Kyoto and pigs

This morning I was too tired to get out of bed. Plus, I’m a bit sick of people.  We missed the group activity planned for the day but it was worth missing it to have some down time and feel more human again. 

In the afternoon, we wandered the streets of Kyoto near our hotel.  Talk about a feast for the eyes:

Halloween cookies, I presume:

 Fashion is big, here. Especially for teenaged girls

There are paintings and murals of Japan everywhere and very little graffiti:

They use old-fashioned, wicked-witch like brooms. 

There are little convenience stores everywhere. 

This is a giant replica of a bamboo whisk they used to make Matcha tea.

People all seem to be into cute, little animals and characters. Even the adults.

Umbrella station. (It does rain quite a bit).

The children are incredibly well-behaved and respectful.

There are many Buddhist temples and cemeteries throughout Kyoto.

We stopped at a cute shop for a couple of floats. 

We went to a pig cafe. It was a hoot!

I took tons of photos and videos of us with the pigs. So hilarious. 

- Ruth 

P.S.  the group activity we missed this morning by sleeping in was a visit to the shrine with the 1000 Torii Gates. Here’s a video from someone who did go:

One of the other options I wanted to do today but didn’t, was to visit the bamboo forest. I have more regret about not doing this one: