Kyoto, Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Kaga & Sakai

November 11 – 15: 5-day Temple Tour

37 participants joined a 5-day temple tour organised by the Buddhist Charity Work Shop Ltd. We would have vegetarian meals, visit ten temples in four days and stay in Prince Hotel by Biwa Lake for the first three night and in Mount Hiei for the last night. Catherine, my friend, was my roommate.

November 6 – 10: Journey on a 5-day Kansai Wide Train Pass

My temple group tour would begin in Osaka on November 11. I therefore bought a 5-day Kansai Wide Train Pass for ¥9,000 and planned to visit Tottori, Kinosaki Onsen, Amanoshade and Takeda Castle Ruins in Tottori, Hyogo and Kyoto Prefecture.

My plan to visit the Setouchi Triennale was derailed in April when I had to return to Hong Kong to apply for a Russian visa in connection with an expedition to Wrangle Island in July. As the Triennale would finish on November 4, I left Hong Kong ten days after completion of my ‘4-Lands’ tour. After enjoying the art festival, I joined a temple tour to Kyoto. On top of art, cultural and spiritual activities, I roamed on my own for ten days in search of foliage.