This is in Kyoto.  Along the walk way there was a little black pot in the middle of these stones and as people went by they tried to toss a coin in.  

The kids needed to try this!!

It was a special opportunity to have Lavena and Jason together for so many days.    

For 5 and 3- Jack and Maggie are incredible travelers.  They have the energy to keep going no matter how many steps it takes to get to the next adventure.   

Lavena was so happy to be going everywhere and seeing each new place.  

This is the Nijo Castle (1600s) in Kyoto with a moat.  You can see the city in the background, but once you're inside the fortified walls you would never have known there was a city near you.  

This is a hinge to the gate.  

It was raining hard while we were here.  

You can see some of the ornate work at this entry way.  

Not sure what this is, but there were several in this area.  

This is inside the castle walls with beautiful ponds and gardens.  They make fencing out of bamboo.  

 The colors were so vivid.  

The rock work was heavy duty and so neat, even though it waves through the height of the wall it was very straight at the top.  

Kegs of sake
Jason bought some and we had it one night.  We tried the warm sake, which is heated and served in small cups.  It is was interesting!  

Our first sighting of a large torii gate.  Torii gates mark the entrance to a shrine and are make of wood and painted orange and black.