Saturday, January 29, 2011
Kyoto, Japan - Day 1 & 2
November 14 - 15, 2010
Day 1
The trip from Osaka to Kyoto was almost an hour by train via JR line. From Kyoto Station North Exit, we took the Subway Karasuma Line and got off at Gojo Station on Karasuma Street. Chita Guest Inn is located in front of the Higashi Honganji Temple. It was already dark and we may have not found our way easily to the hostel but the quest didn't last too long. We were warmly welcomed by the owner of the ryokan, we took off our shoes and were guided to our room upstairs. The room was so Japanese with mattresses on the floor and with yukata robes provided.
We planned to go out for dinner after resting a little bit. We were advised to take a bus going to Kawaramachi. So off we went to the shopping district. We were aiming to have dinner at Pontocho but we lost our way again. I should not be trusted when it comes to reading a map. After realising that we were heading for the wrong direction, we went back to Shijo-Kawamarachi and fortunately found Pontocho at last which runs parallel to Kamogawa River. Pontocho is one of Kyoto's traditional nightlife districts - a narrow stone-paved alley full of bars, restaurants, geisha houses and tea houses. We walked down the beautiful alley and were surprised by the pricey meals. We had dinner at another place, browsed the shops and caught a bus back to the inn. It was time for a good night's rest to recharge for the next day. :-)
The trip from Osaka to Kyoto was almost an hour by train via JR line. From Kyoto Station North Exit, we took the Subway Karasuma Line and got off at Gojo Station on Karasuma Street. Chita Guest Inn is located in front of the Higashi Honganji Temple. It was already dark and we may have not found our way easily to the hostel but the quest didn't last too long. We were warmly welcomed by the owner of the ryokan, we took off our shoes and were guided to our room upstairs. The room was so Japanese with mattresses on the floor and with yukata robes provided.
We planned to go out for dinner after resting a little bit. We were advised to take a bus going to Kawaramachi. So off we went to the shopping district. We were aiming to have dinner at Pontocho but we lost our way again. I should not be trusted when it comes to reading a map. After realising that we were heading for the wrong direction, we went back to Shijo-Kawamarachi and fortunately found Pontocho at last which runs parallel to Kamogawa River. Pontocho is one of Kyoto's traditional nightlife districts - a narrow stone-paved alley full of bars, restaurants, geisha houses and tea houses. We walked down the beautiful alley and were surprised by the pricey meals. We had dinner at another place, browsed the shops and caught a bus back to the inn. It was time for a good night's rest to recharge for the next day. :-)
Day 2
Started the day by having a good yet cheap breakfast at a restaurant along Kawaramachi Dori. Our plan was to go to Tourist Information Center at Kyoto Station. So we kept on walking northward till we reached past Kyoto City Hall. We thought Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae was the one but there was no information center in sight. And it looks small for a major station. So we approached one of the staffs at a nearby hotel and we were told that that is not Kyoto station. We knew it! Well, anyway, since we were already there, we just had a look around. At least we had the chance to see the city hall, the shops at Teramachi Street and Honnoji Temple.
Started the day by having a good yet cheap breakfast at a restaurant along Kawaramachi Dori. Our plan was to go to Tourist Information Center at Kyoto Station. So we kept on walking northward till we reached past Kyoto City Hall. We thought Kyoto Shiyakusho Mae was the one but there was no information center in sight. And it looks small for a major station. So we approached one of the staffs at a nearby hotel and we were told that that is not Kyoto station. We knew it! Well, anyway, since we were already there, we just had a look around. At least we had the chance to see the city hall, the shops at Teramachi Street and Honnoji Temple.
We took the subway to Kyoto Station and finally found the Tourist Information Center. We got some maps, pamphlets and brochures and made our way to Fushimi Inari Shrine. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates that arch over a long path up the hill behind the shrine. We walked along the trails revelling the magical experience of wandering through the tunnels of torii in the quiet woods.
From Inari we caught the train to Arashiyama, a district on the western outskirts of Kyoto. The view of autumn colours in the mountains accross the river was just so awesome! We tried one of the restaurants nearby then we proceeded to Tenryu-ji Temple, Bamboo Groves and Nonomiya Shrine.
Back in the city centre, we came across Kyoto International Manga Museum. It was already closed, though. The last stop for the day was Shijo-Kawaramachi. We did some shopping and got myself a jacket because it was getting colder and colder. No, I did not buy the one in the photo below. :-)
