I had a Christmas party with Mexicans. They cooked Mexican food eaten on Christmas occasion. They said they don't put chili or spice to keep dishes pure and white. A dish in a Japanese big pot is scrambled apple, pineapple and raisin, a very popular cuisine among Mexicans.
Enkoji (円光寺) was in fact the finest-view temple in this trip. I like this kind of miniascape than large and open space. On the other hand Shisend which I went next was not nice at all; just crowded with people.
I biked north to Rengeji (蓮花寺) and then visited Oohara by Kyoto bus.
Sanzenin (三千院) was also very crowded and not impressive at all.
Jissoin (実相院), having a lot of document on the last days of shogunate, was not look like a temple but rather like a historic site. The famous red leaf floor was truly reflecting light of the maple red from outside.
The old residence of Iwakura Tomomi (岩倉具視幽棲旧宅)
Lit up autumn leaves at Grand Prince Hotel
After this excursion, I helped my brother configure his computer he bought yesterday. I said goodbye at Marutamachi station, but he came to Kyoto station by his bicycle to see me off. Thanks my bro!
This day I woke up late because of the previous day I came back to the hotel late.
Eizan Train (叡山電鉄) going through maple leaf tunnel (もみじのトンネル)
Kurama-dera temple (鞍馬寺) was not so crowded because this day was not holiday and weather was not nice.
Me at Gikei-do (義経堂)
Kibune shurine (貴船神社)
貴船の川床
Kibuneguchi Station (貴船口駅)
This night I went to downtown to help my brother buy a laptop. It's the first time for him to have a computer. I let him come to my hotel room to do configuration. The mobile service didn't work at all. Connection was so slow that 500 kbyte data took 10 minutes to download. Having no solution, I taught how to email using computers at the lobby instead. It was midnight when he went back his home.
This night, I went to a drinking bar with my elder and younger brothers, enjoyed exchanging eath other's latest news. My elder brother pledged that he will pass national exam of salesperson. I also vowed that I will pass national exam of system architect.
After that, went to karaoke with my younger brother, sang until 2 o'clock AM.
Originally, I could not book hotel in Kyoto so I booked hotel in Osaka. A friend of mine, however, gave her reserved room near Kyoto Imperial Palace to me. I thank her so much.
Traditional music performance
Shishin den (紫宸殿)
Kyoto Imperial Palace was open to public specially and this day I enjoyed Heian tranditional music performance at Shunkouden (春興殿) place.
I joined with my brother and went to Tofukuji Temple (東福寺) together
Sennyuji garden (泉湧寺)
Sennyuji (泉湧寺) was not crowded but its garden was far more impressive than Tofukuji. Red and yellow vivid colors of maple leaves were harmonized in the well-maintained zen-style garden.
Then I went to Kiyomizu Temple to experience how is lit-up temples. My brother didn't join since he knows it's too crowded. Maple leafs were not red. I felt a little tired after the excursion going up and down the hillside temple.
I hiked from Mt. Takao to Mt. Jimba to enjoy red leaves, but this year, because of the hot summer, leaves were not so red. they were either a bit dark with small spots or already gone.
At the peak of Mt. Kagenobu (景信山), I had wild vegetable fritters and nameko noodle
At the peak of Mt. Kagenobu (景信山), I had wild vegetable fritters and nameko noodle