Kyomizu Temple was originally built in 789. Mizu is the word for water in Japanese and the temple was given this name because of the spring that is on the temple grounds. Many people come here to drink the water which is supposed to posses Divine power and ward off illness.

We passed some Mai-ko or Japanese performers as we were leaving the temples and snapped a few photos of them. We later saw an add for a place where you can dress up like a Mai-ko or Geisha and have someone photograph you at a temple or outside somewhere. Apparently the after effects of the popularity of "Memoir's of a a Geisha" are still being felt. We saw many more women dressed up in these costumes than I ever saw as a student in Kyoto 8 years ago.

Traditional Kyoto style cuisine.