Sunday, January 30, 2011
Kyoto, Japan - Day 3
November 16, 2010
Day 3
On our way to Kyoto Station, we visited Higashi Honganji Temple, the one just opposite the hostel we were staying in.
On our way to Kyoto Station, we visited Higashi Honganji Temple, the one just opposite the hostel we were staying in.
By the way the station is just 10-minute walk from the inn. Opposite the station is the Kyoto Tower, an observation tower that stands atop Kyoto Tower Hotel.
We purchased City Bus All-Day Pass and after having breakfast at Caffe Veloce, we got on a green bus to start our journey. Our first stop was at Higashiyama area. We dropped by at a temple close to Kyoto National Museum and then proceeded to Sanjusangen-do Temple in front of the museum.
We hopped on a bus again and got off at Kiyomizu-michi. Access to the temple is a 10-minute uphill walk along Chawan-zaka (Teapot Lane). On both sides of the narrow street are handicraft, omiyage and sweet shops and food stalls. Kiyomizu-dera Temple is the largest and most famous temple in Kyoto with its massive entrance gates and huge grounds with many grand, elaborate structures built on them.
Our next destination was Heian Jingu Shrine in Okazaki District. The torii before the main gate is one of the largest in Japan. The beautiful colours of maple trees in the fall along the path to the shrine made our walk a pleasant and enjoyable one. We also had a short stop at The National Museum of Modern Art and other temples in the area.
We took a bus again and hopped out at we-did-not-know-where. At this time we did not know where we were going. We just kept on walking following the arrows pointing to different temples. We've been walking for at least 15 minutes when we found out that we were trekking the Philosopher's Path. The pleasant stone path follows a canal which is lined by hundreds of cherry trees. We continued walking all the way to Eikando (Zenrinji Temple) and fortunately reached the temple before sunset.
Although it was already dark and despite a not-so-short trip by bus, we still wanted to see Kyoto Imperial Palace. It might really be hard to find the palace at night so after a long walk in vain, we gave up and just went back to Shijo Kawaramachi and hit the shops. We did not stay too long though due to lack of energy. It had been a long day and my feet and body were longing to lie down. :-)
We took a bus again and hopped out at we-did-not-know-where. At this time we did not know where we were going. We just kept on walking following the arrows pointing to different temples. We've been walking for at least 15 minutes when we found out that we were trekking the Philosopher's Path. The pleasant stone path follows a canal which is lined by hundreds of cherry trees. We continued walking all the way to Eikando (Zenrinji Temple) and fortunately reached the temple before sunset.
Although it was already dark and despite a not-so-short trip by bus, we still wanted to see Kyoto Imperial Palace. It might really be hard to find the palace at night so after a long walk in vain, we gave up and just went back to Shijo Kawaramachi and hit the shops. We did not stay too long though due to lack of energy. It had been a long day and my feet and body were longing to lie down. :-)
