After having breakfast at the hotel, we went to Kiyomizu Temple.  There was this huge orange pavilion attached to it, which was really cool.  The temple itself was beautiful and there was an amazing view of Kyoto!  Right next to the temple was the Kyoto Jishu Shrine.  The Japanese see it as a dwelling place for the god of love and matchmaking.  There is a rock there known as the love stone and if you can walk to it with your eyes closed and touch it, you will have luck in love.  I did it, of course.  I could use as much luck as I can get!  While we were there, Dr. H pointed out to us that along the top of the archway of the shrine, called a torii, there is a length of rope.  All the shrines have it.  According to Japanese mythology, the sun goddess's brother had embarrassed her, so she shut herself away in a cave, leaving the earth in darkness.  The other gods eventually coaxed her out by having a party outside of the cave.  The goddess's curiosity got the best of her and when she peaked her head out to see what was going on, they grabbed her and tied the stone that covered the cave back so that she couldn't hide again.

We continued to walk around the grounds, past a lot of small shrines.  We ended up at a shrine where if you drink the water, there are healing properties, so we all had a little.

When we were done, we went back onto a street where there were a lot of little shops, so we were given some time to wander.  I got a bunch of postcards and then most of us got a treat that was basically a cream puff filled with cherry blossom flavored cream.  It was really good!  Megan and Tess both got pork buns, as well, so we all got a taste of that, too.

Our next stop was Nijo Castle, the castle of the Shogun.  That was really cool!  Once again, the gardens were beautiful, and so was the inside of the castle.  The rooms were painted with intricate designs.  The floors were called nightingale floors because they are meant to squeak when you walk on them, to alert the Shogun that someone was there.  On the outside of the buildings was the crest of the imperial family, a chrysanthemum with eighteen petals.  After the end of the Shogun, Nijo Castle became the property of the imperial family.  We also walked through a group of plum trees that were blossoming, which was really pretty.

After that, we had the option of going to the Kyoto International Manga Museum, which was down the street from the hotel.  It was okay, but honestly, I got bored pretty quickly.  I was tired and my feet hurt.  I ended up leaving and going to a convenience store for lunch (riceball, chocolate, and juice) and when I was leaving, I saw Franco, Kristen, and Eric.  I walked with them to 7-11 (which is called something else in Japan) and Eric and I got melon bread.  Kristen and I ate lunch in the boys' room, and a little while after I had returned to my own room, Kristen came by to ask me if I wanted to check out another shrine down the street with her and Eric.  I said sure.

When we got to the shrine, we realized it might cost us money to go inside, so we didn't.  We did notice, though, that there were boar statues guarding the shrine, which is unusual.  You're more likely to see an animal like a lion or a dog.

This evening we went to a lantern festival!  I'm so glad I got to have that kind of experience.  It was at a nearby shrine, and when you walk in, the initial path is lined with street vendors selling food and other items.  I bought chopsticks.  At the festival, two geishas performed a couple dances, which was really incredible.  They were dressed so beautifully and they moved very gracefully.  I'm so glad I got to see it.  When we continued on, we walked along a path lined with lanterns and there were large displays of flower arrangements illuminated by spotlights.  I wish I had a kimono to wear for the occasion!