Japan Trip 2015: Day 4 in Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nishiki Market, Kamo River, Kiyomizudera Temple, Gion)

Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto

Hey guys, sorry for the late follow up. Here's my second day's journey in Kyoto with my travel mates! It begins with a trip to Fushimi Inari Shrine, an important Shinto shrine. Many make a trip here to see the thousands of vermillion torii gates, marking donations by corporations and individuals to the shrine. At the shrine's entrance stands the Romon Gate, which was donated in 1589 by the famous shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi (who also built the Osaka Castle).

The shrine practices free entrance for all visitors, making it a spot worth visiting for everyone, regardless of status. Fushimi Inari Shrine is located just outside JR Inari Station, the second station from Kyoto Station along the JR Nara Line (5 minutes, 140 yen one way from Kyoto Station).

Fushimi Inari was simply majestic

Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari's messengers, therefore many fox statues can be found on the shrine's grounds. Fushimi Inari Shrine has ancient origins, dating back to 794.

Preparations at Fushimi Inari for an upcoming ceremony

At the time of my visit in early October 2015, the shrine was getting ready for an upcoming ceremony. Offerings were being placed on many different levels in what looks like a little shrine, and many locals and tourists alike gathered to see the preparations being carried out. Offerings such as rice and sake are common and are displayed for all to see.

Wishing corner in Fushimi Inari

After short walk into the grounds, I came across a little wishing corner where another tiny shrine is located.

Wishing plaques 

Here you can hang up wooden wishing plaques (purchased from souvenir counter) together with thousand others on a wall in the left corner of the shrine. If you have a moment, read the messages written in various languages from all over the globe, they will leave you in awe!

Mini shrines

There were also some mini shrines on the grounds as well, in the same vermillion theme. Everything is vermillion here!

Torii for sale

As with other Japanese shrines, souvenirs such as torii are available at Fushimi Inari. Locals and tourists alike form queues at the personalised souvinier counters here, where they write your wishes on the merchandise you have chosen.

Huge torii gate at the beginning of the uphill climb

If you are not into souvenirs, then uphill you go! There is a huge torii gate at the start of the uphill climb, so if you are not into climbing, then just climb up a short distance to get a glimpse of the torii gates and you're good to go.

Thousands of vermillion torii gates

Photo opportunities are hard to come by, especially with so many visitors milling about! If you want to have a good picture without anyone photobombing yours, make sure to hike up further. Remember, the further up you go, the lesser the crowd!

Maneki Neko for sale outside Fushimi Inari

After coming down from the torii gates forest (okay, that was a pun) it's time for some temple shopping! Being a shopaholic, temple grounds do offer some great goods for sale such as souvenirs, lucky charms and food! No matter where you find yourself in Kyoto, rest assured there will be some shopping to do! :)

JR Inari Station

Time to head to the next stop and I walked to the JR Inari Station which is a short walk opposite the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Even the theme at the station here is vermillion! That's enough vermillion to last me a lifetime!

Tokyu Hands at Shijo Karasuma Dori

We alighted at the Shijo Station as we wanted to get to Nishiki Market in the middle of town. A nice change compared to temple grounds, as far as the shopaholic in me goes, because you get Tokyu Hands in the middle of Kyoto!

Shijo Karasuma Dori

Walking along Shijo Karasuma Dori is like taking a walk in the 70s or 80s as the shops' architecture here are low and hark back to the past.

Nishiki Market

After navigating behind one of the alleys behind Shijo Karasuma, we managed to spot the Nishiki Market sign. Here we come, glorious food!

Food stuff on sale at Nishiki Market

I only managed to get a good shot of some dried food stuff on sale as I was too busy ogling at the food on sale, and not to mention the huge crowd of tourists in the area! The hawkers were busy yelling at the top of their lungs to sell their wares, and we were all busy eating and looking around. Food madness at it's best here!

Teramachi Shopping Street

Somehow we ended up walking into Teramachi Shopping Street (I swear that this is gonna happen everywhere you walk in Japan) and it was shopping madness again. Shoes, antiques, even cheap reading glasses are all for sale here. You bet the shopaholic me went around here in a daze!

Temple in Teramachi Shopping Street

Managed to get a picture of a small temple located smack in the middle of Teramachi Shopping Street. Rather surprised to see it at first, but there were many locals who came here to seek blessings. Those interested, can give it a go :P

Salt ramen for lunch at Teramachi

The highlight of Teramachi has definitely got to be my late lunch. I can't recall the name of the restaurant, but it was a small set-up, cozy with soothing background music that served the best salt ramen I've ever tasted! 

