A Day In Kyoto - Kiyomizu dera (音羽山清水寺) and Gion (祇園)

 Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺)

is one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was one of the finalists for the New Seven Wonders Of The World in 2007. 

Many visitors would choose to visit Kiyomizu-dera - "Pure Water Temple" during Spring or Autumn so as to be able to enjoy the beauty that nature brings - cherry blossoms (sakura) and autumn maple leaves that frames the Kiyomizu-dera.

Fortunately for me, when I visited the temple, a couple of the sakura trees has already bloomed. Although the view would be much more breathtaking if all of the trees were in their full glory.

Getting to Kiyomizu-dera isn't difficult. Most of the buses at the central bus station outside the Kyoto JR station brings you to Kiyomizu-dera. And as usual, when you alight, follow the crowd as you will have to turn into a street where all the souvenir stores are before you will reach the temple.

During then when I was there, there was some festival going on. Many Japanese girls (and some guys) were all dressed up in their traditional kimonos and Kiyomizu-dera would be opened till late at night. (unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay till late.) 

Japanese ladies in their kimonos

As usual, there is a stretch of stores selling beautiful ornaments, candies, Japanese traditional dango, souvenirs and snacks on the way up to Kiyomizu-dera. I believe that as it was a Saturday and due to some festival (I suppose...), the street is filled with people going towards the temple. Both tourists for sightseeing and locals for prayers.

 

Beautiful cherry blossoms littered every corner of the bustling street.

Old school machines loaded with kiyomizu-dera printed trinkets for sale.

Pretty Meat buns! 

(Japanese are all so good at making their food or whatnots look awesome!)

Kimonos for rent! 3150 yen per day! 

How can I ever forget to eat cream puffs in Japan!

It is filled with Sakura flavored custard which is only available during spring time. 

How much more awesome can it get?!

And finally, we see it!

Kiyomizu-dera! 

 

Look at the beautiful sakura tree outside the temple!

I couldn't help it. I just had to camwhore with the flowers!

 

Entrance into Kiyomizu-dera is free of charge. However, if you would like to walk in further to where the love shrine, main hall and where you get to drink the spring water to wish for success and good health, you will have to pay 300 yen (adult) to enter.

Which I highly recommend for the beautiful scenery you will get to see.

It was said that not a single nail was being used to build the structure of the Kiyomizu-dera temple. And people would jump off the "stage" (that part which looked like a balcony) in hope their wishes will be granted. That is if they survived.

However, such practices has been banned. (Thank god!)

Seriously, look at this! How can you not fall in love with this sight!

   

This is where you buy all the pretty amulets and charms! Every charm and amulet has a different use. Some are used to wish for success while some are used for good health and love.

This is the one I've gotten!

It is for good luck! * keep my fingers crossed!*

Time for a group photo!

While I was walking down the walkway, engrossed in taking touristy pictures, I noticed a man painting the kiyomizu-dera. And look! 

  

Kyoto Jishu Shrine 

Located within the temple, is the love shrine - Kyoto Jishu Shrine.

 

If you manage to walk from one of the love stone to another love stone with your eyes closed, your wish will come true!

Sounds easy... only that there are like a hundred people right infront of you!

Anyway, after we were done with Kiyomizu-dera, it was almost evening. (time passes in light speed when you are enjoying yourself!)

Taking the same bus 1-2 stops from kiyomizu-dera would bring you to...

Gion (祇園)

Gion is a famous geisha (geiko/maiko in kyoto) district in Kyoto where many teahouses, restaurants and shops lies. 

Till today, geiko/maiko (geisha) can still be seen in the streets of Gion.

Unfortunately, I was only able to catch a glimpse of one of them walking in lightning speed into one of the houses when I was there.

 

 

Aren't their kimonos beautiful?!

I want to wear a kimono too!

Ok. That aside, we were there for dinner and due to our lacking in the Japanese language, we found a restaurant to have dinner at using the easiest/obvious touristy way.

Just go into the one with the most people/longest queue.

