Kyoto with Ella - day four

We headed out to the western outskirts of Kyoto today. Arashiyama is popular with visitors because of its riverside setting, its beautiful temples and shrines, it's extensive gardens and most of all for its famous bamboo grove. The bamboo grove was our first stop at Arashiyama this morning.

On our previous visits the paths through the bamboo forest have been crowded with people - but today was not too crowded at all!

My bamboo grove shot of the day ...............

We also visited the gardens of the Tenryu-ji (Zen Buddhism) Temple which is one of the oldest temple gardens in Japan and a designated UNESCO site.

Climbing higher into the mountains we found the Jojakko-ji Temple, which I remembered from a previous visit for its steep, understated gardens and its mesmorising bell ringer.

To get to Arashiyama's Katsura River we had to make our way down Nagatsuji-dori (street), avoiding all the tour groups, rickshaw drivers and crowded shops and cafes along the way. 

This is our last full day of enjoying being tourists in Japan so we're making sure we sample all our favourite Japanese treats one last time. Matcha icecreams were eaten along Nagatsuji-dori and Ella took the opportunity to sample one of these pickled cucumbers on a stick. She pronounced it a delicious snack.

The Katsura River ........

Arashiyama's famous and picturesque Togetsu-kyo Bridge .........

We are going to miss seeing Japan's decorative drain covers when we leave ........

And the incredibly efficient use of small spaces ..........

We decided to have a feast of all our favourite Japanese snack foods for our late lunch & dinner tonight. Ella is an inspired 7-11 shopper ..........

And we finally got our timing right for a dumpling meal from our old fave 551 Horai from Kyoto Station.

.. and dessert snacks in abundance ......

We're heading back to Tokyo tomorrow and staying overnight at a Haneda airport hotel ready for an early morning flight back to Australia on Monday morning. We have loved our time with Ella in Japan and felt so lucky to have her upbeat company, quirky perspective on things, long conversations, keen observations and complete confidence handling navigation and vending machines!! It's just been wonderful.....