Since we had no particular schedule today and our only responsibility was to get to Kyoto this evening,  3 is us decided to take the bus and explore Nara a little more.   We took the city loop bus and headed for Nara Park again,  this time to walk the last few 100 yards to see the Kasugataisha Shrine.   What a great park and beautiful morning walk.

The shrine

We mentioned our Goshuin before.   Here our is being signed by a lady

A goshuin is a unique, hand-brushed stamp or seal obtained from Japanese temples and shrines, serving as a sacred testament to a visitor’s pilgrimage. Each stamp features artistic calligraphy indicating the site’s name, the date of visit, and a red stamp.

walking into the shrine area we were able to witness a ceremony and hear a bit of the chant

We left after a great noodle lunch for our train ride to Kyoto.  Our lodging here in Kyoto is a Machiya.  In fact. our lodging is on a lovely old neighborhood of these machiya.

Machiya are traditional wooden townhouses found throughout Japan, particularly in Kyoto (known as kyomachiya), that historically served as both merchant residences and places of business. Dating back centuries, these two-story, narrow structures often feature tatami rooms, interior gardens, and, following renovations, modern amenities like luxury baths and kitchens, offering a blend of historic charm and contemporary comfort for travelers.

And it comes with robes!