Do you know there are about 17 sites in Kyoto alone were designated UNESCO world heritage site? cool right
Besides beautiful temples and shrines in Kyoto, there is also castle, Nijo Castle, was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the 1st shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). Some said the palace buildings are the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in the 1994
main entrance, as usual there are samurai guardsmen guard house for inspections of visitors back in the days. Entrance fee to Nijo Castle: 600 yen/ pax there is also English audio guide available for rent (500yen). Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site
Ninomaru palace, served as the residence and office of the shogun
too bad no photo inside
my travel partner of the day Heike :)
behind the Ninomaru palace is the Ninomaru Garden, a typical traditional Japanese garden
with a large pond, ornamental stones and manicured pine tree (of course)
just beautiful ^^
the palace consists of multiple separate buildings that are connected with each other by corridors with so called " Nightingale" floors, as the squeak when stepped upon as a security measure against intruder. Unless you are as light as a feather or else you'll get caught intruding the palace. This is how the wooden floor looks like from beneath that makes the squeaky sound
Honmaru, the main circle of defence, was the site of a second palace complex and a 5 storey castle. However, both structures were destroyed by fires in the 18th century and were never rebuilt
there is also a viewing area where u can walk up and have a good view of the Honmaru
the peace fever...hehe
in Japan most of the tourist site there are both western toilet and Japanese style toilet. Western toilet is the normal toilet bowl toilet. The Japanese style is this. It's kind of the same toilet style in Malaysia and other Asian country only without the closure in front
from Nijo Castle we then walked to the Kyoto Imperial Palace
gosh why are Japan's drains are so clean?
and they make it so nice
yeah! we reached the Kyoto Imperial Park...soaking our legs in this shallow steam
the park is freaking HUGE
one of the entrance gates of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The Kyoto Imperial Palace is an imperial palace of Japan, though the Emperor of Japan is not in residence.The Emperor has resided at the Tokyo Imperial Palace since 1869 and ordered the reservation of the Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1877.
To enter the Kyoto Imperial Palace, you will need to book a tour and apply in advance with passport at the Imperial Household Agency Office located in the northwestern corner of Kyoto Imperial Park (you'll see on the map) Reservations are often possible for the same day. The Office is open Mon-Fri from 8:45am - 12pm and from 1pm - 5pm.
Free tours of Kyoto Imperial Palace are held several times daily in English and Japanese. No tours are held on Sunday and national holidays. Most Saturdays are also unavailable.
*Occasionally, Kyoto Imperial Palace can be entered without advance reservation and without joining a tour
cute ride...hehe
we then walked to Kyoto Handicraft Center. Was hopping to see some interesting Handicraft being made turns out to be a 4 storeys building of souvenir shop :S
feeling disappointed we then walked back to Kawaramachi dori for some shopping therapy :D
Teramachi dori @ Kawaramachi dori is an enclosed with interesting little stores selling all sorts of things. Nice place to shop
they even have a small temple, yata-dera
just around the corner is the Nishiki market
selling yummy food, from grill eels, hot chestnuts, fresh green vegetables
Heike i found Yuzu!!! :D
to fresh seafood, pickles and interesting variety of tea
shijo-Kawaramachi dori @ night, you'll see a stretch of taxi for hire
me @ Kinkakuji
there are times when i traveled alone in Japan, though it's not so fun, at least there were beautiful scenery to accompany me....damn that sound so cheesy lol
Kinkakuji Temple or also known as the Golden Pavilion. From Shijo Dori somewhere near Karasuma Station i took the City bus No12 for about 50 minutes to Kinkakuji-mae or you can also take City bus No101 to Kinkakuji-michi. Entrance fee: 400yen/pax open from 9am - 5pm
Kinkakuji is a shariden, a Buddhist hall containing relics of Buddha. The Pavilion is part of a temple that is formally named Rokuon-ji Temple but commonly called Kinkakuji temple. In 1994, Rokuon-ji Temple was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
the garden and buildings, centered on the Golden Pavilion were said to represent the Pure Land of Buddha in this world.
