Location

This is the most modern ancient capital I''ve ever seen.

Getting off at the train station Kyoto is just like a miniture Tokyo. It''s not until you head out to the hills that anything really looks ancient.

This morning I visited the Imperial Palace here in Kyoto. You need to fill out a form and give your pssport number before they will let you in on the tour. For locals I''m told this can take weeks. Luckily for me foreigners can get approval on the spot, which is what I did 10 seconds before the tour started.

The palace tour was pretty ordinary. The compound resembled a lot of temples I have already visited. The paintings on the walls were very beautiful though. The royal family only visit Kyoto about once a year and when they do they do not stay at Imperial Palace at night.

After the palace I headed to Nijo Castle, former home of the Shoguns and Imperial Palace Guard. The palace inside the castle compound was quite interesting. To alert guards to anyone approaching the wooden floor made, and still does make, a beautiful bird chirping sound as you move from panel to panel.

After lunch I walked to Kiyomizudera Temple on Mt Kiyomizudera. From the leafy I could see the very modern looking Kyoto city below.