On our last day in Kyoto, we had an agressive schedule. It started with a visit to Ginkaku-ji Temple in the northeast part of Kyoto, up against the mountains. We bought ¥500 day passes for the bus so that we could get around today. There is no train that goes to Ginkaku-ji so you’re left with the bus or a taxi.
Here’s a tip: the Bus #100 does a tourist loop to all the temples and sites on the east side of Kyoto. Well worth the ¥500 cost for the day.
So we hopped on the bus in front the Kyoto National Museum (sinking feeling we missed something there — nothing but long lines every day), 20 minutes later we arrived at Ginkaku-ji. Along the way we passed temple after temple after temple stop. There is a lot to see here.
Ginkaku-ji is a Zen temple that dates from the early 1400s, and when you enter Ginkaku-ji, there is a zen garden which replicates the rice fields and Mt. Fuji. It’s marvelous.
The gardens themselves are just beautiful.
Seriously? How do they do these things with plants?
