Love in Kyoto- Osaka, Japan - February 2014
We had decided to travel to Kyoto and Osaka during our Chinese New Year holiday this year.
We arrived at Kansai airport at 5.30pm. The time different with Malaysia is 1 hour earlier. Temperature was 14 celcius on the time we arrived. There are some shop that provide mobile and wi-fi rental counter. The rental of wi-fi , Y$945 per day count by date (included tax) and have to return to the same counter or some counter allows return at different airport but to same company. This is very convenient for us to online when outside of hotel because most restaurant don't privide freee wi-fi. We bought airport express ticket to Kyoto station. It took about 75 minutes. We also bought a JR West Rail Pass at airport terminal building an unlimited use of local JR trains in the designated area in the Kansai region, including Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Kansai Airport and Himeji. The price is Y$4000 for both airport express return and the Ocaca Card (top-up card) wiht value Y$1000 in the card.
Kyoto Station (京都駅)
Kyoto Station is a major railway station and transportation hub in Kyoto, Japan. It has Japan's second-largest station building (after Nagoya Station), incorporating a shopping mall, hotel, movie theater, Isetan department store, and several local government facilities under one 15-story roof. It's a busy station. We had our first meal at here at 8.00pm. The price for a meal such as Udon, Soba, cost Y$ 1000-1500 which is around RM 30. Most shopping closed at 9.00pm
After filled up with our stomach, we took JR heading to Nara (normal service) to our hostel (Kyoto Fushimi Inn) at Inari Station. It's 2 stops from Kyoto station then take 3 minutes Walk from INARI JR Station & only 1 minute walk from FUSHIMI-INARI KEIHAN Station. The owner of the hostel is a very nice ladies and can speak very good mandarin. The price per night is around ￥5000 per twin sahring room.
Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社)
The next day morning, we visited the place nearest to our hostel wiht 2 minutes walk, The Fushimi Inari Taisha. It is the head shrine of Inari. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main
buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari,
which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds. We hike to the summit of the mountain and back takes about 1 hours, however, visitors free to walk just as far as they wish before turning back. Free admission.
Get there: The shrine is just outside the JR Nara Line Inari Station, 5 minutes ride from Kyoto Station. It is a short walk from Keihan Electric Railway Main Line Fushimi-Inari station.
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| Fushimi Inari Taisha |
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| Vermilion Torii Gates |
Kiyomizu-dera temple (清水寺)
The best attraction of Kiyomizudera is its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall (Hondo), 13 meters above the hillside below. The stage affords visitors a nice view of the numerous cherry and maple trees below that erupt in a sea of color in spring and fall, as well as of the city of Kyoto in the distance. A Pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera can view from the main hall.
The admission fees is ￥300.
Get there: 10 minutes from Kyoto Station to Gojozaka bus stop by Kyoto City Bus No. 206 then 10 minutes on foot, (it's a 15 minutes walk if not taking bus) or
6 minutes from Shijo-Kawaramachi to Kiyomizu-michi bus stop by Kyoto City Bus No. 207 then 10 minutes on foot
Yasaka Jinja Shrine (八坂神社)
On the way heading to Gion district from Kiyomizudera temple, we past by Yasaka jinja Shrine and Yasaka-no-to pagoda. Yasaka Shrine is at in front of Gion District. We din't go in as we out of time.
Free Admission.
Gion District
We joined a 2 hours tour by a english speaking tour guide ( a nice Japan lady). We met at in front of Kitaza and the tour started at 5pm to walk in Gion and discover the deepest part of geisha and Gion. She explained the history of maiko and geiko and ochaya. Gion is Kyoto’s most traditional and special district where the culture of Kagai, the world of maiko and geiko are still alive. Present day Gion still has many Ochaya, where customers drink and dine while Maiko and Geiko (Geisha) entertain them in the traditional architecture. We can see old Kyoto at Gion. We were so lucky to see many meiko and geiko were busy out there on that night because their customers were enjoying as the next day was first day of Spring in their calendar.
Tours fees: ￥1000
The next day morning, we woke up at 6am to prepare for our pre-wedding shooting. It was freezy cold. Temperature go down to 6 to -2 celcius and snow at some places.
Arashiyama (嵐山)
We were so lucky to met a Japanese girl at tour last night, she invited us to join her to Arashiyama the next day. She rented a car and drove us all the day. It took about 40 minutes drive from Kyoto station. It was a freezy cold day as it was raining and snowing at afternoon. Temperature 4 celcius.
Arashiyama well known central landmark is the Togetsukyo Bridge. Many small shops, restaurants and
other attractions are found nearby, including Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama's famous bamboo groves and pleasure boats that are available for rent on
the river. We took a 15 minutes walk from the bridge to the bamboo groves. The groves are particularly attractive when there is a light wind and the tall
bamboo stalks sway gently back and forth.
Kinkakuji (金閣寺)
After arashiyama, we stil have some time to visit Kinkakuji (Golden Pavillion) which top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. It has an impressive structure built with a large pond. Kinkakuji was the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) which we don't have enough time to go because it closed at 5pm. :(
Admission fees: ￥500
Osaka Castle (大阪城)
The temperature getting worst and snowing, 2 to -4 celcius when we was at Osaka. We really could not tolerate the cold!
Admission to Osaka Tower: ￥600
Get there:
Subway Line: Otemon Gate at the park's southwestern corner. The closest station is Tanimachi
4- chrome Station along the Tanimachi Subway Line and Chuo Subway Line.
By JR: Osakajokoen Station on the JR Loop
Line, a 10 minute Osaka Station
Shinsekai (新世界)
After the Osaka Castle, we took subway line to Shinseikai. Here have plenty of shop lot and food, from top international brand to small local shop. Here also famous as Spa World as a huge bath complex with a large number of pools, natural hot spring water is pumped up from
far below the earth's surface.
Get there: Shinsekai is a short walk from Shin-Imamiya Station on
the JR Loop Line,
Dobutsuen-mae Station on the Midosuji and Tanimachi Subway
Lines, and Ebisucho Station on the Tanimachi Subway Line.
Accomodation:
Kyoto Fushimi Inn : http://www.nakanoya.idv.tw/kyotofushimi/fushimi.htm
Transportation:
Kansai Airport Line: http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access/train/index.html
Geisha Experience : http://www.waraido.com/walking/gion.html
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