Ise, Japan: Good-bye Geku, Hello Naiku!

 

 These are the lost of my photos for the Geku side.

Even with all the people visiting for the New Year's holiday, there were some very peaceful areas.

I hope to visit here again, but until then I will have these posts to remind me of the beauty at Ise Shrine in the Geku area.

The Naiku area is about a 30 minute bus ride, but it is easy to get to. The bus stop is right in front of the Geku entrance and the bus drops you off near a alley that leads to this entrance.

Seoul, Korea: The Last of Changdeokgung Palace

There is an area called The Secret Garden that you can only go to by joining the tour group. They only have limited times of the tour groups so I recommend you check their website here  for details. I really wanted to go, but we had other plans so we didn't have enough time for a guided tour. Maybe on my next visit I will come back and take the tour so I can see The Secret Garden (Huwon Course).

Seoul, Korea: The Grounds of Changdeokgung Palace

 As you can image, it was freezing when I was in Seoul. It had snowed the day I arrived and continued to snow on the second day. Luckily, on this day it wasn't snowing, but the wind chill factor made it very hard to take photographs with no gloves. Before I even got through the main gate my fingers felt frozen and I couldn't feel my face. Even with the numbing cold I still enjoyed walking around and discovering the details of this palace.

Seoul, Korea: The Royal Bed at Changdeokgung Palace

The rooms of the people who waited on the emperor. Their rooms needed to be close by for when he needed something.

The royal bed. Mother of Pearl was used for decoration. I have to say it doesn't look very comfortable, beautiful, but not comfortable.

I really want to know where that doorway led to, but we were running out of time and since it wasn't open I don't think we would have been able to see.

I have to say it was very quiet around here. Most of the people who were visiting at the same time as us weren't coming to this area. They were more interested in the main rooms, but I think sometimes we can find wonderful things in areas that aren't often explored. A good example is this last view. I really found this last view charming and really felt like the palace had been well preserved through time. There was no chatter of the tour guides or of the other tourists. It felt like we had snuck onto the palace grounds and just around the corner we would run into a palace guard.

Kyoto, Japan: A Gate in Daigoji

I wanted to share this photo with you. One, because it is such a common site to see. Ojizo-sama's with a bib wrapped around the statue or a hat covering Ojizo-sama's head. From what I have learned this is to show thanks for protecting a sick child and also he is the one that helps child who pass on before their parents. Two, because when you see one of these statues (which you will if you visit Japan)  you now know why they seem to be dressed as children.

This guy is bowing after he passed through the gate. This is what people are supposed to do before entering and after leaving, but most people don't...unfortunately, I am in the group that doesn't.

I've always wondered what these stickers of names were for. I'm not sure if it is true for all of them, but it seems that these are the names of people who gave donations. I'm assuming big donations, because if everyone got to put a sticker somewhere for donating just a 10 yen coin you probably wouldn't be able to see the wood anymore. 

Kanazawa, Japan: Old Meets New Homes

 Some homes were older than others, but most of the homes on this street were newer homes that used traditional features for their homes.

 This house decided to be very eco and covered their entire house with greenery.....or maybe it just occurred naturally.

 I have no idea what kind of plant this is.

A photo of Sato and I together plus a view of our surroundings.