bamboo Grove; Traditional dress
Did you ask them how long it takes to get into their traditional dress?
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