Heian Temple and A Bunny??

The pace of life in Otsu is much slower than that of Tokyo. Normally, I'm a big city type of girl, but when you don't understand the symbols around you or the customs, it generally better to observe when people aren't rushing around you. Otsu is a suburb outside of Kyoto where we are living. I went on a run yesterday morning around the city, finding that it is perfect for such habits and fishing as well. There is a calm that seems eminent over the area as a result of the peace of Lake Biwa. Nevertheless, there is also a resounding, serene music built in to the people of Otsu as well.

Alright people, pictures...

I don't know whether or not this bunny counts as Ikebana, but I feel like it should at least be an awesome topiary...

Another interesting happening yesterday was our journey around and past three temples... the first of these was the Heian Shinto shrine.

Above is the torii gate that one would arrive at in the driveway to the temple. Notice the vermillion color, it is Japan's traditional color for their shrines... as the Chinese color is red.

The inside of the temple complex...
After the Heian Shrine, we decided to walk around to the other nearby Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. At one of these, Dustin, Sean, and I climbed to the top of the mountain as allowed by the stairs around the temple. I even saw a senior citizen with a cane walking up over 60 stairs over the course of about 5 flights. It's crazy. Their dedication to their beliefs is sincere. Why else would you do this?

Above is an incredible view of the temples from the highest point I could find to get Kyoto in the background. It was an absolutely amazing experience, but my legs are paying for it. Pretty sure I just lost about five pounds in one day! Not that I'm complaining, but I guess you could call it the Buddhist diet.

Around Kyoto there are quite a few hilarious signs that we ran into, so here I will share them...

 First of all, this is for Justin Heap. Starbucks are EVERYWHERE here! It's like the us for the most part, but they wrap all their baked goods in cellophane. More sanitary, no?

 Above is a great shot that I got of a geisha setting up the entertainment house in Kyoto. She is putting posters on the wall. Her kimono was breath-taking. Really all of the kimonos are breath-taking.

 This is a hilarious sign outside of a ukiyo-e museum that we passed. I wish that American shopkeepers were this honest.

Ok, apparently Japan has magical cheese. Define magical. Not sure that is very appetizing...

More to come and with more love.