When we last connected, our group of intrepid travelers were heading back to the hotel to rest up before dinner.

Feeling a bit refreshed, the group gathered and we headed over to the Matsunaga Waygu Yakinuku restaurant. We had an amazing multi-course dinner with the main attraction being thin slices of beef that we got to barbecue ourselves.

Each table is provided with their own grill and you can prepare your beef the way you prefer it. Every course was delicious and we all had a wonderful time. Eating and enjoying each other’s company….a magical evening in Kyoto.

Well sated, we returned to the hotel for a good night’s rest before setting out in the morning.

We started the day by splitting the group in two. Half of the group went with Fergal to the Nijo-Jo Castle, while the other half went with Take to the Kiyomizudera temple. The groups would then switch after lunch to visit the other sites.

To start, we took the subway for a few stops to get near to the entrance. From there, we took a taxi up the steep road leading to the entrance. Once inside the ‘gates’, we needed to make our way up to the main part of the temple.

The area was packed with visitors, making walking up a slow process. With so many people, we also had to stand and wait to be able to view the sites. We did get to see some wonderful sites along the way. Here are a few of them…

After walking around the Temple area for a while, the crowds were growing even larger.

So, we moved on to our next location. On the walk over, we passed through an area with people crawling through a hole in a stone.

It turns out that it is thought by passing through the opening you can leave behind a bad relationship. When you return through the hole, your relationship will be better or you’ll be ready to move on to a new relationship. Good luck to them all.

We also passed by an Art Museum in the Gion area, which is home to the Geisha community.

And just in case the urge hit upon people, we also passed by a “Love Hotel”. The rates were reasonable, but we were booked for the day already.

We finally reached our destination, the Henninji Temple. The temple was beautiful, but our group was beginning to tire from all the walking at the first temple. However, we persevered.

After walking around the garden areas and meditation rooms, we made our way to the temple.

The highlight of the temple is the hand painted ceiling design.

A tiring morning of walking did not leave us longing for more, so Sue and I, along with another couple, took a cab back to our hotel and opted out of the afternoon sessions.

Everything was incredible to see, but with my sore back, self preservation mode kicked in. I needed a rest from the walking.

But that wasn’t the end of the day…not by a long shot. A little rest was needed, but we were still hungry for lunch. We took our lunch money, added in some of our own and went for lunch in the hotel.

We approached the Maître d’ and asked if we might be seated without a reservation and he warmly welcomed us in.

They had a special lunch offer that we couldn’t pass up. Complimented by some nice wine, this was just what the doctor ordered.

What a wonderful treat. We made our way back to the room to relax for a while before another treat this evening.

For our final evening in Kyoto, we went to a performance of a show called “Gear”. It was a story told through non-verbal performances. It featured a mime, break dancer, juggler, a magician and a doll that comes to life. It was an incredible show. Though photos were not allowed during the show performance, I have a ‘before’ and ‘after’ to stir your imagination.

Our group walked back to the hotel together and the consensus was the show was brilliant.

The morning would bring new adventures as we moved on from Kyoto.