 

Unagi Rice

Fried Tofu

Silky Egg Roll

IS AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Beef Sukiyaki 

Tofu Tempura Set

Unagi Tempura

In all, Kyoto was a great experience for me. There is no doubt that I will return to Kyoto when I have the chance! There are still so many other landmarks I have never had the chance to see yet! And perhaps the next time, I shall go rent a kimono or dress up as a geisha and walk around Gion!

A Day In Kyoto - Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社)

Kyoto, 京都

was formerly the imperial city of Japan.

Decorated with historic shrines, beautiful gardens and markets,

Kyoto is currently one of the most beautiful cities 

in the land of the rising sun. 

I was in Osaka for work and was lucky enough to have enough time to cross over to the

beautiful neighboring prefecture.

From Osaka station, taking the JR line, you can reach Kyoto JR station in less than half an hour with the rapid train, costing around 540 Japanese yen. 

And if you have visited Japan before, you should know that their train stations are not just train stations. It is normally linked with a mall or at least having some shops and eateries for you to explore!

Hungry souls standing outside waiting for the restaurant to open.

My first meal in Kyoto is the Kani Ikura Don (Crab and Fish Roe Rice)

1500 Yen

After lunch, we walked up to the street level and right infront of the station, you will be able to find the Kyoto Tourist Information Centre where you will be able to purchase a Kyoto City Bus Day Pass for 500 Yen!

I would highly recommend buying the pass as a single bus trip without using the day pass costs around 

200 yen ( you do your maths~).

And very easily, you will be able to spot all the queues for the buses that goes to different sightseeing landmarks in Kyoto right next to the tourist information centre.

Our first stop would be the Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社).

For movie goers who had watched Memoirs Of A Geisha (2005) before, Fushimi Inari Taisha was one of the landmarks where the movie was being filmed!

Remember this?

 Taking bus 5 (read the route map before boarding as not all bus 5 goes to fushimi inari. The only bus 5 which goes there departs from queue C4 at the main bus station).

 My awesome set of colleagues who are willing to wake up at 8am to go visit Kyoto with me <3

Reading bus maps!

Navigation has never been our strong point.

When you alight the bus at the Fushimi Inari Taisha stop,

turn at the corner where the first minimart is and walk all the way straight up (seriously, just follow the crowd. I doubt anyone else there is going anywhere else.) and you will reach the shrine.

However, before you reach the shrine, there are plenty more things to do on the way!

A snack/souvenir store selling Japanese Senbei (Japanese rice crackers).

So pretty that I want to eat them all up!

Old school overground train tracks.

By the time we get there, we were all so distracted by all the stores and carts selling whatnots!

Look at the beautiful bright red Torii Gate!

 Fushimi Inari Taisha (伏見稲荷大社)

Fushimi Inari Taisha is one of the most important and not to forget, the most famous shrine dedicated to the Shinto god of rice - Inari.

Don't forget to purify yourself before you enter the shrine by washing your hands and mouth using the water at the purification fountain outside the shrine!

As this is an Inari shrine, you will be able to see guardian foxes at the front of the shrine instead of dogs or lions. They are known to be messengers of Inari.

These wooden plates are called Ema and visitors will often write their wishes on it and hang it in the shrine in hope that their wishes will come true.

And remember to make an offering, ring the bell and pray to the god! 

The names of the people who had donated to build the shrine.

Omikuji

Senbon Torii

"Thousands of Torii Gates"

One of the must see in Fushimi Inari Taisha.

Senbon Torii means a thousand of torii gates and each torii gate is donated by believers.

This is the place where the scene where little chiyo is seen running off to donate the coins the chairman gave her after their first meeting in Memoirs of a geisha.

To complete the whole hike around the compound takes around 2-3 hours and around 45 minutes into the hike, you will reach the Yotsutsuji intersection whereby a beautiful scenic view of kyoto could be seen.

Overall, I would say Fushimi Inari did not disappoint and I was thoroughly wow-ed by the senbon torii gates!

Please Note: the bus to fushimi inari comes arrives every one hour at the central bus station and leaves fushimi inari stop every one hour as well. So don't miss the bus! Well, if you do, you can always go back and walk around the shrine and take more photos with the torii gates!