Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Welcome to 700 travel blogs, to access a full index on your mobile please scroll to the bottom & choose from 700 locations. Email is [email protected]

kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple Kyoto

June 11, 2018 by David Herd

A long climb to reach the Temple

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple Japan was founded in 778 by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633, ordered by the Tokugawa Iemitsu. There is not a single nail used in the entire structure. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water.

More steps when you get to the Temple.

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

I assure you going back down from Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple is much easier. 🙂

Always crowds to contend with in the high season.

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

There are many advantages travelling in low season, less crowds, cheaper flights & hotels.

Coming down is much easier. 🙂

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

Lots of students even though it’s a Saturday.

Photo opportunity

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

Such a lovely Kimono on this very pretty lady.

Lets try another pose.

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

If you go to all the trouble to hire a kimono & dress up then you need to take plenty of photos.

Everybody loves the traditional dress 

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

It’s so nice to see everyone dressed up.

A very busy ice-cream shop

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

On a hot day such as this soft serve ice cream really hits the spot.

Small parking spot.

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

A tight squeeze here but at least it’s off the road. These little boxy cars are very popular in Japan.

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

It was about a 35 minute walk from my hotel, however the last 10 minutes was up a very steep hill.

Thanks for visiting my Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple photo blog. The APA Hotel where I stayed is a great location with large rooms, as a bonus there is a Starbucks on the ground floor. For a really good room rate just book through THIS LINK, it will also give you free cancellation.

A-One hotel on Beach Road

Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple

For a great room rate at the A-One hotel opposite the beach just book through THIS LINK.               

 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Fukuoka Hiroshima Sapporo Sendai

Tokyo Kagoshima Kanazawa Nagoya

Nagasaki Yokohama Kyoto Kamakura

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Kyoto’s entertainment district

June 11, 2018 by David Herd

You Gotta Love Kyoto

Kyoto’s entertainment district

Kyoto’s entertainment district

Kyoto’s entertainment district is the perfect place to stay when visiting this great city. At one end of the street you cross the river & at the other end is Yasaka Shrine.

Yasaka Shrine.

Gion Kyoto’s entertainment districtYasaka Shrine is also known as Gion Shrine, one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto. Founded over 1350 years ago, the shrine is located between the popular Gion District and Higashiyama District, and you can simply walk between the two districts.

Locals & tourists like the dress up as Geishas.

Kyoto’s entertainment district

There are many shops all over Kyoto when you can hire the traditional dress.

One of the larger hire shops.

Kyoto’s traditional entertainment districtIt really is nice seeing all the ladies dressed in traditional outfits.

Blending in with the atmosphere.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtGion Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district is one of Japan’s most popular destinations.

Mercedes-AMG GT C

Gion Kyoto’s entertainment districtYou should have heard the magnificent sound coming from this fabulous vehicle. The awning you can see on the right is the APA Hotel where I stayed, a great location with large rooms, as a bonus there is a Starbucks on the ground floor. For a really good room rate just book through THIS LINK, it will also give you free cancellation.

APA Hotel.

Kyoto’s traditional entertainment districtA good size room for Japan.

If you are travelling from Kyoto station to Gion forget the train just take either bus 100 or 110 from the station.

A small shrine in the main street.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtSomething to see around every corner.

Gion Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district Yakitori is one of the cuisines.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtWhat amazing food is on offer in this wonderful country.

So many fascinating old buildings.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtThere is so much to see in this great city.

Another great looking restaurant

Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district The most difficult thing is deciding where to eat. 🙂

Drinking with the locals.

Kyoto’s entertainment districtI enjoyed a nice hour or 2 drinking with the locals in a tiny side street bar.

One of the many bars in close by Pontocho.

Pontocho Entertainment District KyotoFor many more bars & restaurants just follow THIS LINK.

                    Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

This gallery contains 3 photos

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto

June 11, 2018 by David Herd

                                                       Kyoto                      

                                                           Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto comes alive after sunset. Lots of interesting bars & restaurants in this rather compact area adjacent to Gion. My first visit to Kyoto was in 2007 & sadly I never knew Pontocho existed.

At sunset people sit along the river bank, I’m guessing it is some sort of tradition they are following because the view is fairly average as you can clearly see below. 🙂

  A fairly average view.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto   I guess they meet for the company rather than the view.

  Now this is a better photograph. 🙂

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto Late afternoon in Kyoto.

     Strike up the band

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  These guys were playing very nice music.

   Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto as the sun goes down.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  It’s time for an ice cold Asahi Super Dry.

  The Sisha Bar

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  This was where I started with a couple of beers.

 Next door was Zaza Pub

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto gives you lots of choices of bars & restaurants.

    Sumika basement restaurant

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto   Sumika was an excellent Yakitori restaurant.

  Beef heart & chicken washed down with hot sake. Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto

    Six skewers & 3 bottles of sake for 2000 Yen or $24 AUD.

     The happy chefs.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto   They love having their photo taken. 🙂

 Pizza & Tapas

Pontocho Entertainment District KyotoSo many restaurants & such little time.

