Early morning, I went out to explore the area around our hotel and landed at Nishi Honganji Temple. After breakfast, we had a free day for us to shop and explore Kyoto on our own. Later, we joined the group for the farewell dinner. We had a late departure the following day which allowed us to explore the Arashiyama Monkey Park on the outskirts of Kyoto.
Nishi Honganji
The Western Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. It is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Japan and the headquarters of the Jodo-Shinshu (Pure Land Buddhism) sect´s Honganji Branch. Millions of people follow this Buddhist sect.
This mall had many of the same stores we find in the US, but in many cases at a lower price. After shopping, we found a great traditional Japanese Restaurant with sushi, sashimi, soba, tempura, and other delectable dishes.
Takoyaki is a famous Osaka street food with octopus and tempura bits in a crispy ball.
Farewell Dinner
The dinner consisted of traditional Japanese food along with traditional Japanese music.
Arashiyama Monkey Park
On our last day, we took the train to Arashiyama, an outlying district of Kyoto. After a hike up Mount Arashiyama, which offers great views of the city, we saw wild Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, roaming freely in their natural setting. The park lets you interact safely with the monkeys, especially during feeding times, which creates memorable moments. The fall colors were vibrant.
Another traditional Japanese breakfast at the hotel with Natto which is a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans
Hands is a unique Japanese department store
