While in Kyoto we visited the Imperial Palace, Nijo Castle (with very squeaky floors to alert them to enemies approaching plus lovely art and gardens) and Golden Temple (our favourite).
Imperial Park Gate
Nijo Castle
Kinjakuji Temple (Golden Pavillion)
On the way back Pen and I went into a department store and Glenn into a coffee shop! We couldn't believe the number of people and the noise of shop assistants calling out bargains.
The road was blocked for the festival and absolutely full of people. We had a quick dinner in MOS burger (Japan's equivalent of McDonalds). Pen had a rice burger ie rice instead of bun - a little hard to hold!
Both nights and a morning we went to the festival and had a ball. I don't think I've ever been in such a large crowd. We went and saw many of the floats and read their meanings. The one I found most memorable is where the man was trying to look after his mother and son but was too poor to keep them both. He decided he would have to kill his son and was burying him alive when he found a pot of gold. The moral of this story - always do your filial duty and you will be rewarded! There were hundreds of food stores and entertainments.
The decorated bus we went to the festival on.
So many people were dressed in traditional costumes.
In front of one of the floats
Penny adding the flavours to the shaved ice.
Glenn and Penny in front of one the floats. There were 33. Some very tall. At night they were all lit like this and in many streets in the city area.
Our fish dessert
Turtles to win
Pen in the throng
At the parade
Turning the float on the corner. Quite an effort.
The festival looks great. I loved the fish dessert. What is it?
ReplyDeleteIt is a pancake thing with cream, custard and strawberries inside!
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