Kyoto

On Wednesday we visited Kyoto, which was the capital of Japan for nearly 1,100 years, from 794 until 1868. With a population of 1.5 million people, Kyoto is Japan's 5th largest city. 

Most people make the visit to see the numerous shrines and temples that dot the city. Kyoto is situated in a sloping basin between two rivers (the Katsura and the Kamo), surrounded by a horseshoe of mountains. 

Our visit was to Ten-Ryu-Ji, a Zen Buddhist temple located in the Arashiyama district. The buildings were quite beautiful, but it was the gardens that were most enjoyable. 

For lunch we joined the Arashiyama Benkau Rotary Club for a lunch of kaiseki (traditional Japanese food served in multiple courses). It was an amazing lunch, and everyone left in a good mood after generous quantities of warm sake, cold sake, and beer. 

 

The last stop of the day was at To-Ei Uzu-masa "movie town," a film and television set (and tourist destination) populated with ersatz buildings, ninjas and samurai. 

I was hassled by a ninja and took him out with a roundhouse kick. 

His samurai friends tried to come to his rescue, but I dispatched them with a lethal combination of "duck mouth karate."

Haiku #9

ninja cannot win

roundhouse kick to abdomen

duck mouth style is best