Day 12, once again found us at the train station.
Today we are off to Kyoto and a visit to the Imperial Palace. The Kyoto Imperial Palace is the former ruling palace of the Emperor of Japan till 1869 when they moved to Tokyo. It has been around in some form or other since the 12th century.
For state ceremonies, the dignitaries would enter through the Kenreimon Gate which has a cypress-wood roof, and is supported by four unpainted wooden pillars. This gate would have been used on the rare occasions of the emperor welcoming a foreign diplomat or dignitary, as well as for many other important state ceremonies.
Passing through the Kenreimon, the inner gate Jomeimon would appear, which is painted in vermilion and roofed in tile.
This leads to the Shishin-den which is the Hall for State Ceremonies. Gates are every where, all having some special purpose.
And of course what is a palace with out a garden.
We were not disappointed.
One last stop before heading back to Kobe.
Kinkaku-ju, literally "Temple of the Golden Pavilion"), officially named Rokuon, literally "Deer Garden Temple", is a Zen Buddhist Temple in Kyoto.
One of the most popular and most photographed sights in Japan.
A beautiful bronzed Phoenix adorns the peak of the roof.
The temple is now used to house Buddhist relics but a simpler more utilitarian temple was located nearby if you needed to get your Zen on.
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