Kyoto

Finally, we spent 2 days in Kyoto, the well-know cultural capital of Japan. 2 days was not enough to see everything, but here is the essential.

~ Kinkaku-Ji, or Golden Pavilion (covered with real gold leaf!) ~

~ a Geisha in Gion district ~

~ Gion ~

~ Kitsune (Fox), messenger of the rice and prosperity Goddess Inari ~

~ The thousands torii of Fushimi-Inari Taisha ~

~ View on Kyoto from the top ~

~ The Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-Ji and its beautiful garden ~

~ The Nijo Castle ~

Nara

Nara became in 710 the first imperial capital of Japan. Nowadays it shelters a huge garden, home for numerous "sacred" deers and multiple temples. It is quite famous for the Todai-Ji and the biggest world wood-structure, the Daibutsu-den, where 3 millions of tourists come each year to admire its 16 meters bronze Buddha (biggest of Japan).

Osaka

Osaka, second capital city and economical pole of Japan, seems to be a very dynamic city. We were able to spend a few nights there, thanks to a friend, and essentially moved around the city by night. We used the day time to go to Nara and... Universal Studio Japan (we were ahead of schedule).

~ Umeda Sky Building ~

~ Osaka Castle ~

Kobe

On our way to Osaka, we stop by Kobe and had a look to the famous Kobe's earthquake memorial. We also crossed the city, noticed the western influence in architecture, eat Kobe's tender beaf and climbed up Mt. Maya (with a rope-way) to get a night view of the city from the Nunobiki Herb Park.

~ Earthquake's memorial ~

~ Nunobiki Herb Park ~

Okayama

We did a night stop in Okayama, a city at half-way between Osaka and Hiroshima. Famous for its peaches (Momo) and grappes, Okayama is also known for having one of the three most beautiful garden of Japan, Koraku-en. I took some snaps there early in the morning. You can see the Okayama castle in the background.