The ramen was so springy and chewy, probably because it was handmade by the chef. A gruff looking guy was cooking when we entered, and it seemed that he was absorbed in his work. The broth was so fragrant here, it was probably the smell that brought us in... Hope you can find this great eatery when you are in Teramachi!

Le Plus 100 yen store

After lunch, it was shopping again at a local 100yen store, Le Plus in Teramachi. Never heard of this store before. Probably the only one I've seen in my travels in Japan. Some of the products were different from those you see in Daiso, and I got some really authentic looking sushi magnets from here. Worth checking out!

Kamo River; the blue skies and the river took my breath away

Next stop was Kiyomizudera Temple, and from Teramachi we took a bus from Shijo Dori straight to the temple. We passed by Kamo River and the scenery took my breath away! 

The blue skies and the river (so blue!) was so beautiful I quickly whipped out my phone to take a shot. Even through the bus windows, the shot came out pretty decent and the moment is captured as it is in picture above. Beautiful, isn't it?

A look downhill from the Kiyomizu Temple entrance

We alighted from the bus and saw many pretty ladies milling about in kimonos. They are all so pretty and photo ready! If you have some cash to spare, don't miss out on renting a kimono and taking a ride up to the temple on a trishaw!

After about a 10 minute walk, we reached what looked like the temple grounds as there were many stalls selling their wares (food, drinks, souvenirs, etc.) around the area. Little did we know that there was another uphill climb ahead. At this point, we were really tired from walking too much. Since Day 1, we walked for more than 15 hours daily, and it was definitely 5 times more than we'd do on a typical day back in Kuala Lumpur!

We soldiered on, admiring the sweets and souvenirs slowly on the way up. There were many people on the crowded walkway, so that pretty much slowed us down too. Reaching the top, I was really amazed me and my travel mates could walk this far up with our aching feet!

Kiyomizudera Temple entrance

At this point, I was really tired and wanted to turn back, but seeing the vermillion (too much of red in a day) pagodas made me want to finish up this itinerary and head back to Gion for dinner. Dinner is waiting!

Kiyomizudera Temple admission ticket

We paid the 400yen admission fee to enter the temple grounds. The Kiyomizudera Temple is open 6am to 6pm daily, so make a note about it. We reached around 4pm, so we had some time to look around.

Sunrays on the side of Kiyomizudera cliff view at 4pm

At first after entering the temple, I didn't see why people had it on their must-visit and must-see lists in Kyoto. It was old (as is other temples in Kyoto and throughout Japan) and creaky wooden boards made me cringe as I stepped on them. I really thought I would make a hole if I stepped on them too hard :/

But it was really amazing when I walked out to the sun, away from the shield of the huge roof. Many tourists were hanging out at the edge, and I could see why. You'd feel at the top of the forest while looking out from the ledge. It was super sunny too, although it was already 4pm!

Ancient architecture marvel, Kiyomizudera stands on wooden stilts

Following the path markers, we walked around the mountain cliff paths and came to a halt opposite the temple structure. Here, you can see the full glory of the ancient architecture. How did they managed to built it on wooden stilts, I still can't understand it fully. It's definitely an awe inspiring moment for me!

Cleansing with mountain spring water

Coming down the mountain path, I saw a long queue of people waiting to cleanse themselves with mountain spring water. Haven't got time to spare, so we decided to skip it and head straight to Gion.

 

Fancy a climb up in your kimono?

After exiting the temple grounds, I came across girls clad in kimonos climbing up a steep staircase. Not sure which exit they took, but definitely try to avoid this exit route. They were panting and puffing away, poor girls...

A canal in Gion all lighted up

We took the bus to Gion and tried to spot some geishas, but it was pretty dark at 6pm already, and there were nothing much to see but menus and tourists (like us, they were there to spot the geishas too). I told myself at this point that I really wouldn't want to be a geisha because everyone would want to take a picture of me in a kimono and painted white face... but tourists are tourists... :/

Dinner at Yakitori Torisee, Gion

Finally we settled down for dinner at Yakitori Torisee. We chose the quaint and cozy restaurant because it was recommended by TripAdvisor. Alas, the food and ambience was great but the service was terribly slow.

We waited a good half an hour before our appetizers were served and another hour before we were served with the final course. They were probably short-staffed as they were very apologetic when we paid (our waiter was the cashier too). I really hope they can improve on their service lest I should decide to return here again. 

