Kyoto 京都

I finally made it to Kyoto. My sister Franziska and Toshi picked me up really early in the morning at Kyoto central station. We packed all my stuff and Toshi’s new bought bike into the car and dropped everything at their house. From here my sister and I started todays adventure together, since Toshi had to work all day. We rode our bikes to Shimogamo Shrine, one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan, and also the place where my sister and Toshi first planed on getting married. In this shrine you can still feel an old Japanese term, which is still alive amongst Japan's older generations but fading amongst the young: Mottainai! Mottainai, which would be best translated to "what a waste" or "Don't waste!" is an old Buddhist word, which has ties with the Shinto idea that objects have souls. In Germany a tree is normally cut down that is not able to hold its own weight or if at risk of falling down, mainly to avoid any possible damage being caused by the tree. In Japan however you will find trees being supported by wooden pillars or steal cables in order to extend their lifespan. After our visit at the Shimogamo Shrine we rode our bikes down the Kamogawa (Kamo 鴨 wild duck, gawa 川 river), along its beautiful riverside. Its riverbed is shallow most of the year and you will find stone paths leading across the river every now and then. I really enjoyed the sound of the water when rushing down one of the river's many steps.

Kyoto Tower view from central station 

Japanese maple, indicates the beginning of autumn with dark red leaves

Futon, traditional Japanese bedding