We arrived in Kyoto yesterday. We took the high-speed train from Shizuoka to Kyoto, and it was such a wonderful experience. The train currently reaches speeds of about 320 km/h, and a new version is being developed that will travel at up to 500 km/h. It was really something to see how quickly the train rushed past in front of you!
The train we took was called Hikari. In Japanese, hikari means "light." Apparently, the name was chosen to evoke the high speed of the train, like the speed of light. Isn't that beautiful?
In the afternoon, we went for a walk around the city. Along the way, we came across a huge and beautiful temple and decided to visit. The temple grounds and surrounding area were enormous. We only visited the main temple, as we did not have the energy to explore more, especially since it was raining heavily!
So, we removed our shoes, put them in the bag provided, hung our umbrellas outside, and stepped inside.
I loved that we could actually enter the temple and sit within it. We sat at the back of the main hall, near the metal statues and the old wooden doors and pillars. The place had a beautiful feeling.
As I sat there, I started thinking about how every civilization, regardless of where or when it existed, has wondered about the same questions: How did we end up here? Who sent us here? Why are we here at all? Across cultures and centuries, people have built temples, carved statues, created paintings, and surrounded themselves with symbols that help them feel closer to the higher force that placed them on this Earth.
Here are some photos from the temple:
Interior of the main temple hall
It was so peaceful inside the temple. I felt both small and big. I was intimidaed by all those beautiful staties and big because I knew I was part of the eternity.
Walking on the temple corridor. My pants were all wet
Have a good night everyone🙂
June 21st, 2026
Kyoto, Japan
In the train - From Shizuoka to Kyoto