  Luca Yakitori bar

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  How good does this look?

 Hot sake & a Shitake mushroom.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto  Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto offers very good food at a reasonable price.

  Another terrific Tapas bar.

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto   Red wine at 500 Yen or $6 AUD a glass.

       Spanish cured ham.

Pontocho Entertainment District KyotoThe finest is called jamón ibérico de bellota (acorn). This ham is from free-range pigs that roam oak forests (called dehesas) along the border between Spain and Portugal, and eat only acorns during this last period. It is also known as jamón ibérico de Montanera.

  The crowd gathers

Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto    Obviously a popular venue. 🙂

Thanks for visiting my Pontocho Entertainment District Kyoto photo blog, Japan truly is a fascinating country.

The APA Hotel was where I stayed, a great location with large rooms, as a bonus there is a Starbucks on the ground floor. For a really good room rate just book through THIS LINK, it will also give you free cancellation.

 Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

This gallery contains 2 photos

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

August 24, 2013 by David Herd

Fabulous Kyoto

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travellers and visitors to the shrine. It eventually evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan.

Gion shop

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

A great window display.

Wonderful Japanese garden in Kyoto

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

In my eyes this is perfection.

The magnificent Kinkakuju temple.

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Kinkakuji (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. Kinkakuji was the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu’s grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the other side of the city a few decades later. Kinkakuji is an impressive structure built overlooking a large pond, and is the only building left of Yoshimitsu’s former retirement complex. It has burned down numerous times throughout its history including twice during the Onin War, a civil war that destroyed much of Kyoto; and once again more recently in 1950 when it was set on fire by a fanatic monk. The present structure was rebuilt in 1955.

Hanami-koj St Gion.

fd216f3b-5756-45a4-8f35-6792102ce04c

Part of the Gion district has been declared a national historical preservation district. Recently, the City of Kyoto completed a project to restore the streets of Gion, which included such plans as moving all overhead utilities underground as part of the ongoing effort to preserve the original beauty of Gion.

Gion

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Gion is my favourite part of Kyoto.

Nijo Castle.

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan
The castle is an excellent example of social control manifested in architectural space. Low-ranking visitors were received in the outer regions of the Ninomaru, whereas high-ranking visitors were shown the more subtle inner chambers. Rather than attempt to conceal the entrances to the rooms for bodyguards (as was done in many castles), the Tokugawas chose to display them prominently. Thus, the construction lent itself to expressing intimidation and power to Edo-period visitors. The building houses several different reception chambers, offices and the living quarters of the shogun, where only female attendants were allowed. One of the most striking features of the Ninomaru Palace are the “nightingale floors” (uguisubari) in the corridors. To protect the occupants from sneak attacks and assassins, the builders constructed the floors of the corridors in such a way as to squeak like birds when anyone walks on them.

Check out the Kiyomizu-dera buddhist temple.

So many wonderful restaurants in Gion.

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Good food & beautiful faces, what more could you ask for?

 Jyuunidanya restaurant in Gion

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Probably has not changed for hundreds of years.

Kyoto Tower

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

Kyoto’s iconic landmark is a very convenient place to stay, for an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK.

 Kyoto railway station

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto

Best station I have ever seen.

Japan is full of surprises

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

In this country there is the ancient & the new. 🙂

  A beautiful Japanese lady

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

This is Ake and she provided me with a real surprise. It was a wet Monday evening so I found a small bar to enjoy a few drinks and a light dinner. An hour or so later Aki came in with 2 of her friends, they all said hello to me and joined me at the bar. After a couple more drinks they invited me to join them at another bar where they were meeting friends. I said “please wait a minute while I pay my bill here”, Ake said “don’t worry I have already paid it”.  You could have knocked me over with a feather, so off we went and the night got better and better. 🙂

Aki’s friends Jun and Alice

Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto Japan

  It’s always great meeting the locals. 🙂

My 3rd visit in 2018

Gion Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district

Certainly one of my favourite cities in Japan.

Make sure you visit the Pontocho Entertainment District 

Thanks for visiting my Gion Temples Geishas Kyoto photo blog.

                             Here are some more posts to check out 

           

   Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets Europe Hungarian Parliament Building (2) The Walkie Talkie (5)   

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

                     43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837 IMG_7425 Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                    

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South Vietnam Main Square (3) Vung Tau statue (6)

Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
 
Pattaya live webcam
9a1fec74-4461-46cd-8663-97f5893c8f6e (1)

That’s all folks

1g Duck

Holiday Inn

bbc35e6d-80db-4e1c-8f51-83dd84f16520

Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.

The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.

Sabai Wing North Pattaya

36555237616_da3ed73d6a_o

The best Pattaya budget hotel, 3 pools & opposite Central Marina shopping mall. For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Sutus Court is a great budget hotel right i the heart of one of Pattaya’s main bar areas, just use THIS LINK for a terrific room rate. 420/100 Moo 9 Soi Buakhao.

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

Click here to see another Japanese post

 

A very quaint Tokyo street

 

You gotta love the Ginza

 



Counter only started February 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos