Nijo-jo, Ginkakuji (3/5/13)

Hi everybody!

Today we went on our own personal field trip. We went to Nijo-Jo (Nijo Castle) and Ginkakuji (the Silver Pavilion/Temple)!

First though we went for pancakes! The pancakes were huge! Almost bigger than me! I like pancakes, especially banana pancakes!

Pancakes! Amai (sweet)!

So then we went to Nijo-jo – back when Kyoto was the original capital, this was where the shogun and his retainers lived. Unlike Edo-jo there is still an actual castle here with a pretty park. One of the interesting parts of the castle is the nightingale floors – the wooden floors are designed to squeak when you step on them. They were designed to prevent people from sneaking around (and attacking or spying). Even I couldn’t sneak around. All of the walls too are painted with pretty designs and animals (though no panda paintings since pandas weren’t in Japan during that time).

Nijo-jo - main hall. Inside are the squeaky floors!

Sumi-chan reporting from watch duty!

Then we went to a kaleidoscope museum! That was so cool! There were so many unique kaleidoscopes. There was one that was shaped like kinkakuji, and you looked in from the top. They explained how different materials (like beads in oil vs string in water) and different mirrors can produce different patterns. There were some that also played music as you turned the end.

I had no idea there could be so many unique kaleidoscopes!

Kaleidoscope museum - near the manga museum - so many cool and unusual museums!

After we took a bus out to Ginkakuji – the Silver Pavilion and the companion work to Kinkakuji. The story goes that a descendant of the man who built Kinkakuji wanted to build a similar work, but since Japan’s economy wasn’t as strong at this point, he decided to build the Silver Pavilion. However, he didn’t cover the building and left it wooden. Personally, I didn’t really see what the hubbub was all about. Unlike Kinkakuji, which is really pretty, Ginkakuji was, well, plain. It’s a long bus ride for a small building that looks like other wooden temple-like buildings. The bamboo forest surrounding it was nice though.

Ginkakuji - Silver Pavilion? Looks more like wood...

Take! Bamboo! We should have a garden like this at home!

I think the prettier place is the nearby Philosopher’s walk – a long walk that connects several temples on the East outskirts of town. This is a famous place, especially during April, when the sakura bloom! There are also lots of cute cafes along the walk. We stopped at one! It was apple themed! So cozy! Hopefully we will return soon to see the pretty flowers! Stay tuned for that!

Café Pomme - Cafe Apple (in French)!

-Sumi