Day Two - Nara to Kyoto via MIHO

In the morning we checked out, got picked up by a mini bus and went off to the MIHO museum. This would be the only time during the entire trip when we had our personal chartered transportation vehicle.

As there had been some bad weather earlier, parts of the roads we were to drive was closed. This forced the driver to take us on sightseeing for almost an hour until we reached the museum. The Miho Museum is located southeast of Kyoto, Japan, near the town of Shigaraki, in Shiga Prefecture. It has only one narrow road leading up to the museum as it lies deep in the darkest of all woods. But as soon as you get near, you will see the grandeur of what is to come. The nature is kept in pristine conditions. Fiery red leaves fighting the yellow and green. Grass? No way - here they use a particular moss everywhere. Even the car park is designed to the max.

Great Japanese cars!

The museum was the dream of Mihoko Koyama (after whom it is named), the heiress to the Toyobo textile business, and one of the wealthiest women in Japan. It houses Mihoko Koyama's private collection of Asian and Western antiques, as well as other pieces with an estimated value of between US$300 million to US$1 billion. Sure looks like it.. Lots of bling bling antiques and large gold items here.

The entire place is enormous. First a funky "reception building", then long spaced out tunnel leading you to a modern bridge that leads to the museum entrance. The museum is carved into the rocks so just portions of the building are visible from outside. It felt like a very minor version of what Kim Il Sung created with his "Gift Museum". Ok, this MIHO is more fancy with richer riches. Combine the design with the vistas outside and it is a dream place. No matter your interest; gardens, architecture or "old stuff".

The tunnel

Entrance to MIHO

The gallery

What is on display seems to be rotating; the major display was medieval Japanese lacquerware. I really love these asian museums. It is amazing to see surviving artifacts showing such high quality in design and how well preserved they are - from an era when we Swedes were living in mud huts and killing each others with crude axes.

The Vista from the museum

The second surprise of the day was a huge one while based on the smallest item. It was really amazing to find was the details of "gardening" even falls into the smallest "gardens". It is not just the large, complex and wonderful. The Japanese sense of minimalism combined with grace is also found in a little "box" that seems to be just "moss" first. This was a gentle introduction into the larger, to come, Moss Garden in Kyoto. Just to see those small mushrooms pop up from the moss - it felt so planned, so thought out.. But I assume it is how nature works in Japan; complies to the will of the people. I don't know if I am more impressed on the "design" of this tiny box or the fact I even saw it.

Greatness in the smallest details

Moss and Fungus . Unbeatable

A quick lunch with cold soba noodles. Oh how I love cold soba noodles. That is a dish I can eat until I explode.

Cold Soba all the way

Daily Selfie

After a few hours at MIHO, we hopped on the minibus and headed towards Kyoto. Our luggage went to the hotel and we went towards the exotic Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera temple. It is in the eastern part of Kyoto and is a large complex. It was really amazing to walk up a very familiar street. Vendors everywhere. Once more I got a deja-vu feeling. I almost felt I had been here before when we walked up towards the temple. Then it hit me; Ruins of St Paul in Macau. Same type of walk uphill - shops and vendors everywhere. And then you reach the "top" of the hill so you can see the monument and the stairs leading up to it.

This time I was met by a wonderful wooden temple and not some church ruins. Everywhere were people - just what you expected Japan to be; crowded. Surprise - there would be many times on this trip where it would be a bit less people around. Many were dressed up in traditional clothes. During the walk up, I spotted some stores renting out dresses, allowing everyone to do a Geisha Maiko Dress-up. For a very low cost, anyone who wanted to pay, could do some traditional version of cosplay.

Mandatory group shot

Being pretty is enough

Passing through the minor temples and gates, you walked around the corner and entered another huge wooded structure that had a cool overhang.

Just wood!

After this temple, you had Torii of Jishu-jinja, a matchmaking shrine.

Peace, bro!

Jishu Shrine possesses a pair of "love stones" placed 6 meters, which lonely visitors can try to walk between with their eyes closed. Success in reaching the other stone with their eyes closed implies that the pilgrim will find love, or true love. I saw several girls try this but all cheated ;) as they had their friends navigate them towards the second stone.

No, not Ringu scary girl.. just trying to find the "stone"

Will she make it??

We then went down to Otowa-no-taki, the waterfall where visitors drink for health, longevity, and success in studies and saw the queues. Everyone wanted to have their moment in the spotlight.. E.g time to slurp some cool, refreshing spring water while everyone else looks upon then with envy.

Thirsty? Get in line!

After the temple visit, we had a nice "walk" back towards the hotel. Stopped at a small coffee shop (not the Dutch version) but a normal one and had coffee and cake. I would dare to say this also showed what to come; excellence in design everywhere. Felt like everything was put into place where it belonged. Nor just that the owner had "stuff" left to place somewhere.

Minimalism

Direct and artsy

Well worth mentioning that I was surprised how "common" and none-controversial it is with Ganja symbols. People on the streets wore clothes with huge cannabis leaves on them. Also saw air fresheners branded and promoting Cannabis in the shops.. Cool society where you are not branded as an outcast just for wearing a symbol.

Long walk through the different areas back towards the hotel.

Never a boring walk in Japan

This first dinner in Kyoto, was at at  Soba Place. Ok, here the noodles was freshly hand made and as I said. Soba noodles are the best.. Cold. And you you who do not know what soba noodles are: It's boiled and chilled soba (buckwheat noodles) served on a bamboo basket (zaru). It's served with noodle dipping sauce (mentsuyu) and some toppings. Yummie!!

Late that evening, Hans went to the train station to fix the Train passes so some of us joined forces and went with him. Both to see how the process works (for next travel) and also to perhaps assist and take the opportunity to see the famous train station. Japan is a stamp society. You need your passport, stamps, print outs, more stamps and then, you get your Japan Rail Pass. Oh - don't forget to bring the most valuable item you have - Patience. While he was struggling with the friendly girl behind the counter we took a quick tour of the Kyoto Station. It is really hyper! And weird! It is steel and modern design in a city that prides itself on having so many UNESCO World Heritage sites. The station is one of Japan's largest buildings with a 15-story roof, giving a great view of the city, it still felt OK. Even if you have a shopping mall, hotels, department stores and cinemas.