13 March - Kobe, Japan
Kobe is situated betwixt the blue waters of Osaka Bay and the tree clad hills of Japan's main island, Honshu.
Kobe was a small settlement until it's natural harbour was utilised for shipping. It was given city status in 1956.
A devastating earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale shook the city to it's core in 1995, killing 6,443 people, leaving 300,000 homeless and destroying a good deal of Kobe's infrastructure.
On an 'Ancient Japan' tour today visiting Nara and Kyoto (the capital of Japan from 794-1868). Firstly visiting Nara to see the early 8c Todai-ji Buddhist Temple complex housing the worlds largest bronze statue of the Buddha and the Kasuga Tai-sha Shinto Shrine established in 768AD.
After lunch at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Kyoto we went to see the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) in a beautiful setting on a lake. Our last visit in Kyoto was the Kiyomizu Dara Temple founded in 780 on the site of the Otawa Waterfall where cleansing rituals take place.
A long day with plenty of walking and step climbing arriving back at 7pm. Our sail away from Kobe was accompanied by a firework display and rousing music from a Japanese brass band.
Love to go there so much ancient history x
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