A Very Genji Day

Sunday, June 8
Owing to poor travel timing on the previous weekend, we visited Kyoto the Sunday after Heather Day. I had been anxious to see the Genji Exhibit at the Cultural Museum for some time, and Chris and I finally caught it on the last day of its showing.

It's mosquito season, and I had large red sores all over my face that day.

Our first stop was Byodo-in, located in Uji City. Tourists can observe the Buddha, as well as faded illustrations painted on the walls, up close in organized tours of limited numbers. The grounds feature a small museum.

Beside the Uji Bridge stands a monument to Murasaki Shikibu, whose character Ukifune attempts suicide by jumping into the swirling waters below. A group of police stood nearby. Perhaps to prevent copycats?
(Ukifune's attempt was unsuccessful, and she becomes a nun.)

We visited the Genji Museum in Uji.

At the crowded Genji Exhibit on Sanjo, we couldn't take photos inside. The displays featured colorful illustrated screens and old manuscripts. Wonderful for any fan of Genji or of traditional Japanese literature.

We ended the day at a Kyoto AEON, where we again indulged in the bread bar at BAQET.

Chris was disgusted by how much I ate.