Till then, please do look forward to my upcoming post for my travels in Tokyo. I'm going to take you on a virtual ride on the Shinkansen!

Check out my previous posts on my travels in Osaka and Kyoto:

Day 1: Shinsaibashi, Kuromon Market, Namba Walk and Namba Parks Mall

Day 2: Osaka Castle, Shinsaibashi, Amerikamura and Dotombori 

Day 3:  Kyoto (Kyoto Station, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Tenryu-ji Temple, Seiryo-ji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Groove)

Japan Trip 2015: Day 3 in Kyoto (Kyoto Station, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Tenryu-ji Temple, Seiryo-ji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Groove)

Kyoto Tower view from Kyoto Station

Day 3 started off early since we did a day trip to Kyoto. Taking a train from Osaka to Kyoto is fairly easy, just make sure you get to Osaka Station and take the Special Rapid Service to Kyoto Station. The journey takes around 45 minutes to an hour. Just make sure not to get on the local service train, as it stops more often and takes longer!

Those who are unsure of which trains and stations to transfer should refer to Hyperdia as it offers a simple and hassle-free option to plan your train routes. With this website, I was able to get around Japan with trains and not think about where to change trains as it does it all for me.

One important tip is to know where your departing station is and destination station is. If all fails, Google up the place you are heading to, chances are, they will list the nearest train station. Hyperdia is available in English, Japanese and Chinese.

Kyoto Station

Once I landed in Kyoto Station, my first stop was to get to the Tourist Information Centre. Here you can get information and help on how to get around Kyoto. Although buses are the main transportation around Kyoto, there are also trains and rickshaws!

Kyoto Station bus stop

First itinerary on the checklist is Kinkakuji, also known as the Golden Pavillion. To get there from Kyoto Station, we took a bus from the bus stop located outside the station. Make sure to check the bus numbers to get to your destination safely!

Kyoto Bus Sightseeing 2 Day Pass

I got a 2-day bus pass for sightseeing at 2,000 yen (adult) and 1,000 yen (child) since my travel partners and I were planning to do consecutive day trips to cover the Kyoto temples and shrines. Don't forget to get the bus map from the Kyoto Tourist Information Centre as it also lists all the bus numbers, attractions and bus stops.

I also relied on Arukumachi to get around and plan my Kyoto routes. This website is in English and lists all the available routes to your destination, either by bus or train. It is similar to Hyperdia, but more accurate and localized to suit Kyoto's bus routes.

Kinkakuji-michi, bus stop for Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavillion

After a half an hour bus ride (with all the heavy traffic and abundance of traffic lights), we finally arrived at Kinkakuji-michi, the bus stop for those heading to Kinkakuji Temple.

Signboard to Kinkakuji Temple

When alighting from the bus we headed in the direction the other tourists we going. That's when I saw the Kinkakuji Temple signboard. Look out for it to go in the right direction!

Entrance to Kinkakuji Temple

We took a short walk and came to the entrance of the Kinkakuji Temple. It was a shady place, with trees growing on both sides of the path. I took some time here to take refuge from the hot sun. Although it was early autumn, the weather was still a little warm, only when the cool breeze blows it was perfect...

Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavillion

When I first saw the Golden Pavillion, it was too beautiful. As the sun was shining brightly, the heat was unbearable but it made the pavillion twinkle under its rays! It was a great sight and a memory that will last me a lifetime. There will be many tourists surrounding the pond that the Kinkakuji was made on, so take your time to admire it and wait till you get a great spot to take a picture. You will be greatly rewarded!

Saga-Arashiyama Station

We had lunch after visiting Kinkakuji Temple and got lost while finding our way to our next destination. After asking for directions from locals, we got on the train at Enmachi Station and stopped at Saga-Arashiyama Station as were were headed to the Arashiyama area.

Map to Tenryuji Temple and Bamboo Forest

We wandered around the area after we got off at the Saga-Arashiyama Station, unsure of where to go. Finally we saw a map outside a shop which had the directions to Tenryuji Temple, one of the destinations on our list.

Tenryuji Temple entrance

We finally arrived at Tenryuji Temple! It had a grand entrance and there were many tourists milling around. We started walking into the main temple area.

Raccoon dog statue

There were many small shrines along the way to the main temple, and I began to get curious of a statue of a panda looking creature with a straw hat, holding a stick. I later found out it is a native mascot of Kyoto, the raccoon dog :)

Shrine outside Tenryuji Temple

There was also a small shrine in the same area as the raccoon dog, and I couldn't help but stop to take in the Zen energy of the place. So serene, so peaceful. Yeah, I did take a picture too!

