Japan - Kyoto (cont...) and Hiroshima

Kinkakuji Temple (The Golden Temple). On the opposite end of town is the Ginkakuji (The Silver Temple). I didn't go there. The temple itself was not all that impressive, but like most Japanese temples in Kyoto the grounds surrounding the temple were amazing.

Stupid branch blocking the temple.

A stone pagoda monument on an island in the Kinkajkuji grounds.

A stone Buddha in the forest of the Kinkajkuji grounds.

This is a Japanese zen garden at the Ryoanji Temple. I found out later this is a really famous garden. The different rocks simbolize .... ah damn it, I forget. Anyways, I didn't find the rock garden all that amazing but the entire forest and park surrounding the temple was meticulously manicured and was definitely the nicest I saw.

A little old woman gardener carefully pulling weeds at the Ryoanji temple.

The grounds at Ryoanji temple.

The entire park is irrigated by a network of bamboo pipes.

The entrance of Daikakuji Temple. It was closed when I got there.

This scary 20ft monster guards the gates at Daikakuji Temple.

Every restaurant in Japan has plastic models of their entire menu outside the restaurant. This particular display was outside a Sushi train restaurant I ate at with some people I met in Kyoto.

Two Aussies I met at my hostel and a Japanese girl I met at one of the temples. Oh, and the sushi chef.

All the side streets in Kyoto were lit up by these really pretty lanterns.

On our way back to the hostel from sushi my dinner companions and I came across these buskers playing, of all things, Miles Davis.

HIROSHIMA

Peace Park in front of the Hiroshima Atom Bomb museum. I waited forever for the wind to show the Japanese flag. In the back is the A-bomb dome.

The A-bomb dome was one of the only buildings left standing after the bomb hit. It is now the only building remaining and is a world heritage site. To the left of the building is the T-shaped bridge, which was the point over which the bomb was detonated.

The Hiroshima childrens monument in Peace Park.

Inside the museum was a mural-sized photo of the devistation after the bomb hit.


A model of downtown Hiroshima after the bomb.


A broken watch showing 8:15am the time the bomb hit.

Please enlarge and read.

Part of a life sized exhibit showing the devistation and mutilation of the people (note the melting skin).