Toji Temple Market

 A few photos from our recent trip to the Toji Temple market. This once a month market is not to be missed by tourists! Many tourist goods are sold along side tasty Japanese stall food (like the mochi balls being made in the photo). There was a large asortment of bonsai, house plants, fabric for yukatas, and all kinds of other things. many websites warn you to go early, and they are right! We went around 10am and it was a mad house!

*The market is on the 21st of every month

This is the first time we have see pine nuts for sale at the markets. I'm sure they were not any more cost effective than in the U.S. 

We know what the fox says...Ohaiyo! Samui desu ne! 

Amidst the bustle of the market, temple men walk through the crowds, reminding everyone of why the market is happening. 

Training kids to love pachinko! These antique pachinko machines are for kids to play for prizes. 

bonsai for sale, some of which were in the $150+ range! 

Colorful spray painted succulents for holiday decorations

Knife shops in Kyoto

Another likely on-going post, the Kyoto knife shop seen is booming! Located throughout the city, and we hear to the south as well, there is an abundance of knife shops to satisfy every tourist. 

Mascots

Many businesses and organizations in Japan have their own mascots.  Sometimes they're cartoon renditions of actual animals and sometimes they're just animated blobs.  Here's a few, enjoy!

Yoshinoya (Japanese Fast Food Curry):

 I think this was for Kyoto Garbage/Recycling

The Orix Buffaloes Buffalo:

Not sure, some mascot at the Orix Buffalo game in Osaka:

Kyoto Police Mascot:

Kyoto Imperial Palace

Living in Kyoto can at times feel like a bit of a time warp. One block your in a major metropolitan and the next you are biking through the gardens of an ancient palace. After a while this sadly becomes commonplace and not so exciting. It was nice though at the end of October and into early November, the Imperial Palace is open to the public without prior approval. Normally, you have to pre-apply to enter the palace grounds. On these special days, the palace is a buzz with the hum of tour buses and foreigners. If you can stomach the crowds, it's well worth the time! 

Here are a few shots of the palace! 

Fushimi Inari Shrine

The weather has gotten really cold in Kyoto, which is making for awesome hiking weather! This past weekend, we started the Kyoto trail! If you are unfamiliar with this trail, it begins at Fushimi Inari Shrine and winds around the border of the city and ends in Arashiyama. As we have never been to Fushimi Inari, we spent most of the hike at the temple and on a series of unofficial trails on the grounds. Well known for its thousand Tori gates, we were pleasantly surprised by the variety and uniqueness each one actually has.

here are a few shots of the shrine and hike:

The classic fushimi inari photo...

The whole area was littered with cemetaries

Kyoto leaf changing, coming to an end...there were still a few signs of the coveted colors. 

This is how they take beverages up to the cafes and shops...on their backs

Painting the shrine and tori gates is a full-time job! 

Fun with Google Photos! ...sadly it wasn't actually snowing