Girls in kimono outside Tenryuji Temple

As we arrived outside the Tenryuji Temple, I saw some girls in kimono. I couldn't resist taking their photo. It really looks like a scene from the past!

Tenryuji Temple's Vegetarian Cuisine

I also saw a signboard that advertised the temple's vegetarian cuisine. If you are interested, do take note that it is served from 11am-2pm.

Trishaw puller

After we were done visiting Tenryuji Temple, we walked along the walkway outside the temple. It was a long stretch of road, where buses and rickshaw pullers plod along. I managed to get a good shot of how 'old school' Kyoto's transportation is right above!

Train passing by in Kyoto

We walked on and on... and it seemed never-ending. Until we came to this train crossing! I always remembered seeing people and cars stop for a train, but that was the first time I saw it with my own eyes. It was amazing! Sorry I am so over-enthusiastic... Thank you Kyoto, for all the memories of the past that you have to share with me!

Arashiyama map

We got lost again, and finally found a map that had some English (duhhh....). We wanted to go to the Arashiyama Bamboo Groove (remember that scene from 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'?) and realised we missed it while walking aimlessly from Tenryuji Temple. Turns out, we missed a turn!

Path of Bamboo, Chikurin No Komichi

We made a U-turn back and realized it was just opposite the place where we had stopped earlier to get an ice-cream! The place is named Chikurin No Komichi (Path of Bamboo). There is a signboard that leads into the path. Do keep and eye out for it if you don't want to miss it!

Kyoto Tower at night

We decided to call it a day and headed back to Kyoto Station for dinner. It was around 6pm when we reached the station, but it was already getting dark. Kyoto Tower looked pretty after it was lighted up. We weren't hungry yet, so we decided to walk around the station to take some photos. Apparently, Kyoto Station is one of the biggest stations in Japan, so we wanted to check that out too.

Staircase at Kyoto Station lighted up at night

The station was definitely huge! It was 12 floors high (if I remember correctly) with an open-air rooftop. The night breeze was super cold! I was not dressed warmly because I had consulted the weather app and it was pretty warm during the daytime in Kyoto (very spot on). I thought of travelling light, so I didn't have any long-sleeved clothing on. Bad move!

The view of Kyoto night skyline was breathtaking from the top floor of Kyoto Station. Do make a trip here at night to experience the beautiful sight!

Lipton Tea House in Kyoto Station's Porta Dining

After walking around the Ramen Street in Kyoto Station, we decided to skip it since the queues were long. We headed to Porta Dining outside the station, near where we boarded our bus in the morning. Upon entering, I saw the Lipton Tea House. LIPTON TEA HOUSE! Why don't we have this in KL? I will definitely make a stop every week! (For those not in the know, I am a huge tea fan and my favourite beverage to kick start my day: Lipton Milk Tea!)

But luck was not on my side. I could only look at the delicious sweet treats on display, and dream about sipping my tea on the soft pouf chairs in the cafe. Well, who sips tea for dinner right? :(

Chirashi, ramen and kimchi for dinner. Burp!

We had dinner at a ramen place and I saw that they had a set meal at only 1,000 yen. I had to have it since it was such a good deal. Usually in KL, the portions were small, but in Kyoto, the portion was HUGE! I had a huge bowl of ramen and a medium sized bowl of chirashi. With lots of rice... I'm totally doomed. No more Lipton cakes even for supper... My only consolation was that the refillable kimchi was superb! Ok, I had 3 refills of kimchi, and that was also pushing it!

3 Coins, upgraded version of Daiso

After dinner, we ladies needed some shopping time so we made a quick dash into 3 Coins, a chain outlet that sells everything at 300 yen (3 coins, get it?). Basically it's an upgraded version of Daiso, and the products are better in quality. I got some pretty good buys here as souvenirs. Bet they'll never know it only costs 300 yen... :P

And that wraps up my third day in Japan. I can totally live here! 

Check out my previous posts on my travels in Osaka below:

Day 1: Shinsaibashi, Kuromon Market, Namba Walk and Namba Parks Mall

Day 2: Osaka Castle, Shinsaibashi, Amerikamura and Dotombori

The author feels like she has stepped into the past when she landed in Kyoto. From the pretty girls in kimono to rickshaw pullers, ancient temples and shrines, old buses and steam trains, it really feels like time has stopped before the 1950s in Kyoto!

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