One more Day Kyoto - then to Tokyo Day 9

The concierge at hotel told us we need to take bus to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, on a cliff. We got up early to beat the crowd and walk to it. Maki and I put on real street clothes. She even matched this building.

Beautiful before the crowds 

River through city named for goose 

Super cute like a  modern-looking Post Town 

Delicious cucumber in kelp juice on a stick 

Seems everywhere we go is uphill!

Crazy how this was built on a cliff - the saying in Japanese for when you make a big huge decision that takes a lot of courage, they say it is like jumping off the Kiyomizu stage. 

Done with temples - on to monkeys at Iwatayama 

Very brisk 20 minute uphill hike with lots of people 

Signs say don't make eye contact with them 

Look at the all monkeys in the cage ~ 

Mommy and baby - Happy Mothers Day 

This sign cracked me up = in subway station 

Back to Maki's parents, enjoying a delicious sushi dinner

HAHAHAHHAHA Ben!  "Enjoy junkfood life"

Abe's likes our hats 

FINISHED YAMANOBE-NO-MICHI!!! OLDEST TRAIL JAPAN Day 8 - train to Kyoto

We woke early to go see the temple, and the priest was doing his morning duty with the gong and reciting something in ancient Japanese that Maki could not understand. Before he started, Maki got in trouble for having her hands in her jacket pockets to keep them warm.  All we could do is keep from laughing because there were about 59 cases of Sake sitting on the alter, and he was talking so fast that he kept coughing but would not stop to really cough. After he had finished, I got in trouble for blowing my nose. He was very grumpy.  This picture is from the temple looking at our lodging. 

We were SO excited that we could do yet another leg of the Yamanobe trail that Maki forgot the map. Had to go back to get it. 

Pride DOES come before the fall. I was so pleased that I had not fallen yet. I am always afraid of falling ever since I fell in my moms hospital room and broke the head off my femur! I was so so happy that nothing had happened yet. Well, today I slipped and fell - BUT this umbrella broke my fall, and broke the head off the umbrella! I remain uninjured. Hallelujah!

More beauty every step 

Stopped for a coffee and got some sweet treats with it 

Trained to Kyoto to The Westin. We have been looking forward to this treat. Once we arrived, we felt really out of place. We prefer being mountain women now.

In Kyoto is the very end of the Nakasendo Trail, where we started this journey. This statue shows 2 travelers much like ourselves. 

A quick appetizer dinner by the Kamo River - we are not in the mountains anymore - we are in culture shock. This place is CRAWLING with tourists. I am no longer the only Caucasian. Seriously, I have been only Caucasian for most of this trip since we were not in tourist places. I LOVE the Post Towns and hope to return to get my stick filled in with the stamps of all.

Not in the mountains anymore :( 

Crazy lighted and musical mopeds racing by.  

Tomorrow we have a few plans - all including much walking again. Then we go back to Tokyo to meet up with Maki's children and parents. I have until Wednesday before I go home.

What a totally glorious trip this has been. I am so blessed to have been able to do this - there is NO way one could do this if not fluent in Japanese. The trains, buses, schedules, reserving the lodgings, ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS, and everything else. We have had a billion laughs and great talks. Love you forever, Maki. <3 nbsp="" p="">

Another Beautiful Walking Day Day 7 - north end of Yamanobe Trail

Little to our knowledge, the Buddhist temple was ON the trail we had begun a few days ago! We could actually walk another section of it to Nara!

Maki sleeping - so cute! She looks so Japanese. Like a real Japanese.

Out the other window looking at the temple (it originally was over 250 years old) 

I bought this spoon for Audrey and it makes me smile 

Another beautiful yes different trail 

The fragrance of these orange blossoms was heavenly  

A modern entryway to an ancient home 

We were trying to figure out if this was our next turn - it was not 

THIS was next turn

Amazing to see the various stages of bamboo growth

Every turn was a surprise

Interesting golf club fence 

Asked this lady for directions, and she wanted to talk all day ;) She told us all about the bus and was bewildered that we were walking to Nara.

Oh oh - someone lost their Nike's 

Made it to Nara 

These guys are ridiculous 

One of them grabbed Maki's map and ate it! Good thing we didn't need it anymore! 

After being in the mountains for 7 days, we did not like the crowds - at all.  

BUT the food was a welcome pleasure 

On way to train - ALOHA in Japan! 

We were once again picked up at train but sweet lady from temple, and she brought us a warming table since we were freezing! Table has a heater lamp attached to bottom of it, you put a thick blanket over table, then a table top on top of that - keeps legs REALLY WARM

My view with my warm legs (and maybe a little sake)