My final day in Japan, I took a train up to the historic city of Kyoto with a friend from the ship. We arrived with little fuss, and got tickets for the sightseeing hop on hop off bus that allowed us to see many different sites in the city. We enjoyed a sampling of the numerous parks, palaces, and temples the city has to offer.
The beautiful Golden Pavilion did not disappoint. The Imperial Palace was a little bit bleak seeming because we only toured the park outside the actual walls which were kept clear so that Invaders had no refuge. Large gravel gardens are part of the ascetic now because of their utility in marshalling feudal forces and securing walled forts, but they aren’t exactly the most picturesque scenery.
Kyoto has many examples of historic architecture, and it was spared from the WWII bombings that other cities in Japan endured. Though it is not exactly frozen in time and blends somewhat modern buildings between revered historic ones. Again, there is a constant theme of peace and introspection and Kyoto holds onto its historic identity.
We took the train back to Osaka and hopped back on the ship in time to embark on our 10-day leg to Australia.
The next port of call for Semester at Sea is
Brisbane, Australia