Last day in Kyoto

 Sunday, April 19 was a free day, my last day in Kyoto. I needed to set aside some time at the end of the day to rearrange my luggage for starting the Kumano Kodo hike, but otherwise there were no plans. 

I decided not to try to do too much, so I spent the morning and afternoon  hanging in Nijo Castle, not far from the hotel. The grounds of the castle are huge, with beautiful Japanese gardens.

Nijo castle has an interesting history, being built by the Shogun Tokugawa in 1600's marking the beginning of the 250 year, prosperous Tokugawa Shogunate. It was also the site of the transfer of power back to the emperor at the beginning of the Meiji era in 1868.

There are two large Palace complexes, the main one was occupied by the shogun when he was in Kyoto. 

The second was moved here later after the transfer of power to the emperor, and is surrounded by its own moat.

I walked all around, then got a ticket to go into the main palace. The wood floor of the corridor made a squeaking noise that sounded like chirping birds. The series of large tatami rooms all had beautiful walls with paintings on a gold background. There were paintings of tigers to symbolize the shoguns power, pine trees for longevity, etc.

After I'd seen everything I sat outside some more and did a drawing of the Kara-mon Gate.

Next I headed over to Kyoto Beer Lab for a late lunch and beer. I had time so I decided to walk back to the hotel. On the way I passed the large Nishi Hongan-ji temple, and went in for a look.

Finally I went back to the hotel to get ready for the hike and make it an early night.