Haha, it appears I got lazy again and get to catch you up on another two days here in Japan. Last time I had posted, I went to Osaka, but I've now just spent my time wandering around and really, really enjoy Kyoto and all that it is.

Monday was just plain icky when it came to the weather, it never stopped raining, so it made sightseeing a little tougher, but I still went out. I met up with a new English friend I had made the night before and we both went out to Nijo Castle. Let me tell you, even with the rain and everything, it was still gorgeous and one of those experiences I'm so happy that I was able to have.

Let me give you a little history on it first from Japan-Guide (I'm going to make a post dedicated to all the other places I've mentioned in the blog).:

'Nijo Castle (Nijojo) was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo Shogunate, as the Kyoto residence for himself and his successors.

The palace building, now known as Ninomaru ("secondary castle"), was completed in 1603 and enlarged by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu. It survives in its original form and is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors and floors that squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them (a security measure against intruders).

Iemitsu also added the Honmaru ("main castle") including a five storied castle tower to Nijo Castle. However, the original honmaru structures were destroyed by fires in the 18th century, and the present building was moved there from the Imperial Palace in 1893.'

Ok, so besides being gorgeous when all a bloom, it was just wow. I loved the nightingale floors, my friend and I made a vain attempt to creep across without making noise but failed. It was really cool to see old art and that castle, it felt like it was home, really. XD

After that, we sought out some food but instead went back to my end of Kyoto and just looked around the shopping areas until we found a really cool store called Animate. It has TONS of anime stuff! After that, we parted was and I just kinda chilled back at the hostel with everyone.

Today I met up with Katrina again and we made our way to a temple that I thought was Kiyomizu-dera, but now I think I was wrong... regardless, it was beautiful. We even made a little cat friend today.

We had a small picnic under the sakura trees after and then made our way to see the Miyako Odori. That's the spring celebration where the Maiko and Geisha dance. That was just...no words can describe it, really.

I then popped down to Heian shrine before sun set and that was okay, it was pretty, but I was more impressed with other things. Kinda been in the hostel since, though did go out with a few other hostel mates to another sushi restaurant, didn't like it as much as the one in Osaka.

Okay, bed time!