Japan: Natural Kyoto.

Natural Kyoto.

Japan: Tenryu-ji, Kyoto.

Spring was in the air at this UNESCO World Heritage Site:

Japan: Golden Shrine, Kyoto.

I really like Kyoto. It is so historical and I like looking at all the old architecture. They are so elegant and "human" size, from a time when human beings were more a part of nature and not replacing parts of nature. These days, countries are all competing to see who can build the tallest building. There is no warmth in modern day buildings, I feel. Just a lot of hard concrete, shiny glass and cold metal.

Some photos of the Golden Shrine (Kinkaku-ji) in Kyoto taken from different angles and elevations:

I would like to visit again one day.

Japan: Nishiki Food Street.

I love this street in Kyoto for obvious reasons: lots of delicious food! I walked and I bought and I ate and I was so happy!

Fish cakes! Lots and lots of fish cakes! The variety was just mind-boggling. It puts the fish cake store in Tiong Baru market to shame!

Japan: Dotonburi, Osaka.

My favourite holiday destination is Japan but the very expensive Japanese Yen has made me reluctant to visit the country for the time being.

For two years in a row, my family visited Japan and stayed in Osaka, using it as a base, and took the very efficient public transportation (trains) to make day trips to Kyoto, Himeiji and Nara. Osaka is known as Japan's kitchen and has great food. It is also less expensive than Tokyo where we stayed during another vacation in the 90s.

Dotonburi in Osaka.  Lots of restaurants and street stalls here.  Glorious food!

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