Japan - Kyoto - Day 10

- Saturday, October 10th 2015 -

 Today was the day before we headed off to Koya-San for the Buddhist temple.  We had some time before really NEEDING to organize our bags, and there was one thing left that I really really wanted to do.  Fushimi Inari Shrine, known for having 1000 tori gates!

Getting there was pretty easy (I let Emma navigate) and it was literally right across the street from the station.  The place was very busy, but for being a huge facility anyway, it was fine!

Obligatory touristing photos!




















Ok honestly this is just 101 photos of tori gates and pretty shrine scenery, there will be commentary where I feel but enjoy the show.

The area around the gates was super busy with tourists and lots of little charm shops.  I ended up buying a yutaka here, though there's no photos of me wearing it around.  It was affordable and green so of course I liked it.

I'm pretty sure that's a bib.  CUTE FOXES

we almost bought some of these just to keep.

So many people!  we popped out of the gates at times to take pictures of the outside of them.

There were a few places where it opened up before continuing up hill.  Emma and I went probably 1/3rd of the way up, maybe even half.  My hips were hurting and her ankle was beginning to bother her.  One day I'd love to walk the entire mountain, just with more supplies and when I'm not sore!

The fate deciding Map. We debated it briefly, turning back there, but after wasting some time we opted to head up the hill... No.  We didn't make it to the top.  My hip hurt and Emma's ankle started acting up.  Steps are not my friend.

This was adorable.

Say hello to my little friend.

About then we took another route down the mountain.  The views were just as pretty at least!

This cat.  Just chilled.  Getting pets from people.

yes, that is a vending machine on the right.

Those are plastic. But selling edible things. 

Cat cafe!? We ate upstairs across from it.  Sandwiches and Crepes

 Then we went back to our hotel area, walking down the road to get lunch at the local Ramen place.  The food was good, though I'd gotten my coin coughed back up at me and forgot to really look at it.  Thought my order was through on the machine but never got a ticket printed out.  Man, those things are complicated for people who don't speak Japanese.  Still, by watching, and broken English, we figured it out and had a fairly tasty very large cheap meal.  Pile of noodles with some shredded beef and then a cup of ramen on the side. 

After we ate, we came back to the hotel to pack up for tomorrows journey.  Sending our luggage off ahead of us that night (ahead of a HUGE tour group that just came to check in, EEK!) and hitting the hay.