Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Kansai

After my trip with Drew I still had another week to kill before the Gion Matsuri, Kyoto's largest festival. I decided in this interlude to travel Kansai and visit the places that I had yet to see.The first stop was Amanohashidatte, also know as the bridge to heaven. This remote location features a natural land bridge that when viewed between the legs appears to be a road to the heavens. It is also the third of Japan's three most beautiful locations and a necessary check off on my list of to do's.
Next was Himejijo, the castle acclaimed as Japan's most beautiful.I then made my way to Nara, a small city with a stunning 8 World Heritage sites and herds of tamed deers that bow when you feed them.
This is the second tallest pagoda in Japan.

Finally on the 17th the Gion festival where groups of men haul massive wooden floats on wheels through the streets in a day long parade.