Tanukidani Fudoin

Tanukidani Fudoin is not too popular for tourists as you have to walk quite a bit of uphill and climb 250 steps to reach the main hall.

GTS' parents urns stays in its storage building called YASURAGI-do, and I personally wanted everyone to visit there.

Everyone did great job to climb up and learned its history from the monk and stopped by at Hachidai Shrine on the way back, where famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi fought!

Cup Noodles Museum, Nijo Castle and Gion Corner!

Wednesday (7/3) was the day everyone created his or her own cupnoodle at the place where the instant ramen was invented by Ando Momofuku years ago.

It took 1.5 hours to get to the museum but it was worthwhile as unique MY CUPNOODLE was created.

Thursday (7/4)

Rain from last night stopped and now we are getting sunshine which is the ideal weather for visiting Nijo Castlle and its beautiful garden.

At early evening we are going to Gion to taste a bit of Japanese traditional cultural performance of Kyoto Dance, Tea, Flower, Kyogen and Bunraku!

Nice sunny day!

Meiji Snack Factory Visit!!

We could not visit this factory last summer due to the Osaka earthquake hit.   It took a few months for them to fix all the machines and storage system.

This year we could successfully visit there to observe the factory line!  Though we finished the school a bit earlier, we made it it just in time without having a good lunch.

Maybe the snack gift that we got from the factory eased a bit.   The cloudy weather was actually better for us to walk for a long time.

Goof experience will continue!

Heian Jingu Shrine on Sunny Friday and the Phoenix Pavilion on Monday

We changed our Friday schedule because of anticipated rain.  Instead of climbing up the Fushimi Grand Shrine, we visited Kyoto Handicraft Center and Heian Jingu Shrine.

However the rain temporarily went away and the largest shrine garden in Kyoto was under the sun.

Some shopped and some observed souvenirs at the Kyoto Handicraft Center.

On Monday this week (yesterday) it was raining in the morning but again luckily it stopped raining and had a chance to enjoy at the Phoenix Pavilion in Uji to which we used Keihan railways.

Though in rainy season, not too much problems so far.

We will visit Meiji Snack Factory today to see the making process of KINOKO NO YAMA.

Osaka Castle yesterday and Kiyomizu Temple today

Because of G 20 Summit, security is so tight so less people seemed to visit Osaka Castle, which was very good for us.  The train was not as crowded as usual.

The first typhoon of Reiwa era is approaching now so it started to rain in the afternoon.
We still walk from Yasaka Shrine, then Ninen Zaka, Sannen Zaka, Kiyomizu Zaka to get to Kiyomizu temple in light rain.

12 students from Georgia Southern University join us so now 30-student group is now led by Shingo.

Finally a bit settled.

Began with cancelation of the flight and immigration issue, we are now a bit settled.  Yesterday we visited the Silver Pavilion after a placement test.

The silver pavilion is the area where Shingo was born over half a century ago.

Today, after eating lunch, we have visited the Rock Garden and a monthly flea market at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. 

Summer Study Abroad began with many unexpected incidents

Our original flight was canceled due to the Labor Strike.  Students might have been in panic but I was rather calm to find am alternative ways.

As a group we were able to fly out with Korean Airlines via Seoul.  We enjoyed some Korean food on the way to Seoul.   We have successfully arrived at Osaka Kansai International Airport 12 hours later than I planned.

At the Kansai Airport, immigration issue was risen and took a while but everyone successfully got to Kyoto by midnight on Saturday!