Gold foil on lacquer covers the upper tho levels of Kinkaku and a shinning phoenix stands on top of the shingled roof. Overall, Kinkaku is representative of Muromachi-period architecture
once passes by Kinkakuji it leads through the temple's gardens and it hold a few other spots of interest including Anmintaku Pond what is said to never dry up and a statues that people throw coins at for luck
there is also a small temple where it's main image is a stone statue of Buddhist deity Fudo-myo-o. This statue is though to have been made in the 9th-century and normally close from public view. Open Door Rituals are held on Setsubun (in early Feb) and on August 16
Japanese really do like good fortune :P
form Kinkakuji i walked for 10 minutes to another World Heritage site Ryoanji Temple
Entrance Fee: 500yen. Ryoanji Temple was originally a country house of the Tokudaiji Clan. it was acquired in 1450 by Hosokawa Katsumoto for use as a Zen training temple.
The Rock Garden
i felt very zeeeen when i saw this garden...hehe though the garden have no trees or flowers and only 15 rocks and white gravel are used. i think it's quite original
See the wall surrounding the garden? it's made of clay boiled in oil. As time went by, the peculiar design was made of itself by the oil that seeped out...who would have though clay and oil huh
if only one can sit on this tatami and enjoy a pot of green tea while looking out to this famous rock garden.....zeeeennnn
Tsukubai, a stone wash basin for the tea room, has a unique inscription.
" i learn only to be contented" he who learns only to be contented is spiritually rich, while the one who does not learn to be contented is spiritually poor even it he is materially wealthy. Indeed a important concept in the Zen spirit.
the surrounding of Ryoanji Temple
very peaceful
Kyoyochi pond, made in the late 12th-century. Until recent years many mandarin ducks were to be seen on the pond. Hence the name Ryoanji was generally known as Oshidoridera(the temple of mandarin ducks)
now they only have turtles ^^ hehe
from Ryoanji Temple i walked about 10-15 minutes to Ninnaji Temple yet another temple listed as World Heritage site
some typical looking Japanese houses
there were many guide maps along way, so it's hard to get lost
Ninnaji Temple is also a very huge area
the main entrance gate. Entrance fee :500yen/ pax but was close when i reached there but still i get to walked around the area for free
Ninnaji Temple was founded in 886. Over many centuries, a member of the Imperial Family used to serve as Ninnaji's head priest, and the temple was also known as Omuro Imperial Palace. There is also a pagoda. Half way around the temple area it started raining so heavy, thank god i brought along my umbrella. I think in April with cherry blossoms the place will be more beautiful
in front of the main entrance gate of Ninnaji Temple i took the City Bus No12 back to Kawaramachi Dori
Kyoto Station, the main train station
just outside the Kyoto station is a Aqua Fantasy, musical water fountain. i know it's small and on the roof of a small shop but it's quite entertaining
Kyoto tower just opposite the Kyoto station
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Kyoto Tower hotel, price about 7000yen/ night which is good bargain for an ok hotel. Plus you'll get a free ticket up to Kyoto tower. As for Hostel is Kyoto, Price starting from 2000yen\ pax for a night in dorm or above 2800yen for a private room
Up to Kyoto Tower. Entrance Fee: 770yen/pax, open from 9am -8:40pm
night view of Kyoto gorgeous
more shopping at night @ Kyoto Yodobashi
Boon @ Fushimi Inari Taisah Shrine main Entrance
our last day in Kyoto, we took the JR train down south 2 stations from Kyoto Station to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. The train station (Inari Station) is just opposite the Shrine
Romon gate at the shrine's main entrance
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is an important Shinto shrine in Kyoto dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice
Foxes are though to be Inari's messengers, so as u can see here there are many foxes statues across the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari Shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital's move to Kyoto in 794
area map...the parallel rows of gates called Senbon Torri or thousands of Torii gates is about 4 km long
the torii gates along the entire trail are donations by individuals and companies. The wording on the back of each gate are the name of the donator and the date of the donation. The price starts from 4000,000yen for a small sized gate and increases to over a milion yen for a large gate
let the 4 km trail begin
nice
ok still long way to go
on the way to the summit there are also smaller shrines that we visited
inside the bamboo forest
love the paper yukata ^^
ok still walking
still enjoying
after 15 minutes... boon: we should stop for a snack
still going
the total time to hike to the summit of the mountain and back is about 2-3hours
going up
up
up
small lake
us @ Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
we gave up after 30 minutes walk because we do't have enough time to complete the complete trail to the summit, HECK we didn't eve made it to the Yotsutsuji intersection which is the almost half way up to the mountain, where one can enjoy nice view of Kyoto. There is most traveler venture, as the trail do not offer much variations beyond that point
i saw fox Spongebob squarepants ^^
Next to Nara
~ ja ne ~
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