Postcard from Kyoto and Osaka
Following the International Conference on Field Programmable Technology we spent some time in Kyoto and Osaka.
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Clear Water Temple is a World Heritage Site. Here are some schoolgirls playing with water.
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Prayer cards.
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Nice hat.
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This is Clear Water Temple itself, with a view of Kyoto in the background. Built in 1633, it is a magnificent piece of carpentry.
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Massive pieces of timber were used and lots of fancy joints.
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This picture is actually quite misleading as autumn was long over.
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We then took the bus to nearby Gion.
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Many tourists enjoy dressing up in kimonos and taking selfies.
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Japanese marbled beef restaurant.
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The Shinto Fushimi Inari Shrine with many torii gates.
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Of all the places we visited, I was most impressed by Nijo Castle and its surrounding gardens.
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A serious mortise and tenon.
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Nishiki market.
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A simple breakfast.
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Japanese knives are only ground on one side (chisel grind) and hence are either left or right handed. This was part of the left handed offerings.
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Sharpening bench.
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Not sure if he is applying his maker’s stamp here.
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We then went to a ryokan on Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan,
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and played camping.
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A private spa in the ryokan.
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A bit of a feast with Japanese marbled beef, sashimi and crab.
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Following the visit to Lake Biwa, we went to Kyoto station and took the train to Osaka.
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Pedestrians have to share the pavement with cyclists.
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A professional hitman with his wife.
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In Osaka, it is easy to tell which restaurants specialise in what food.
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Didn’t try this.
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Noodle bar.
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Overall, we had a great time in Kyoto and Osaka. This was the first time I’ve been there and I would definitely not pass up an opportunity to return.