Stop Ciovo

In Kobe I went to a supermarket, I think it was quite typical japanese. It was rebuilt after the 1995 earthquake razed almost everything to the ground, and now it hosts on many floors little shops almost like stalls and real shops, and a big chain supermarket.

When you visit a UNESCO world heritage site (the first one in Japan in 1993), you should expect something excellent: the Horyuji Temple (法隆寺) won't disappoint you. It's situated near the Ikaruga city (斑鳩町) in Nara prefecture (奈良県), at about 35km east from Osaka downtown.

Kodaiji Temple (高台寺) is another attraction you can enjoy with night lights in Kyoto, but of course you should see it during the day. Established in 1605 by the noblewoman Kita-no-Mandokoro (known familiarly as Nene) in memory ofher late husband, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣 秀吉, 1536-1598). Kodaiji Temple's construction was extensively financed by Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川 家康),Hideyoshi's chief vassal and later Shogun (a kind of general of the army) of Japan.
The temple is of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism, one of the three main in Japan. Inside you can enjoy the garden, Kangetsu-dai (moon viewing pavilion), Kansan-do (founder's hall), Garyoro (reclining dragon corridor), Otama-ya (sanctuary), Kasa-tei e Shigure-tei (teahouses by Sen-no-Rikyu) e Iho-an (the cottage of lingering fragrance).

One of the main center for the cherry blossom viewing is Maruyama Park (円山公園), famous above all for its old cherry tree. Maybe visiting this site at night is even more interesting, because the cherry is enlighted with particular lights that exalt even more the beauty (pictures can't render) of the atmosphere. Because of the season, in the park there were a lot of stalls and everybody was having party.