Soulja Sojourns: Kyoto Sightseeing and a Ryokan Christmas

On our first full day in Kyoto, Annie and I went to Maruyama Park and walked around. Annie is on a year-long Watson grant studying textiles and fashion and she's recently started crafting these exquisite hats and hair decorations out of plant life. So we're constantly on a hunt for interesting Japanese plants -- and Maruyama did not disappoint. We even found palm fronds. After walking through the park, we found the largest bell in Japan, Daisho-ro, and a beautiful temple complex called Chion-in. That afternoon we walked around "arguably one of the most beautiful streets in all of Asia" --tree and water-lined--and probably especially gorgeous during cherry-blossom season--and found a pastry cafe. We went to a small grocery store and bought simple foods, bread, cheese and popcorn, and brought it all back to the bustling hostel common room. We met some beautiful creatures there including a very interesting, multilingual young Turkish man who is living in Kyoto and a Taiwanese woman who asserted immediately that Taiwan is "...you know--not the same country as China" and that she could tell we were "definitely American, but don't worry, not like Lady Gaga."

The next day, December 24, we visited the Nijo-ji castle where the shogun once lived. It was the most beautiful royal structure I've ever seen. That night (last night) Annie and I relocated to a ryokan (a traditional-style Japanese inn from the Edo period). We're staying here for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning and then we'll head back to the hostel tonight.