Kyoto : Shrines etc

With this being Nick's first trip to Kyoto we had to do the three main shrines/ gardens we like.
First was Yasaka shrine, a great Vermillion coloured one walking  distance for our hotel.

Initial Construction of this shrine, also called Gion shrine and the site of the Gion Matsuri Festival, was started in 656. It is the special site for New Year visits to honour ancestors.(trying to compare things to Australian history impossible )  It also has crowds moving through to Maruyama park that is a greta Blossom viewing spot.

Celia had a guide book that had a walk to the next Temple Kiyiomizudera and this walk proved  a real treat.

The walk took us down narrow lanes with old traditional style buildings.
The Kiyomizu temple was founded in 798, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633, ordered by the Tokugawa Iemitsu. There is not a single nail used in the entire structure. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills.

The slopes are covered in Cherry trees so would be a magnificent sight with them lit up.

We walked to Nijo Castle, because although we had seen Nagoya Castle this time we could go and look at the rooms with ancient wall screens.

The next stop was Kinkakuji Beautiful!!

The Gold Pavilion

Then we walked down to Roanji Garden, stopping for lunch of  Ramen on the way 
This is a Zen garden but I don't think the throng of tourist were doing much contemplation; But it was a very peaceful spot!