map schmap

of course i went back to kiyomizudera - i've been around the surrounding streets (which are full of souvenir shops and food) several times.   i've been eating too much matcha ice cream, way too much matcha everything, at this point.

iced  pickle on a stick.  really good in hot weather

  i've seen these things running around in anime before, but didn't realize they came from something.  stupid me.

 there's a lot in the hills around kiyomizudera besides kiyomizudera.  my pictures came out terribly, but i hiked through a lot of places including a very, very steep old hillside graveyard, and up these stairs to a shrine at the top.  i wanted to take the other one that went through the woods, i really did, but the mosquitoes were getting out of hand.

 it seems like trying to plan where to go and what to see ahead of time is just a waste of effort in a place like this, when stumbling upon things works so well.  i can't even remember where i was trying to go when i banged a left into Gion and after wandering in a circle found some pretty big-looking temple grounds that were closed for the night. because it's pretty close to where i'm staying, i decided to come back during the day to see what might be open.  

and i'm really glad i decided to go into the dark reception room with a sign i couldn't really read where they were charging admission to get in.  i think it was about 7 dollars.

according to the pamphlet i got on the way in, kenninji is the oldest zen temple in kyoto, founded about 1,010 years ago.
there's a covered walkway that leads to a separate building, where you have to put on red slippers to cross, since you left your shoes at the main entrance 2 hours ago... i was curious about what was in this other building, because it's big, kind of dark, and stood out a bit even from the outside.

and what i found was pretty freaking cool