Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto.

Yesterday morning we went to the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I have made more prayers at the many shrines along this mountain then I have the entire trip combined! I will make this post quick since we are trying to see the imperial palace and sky tree in Shinjuku soon. Here are some pictures of the shrine.

I dont know why only the first picture enlarges....oh well.

Gion District in Kyoto.

On the night of 12/30/12 we went out to the Gion District in Kyoto, also known as the Geisha District. We did not see any Geisha's but we did see about three different Shinto temples. Shinto being the largest religious organization in Japan. Check out some of the pictures!

I have given up on trying to get the images larger...sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Oh well!

Missed flight, Hiroshima, and Kyoto.

So the reason I havent posted on the blog in a few days is because we missed our flight on 12/28/12 from Seoul to Tokyo and were pushed back a day. We ended up drinking at the Incheon airport bars, shipping gifts home, and sleeping like hobo's on the terminal benches.... we even had a cart with us to hold our bags. On the 29th we caught our flight to Tokyo and upon landing we immediately took the Shinkansen bullet train to Shin-Osaka station where we transferred to another Shinkansen bullet train to Hiroshima. The whole travel time from Tokyo to Hiroshima was approximately five and a half hours. We arrived in Hiroshima around midnight and immediately stayed in a hotel right next to the station so that we could wake up early to go to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park the next morning (12/30/12). After walking through the whole today, we walked over to Hiroshima Castle. After seeing the castle we packed our things and took the Shinkansen heading back east to the Shin-Kyoto station. We are now in the city of Kyoto at our hostel. We plan on going to Gion tonight which is the most famous Geisha District in Japan. Here are some pictures we took along the way! By the way we are having some technical difficulties with the pictures...so i'm aware that only the first picture is of high quality.

 

 Waiting in the airport terminal

 

Drinking at the Mojitalk bar at Incheon airport.

 

 

Sleeping at the airport.

 

 

Shinkansen bullet train in Tokyo.

 

 

Hiroshima dome, very close to the epicenter of the first atomic bomb explosion.



 

 

Peace bell. We got a chance to ring the bell with the wooden pole.



 

Before and after.

 

Memorial rememebering the 20,000 Koreans who were killed during the explosion. They accounted to 10% of the deaths from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Castle.

 

 

Shinto shrine.

Chris and I performed the cleansing ritual in order to enter the shrine. We also performed the good luck prayer.

Navigating our way through Kyoto station.

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I have been blown away by the friendliness of the Japanese people. They love to come up and start conversation as well as help you if you look lost. Often they will give us their spot in line at the subway station. I have never met people who are so well mannered and patient. Sometimes too patient...(crying baby on the subway with docile parents) haha. Well we are off to the Geisha District, i'll update soon.

Bongeunsa Temple, The real Blue House, Seoul Folk Flea Market, AK Plaza.

Yesterday (12/27/12) we had lunch with Mike then headed to Bongeunsa Temple, a Buddhist temple in Seoul. We took pictures, watched a drum performance, and said a short prayer at one of their shrines before heading to the Blue House. We thought we already saw the Blue House but the structure was actually just a government building in front of the Blue House. After that we took the subway to the Seoul Folk Flea Market and tried haggling with some of the vendors....who were not in the mood to haggle. Finally that night we met up with Mike and some of his friends again for dinner and drinks at Travelers bar in AK Plaza. 

Incense lighting along with a short prayer.

The Blue House, where the Korean president lives.

AK Plaza on the way to the Foreigner bar.

So today (12/28/12) we are getting ready to fly to Tokyo. Our flight leaves in a little less then four hours. The next post we will be in Japan!

Demilitarized Zone, Dongdaemun Flea Market, Seoul.

Wednesday (12/26/12) Chris and I went to the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea. Since we had provided our passports in advance we got to go on the special Punjaemun tour which takes you to the conference rooms at the demarcation line (actual line that separates the two Korea's). We made it a point to walk past the table so that in our minds we were in North Korea, if not just for a minute or two. After the all day tour we went to check out the Dongdaemun Flea Market and the Lotte Hotel where we ate dinner and walked through their 12 story mall. Here are some pictures.

Bulgogi lunch.

The demarcation line is at the center of the table, where North meets South Korea.

North Korean soldier watching us.

The bridge of no return. Where North and South POW's are exchanged and never return.

A Seoul Christmas.

Indoor Lotte shopping mall.