Kyoto

Odd numbers are good luck in Japan—newlyweds are gifted 30,000 or 50,000 yen, never an amount starting with an even digit. In the US we avoid 13th floors but in Japan you might not find a 4th floor. 

We stopped at the Golden Pavilion briefly along with hundreds of Japanese tourists to start the day. Then it was off to a Kimono fashion show at the Nishijin Textile Center where they manufacture beautiful silk goods. 

Nijo Castle was the highlight of our Saturday. Students removed their shoes before touring the home of the medieval shoguns of Kyoto. It was remarkable in its elegance and stands as a preeminent example of royal architecture and art from the shogunate era. It was an opportunity for students to experience the essence of Japan’s culture and see how it differs from traditional Western art and architecture.

Arashiyama is located on one of the three major rivers coursing through Kyoto. We ate lunch quickly before walking through the nearby bamboo forest. Afterwards, students shopped, drank green tea, ate more, or hiked to Monkey Mountain.

Kyoto City Center was our final official stop for this busy day. It’s a place for shopping malls and watching the energy of this city of 1.5 million march by in throngs. 

At the hotel we discovered it was the last night of a local “Lantern Festival.” You only get one chance! So off we went into the night to hear live music and stroll through the beautiful lantern-lined streets in the hills dotted with pagodas.

What a full day! We wouldn’t have it any other way...