Day 4
Got my 1 Day (unlimited) Bus Card (500 yen) from the backpackers reception! It's crazy when you get it from Kyoto station at peak hours. It's like a long snaking queue just to get this tickets. Really interesting to use it! Convenient and great as a keepsake.
I'd recommend only using this for days whereby you have to go to attractions that's all over Kyoto. Since you'll be taking multiple bus rides. Otherwise, try to plan your itinerary based on an area each time!
Woke up at 5.30am to prepare for Philosophers Path! It's a path lined with sakura trees! Because it rained the night before, you can see the trees are not at it's peak anymore. But it's still very pretty! I started the walk from Nanzenji. Which is good. Because more people started from the opposite end. So I manage to snap photos with less people coming into my pictures. The whole walk with the stopping and whatnot to take photos takes about 2 hours.
- Photo Overload Alert -
It was partially drizzling. Hence the lighting wasn't the best, but thank god for decent shots! Oh by the way, it was kinda freezing too. But being the vainpot I am, I can't stand being all bundled up with zero fashion sense hence the "light" outfit. Lol. The things girls do for vanity....
Next, Ginkakujin. The golden temple. Guess what, it rained and the wind was icing cold. Freezing about 20mins and succumb to buying a transparent brolly (approx 350yen to 450yen, almost everywhere sells them)
Admission ticket. Looks like some kinda tailisman!
Awesome Chikara Udon near Ginkakujin!
With mochi! Hello mochi, I love you so much!
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So back to the golden temple. Ohmygod, it is not worth the hype seriously. It's just a gold-plated? shrine in the middle of the "pond"?! I snapped a record of maybe less than 10 photos here. Couldn't wait to get out of it though. But the dango souvenir taste awesome! I tried this black dango over there (but didn't buy) and end up searching elsewhere for it but couldn't find.
Maybe everything is less impressive after the Kiyomizu Temple and the rest of the must-sees.
Apparently the sakura flavoured ice cream is too sugary and sweet for me. My love is the macadamia nut ones! I ate at least 7 cups there. Yes, even when I'm out and feeling almost like a ice sculpture.
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Back to hotel to rest a bit and actually wanted to head to Nijo castle but when I reached at 4.10pm. It was closed. One thing about Japan. They are very anal about timing. VERY GOOD. I like it also. Lol. Did I mention I get really pissed whenever colleagues or what are perpetually late? I mean, work-wise I cannot accept. But other than that, like meeting with friends or what, it's okay. Because that, I too also commit the same crime.
Okay I digress. So, since Nijo castle was unavailable. I went to Kiyomizu-Temple to see how is it like at night. I love the stalls light glows against the fading blue sky. It's breathe-taking. I didn't re-enter the temple though. It's another 400yen to see the night illumination. And I had enough of taking photos. So that's it. But you could say I'm tempted to enter again!
Stumbled upon a Studio Ghibli store! Super adorbs. I got some souvenirs there!
Meanwhile, shopped along the streets for Kyoto goodies because it was my last night there.
That sums up my days at Kyoto!
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Well, to sum up Kyoto. I guess the best season to visit would be the Spring/Autumn season. I cannot imagine visiting Kyoto with just their temples and plain jane surroundings. Everything with sakura just looks magical?! I like how it feels like the setting of "Spirited Away". However, I probably seen enough temples/flowers to last the whole year. I visited so many places!
On a whole, even though Kyoto is filled with cultures I personally prefer Tokyo. There's awesome places in Tokyo for season viewings! More shopping, more modern stuff, more food etc.
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Next post, Back to Tokyo!
That sums up my days at Kyoto!
_
Well, to sum up Kyoto. I guess the best season to visit would be the Spring/Autumn season. I cannot imagine visiting Kyoto with just their temples and plain jane surroundings. Everything with sakura just looks magical?! I like how it feels like the setting of "Spirited Away". However, I probably seen enough temples/flowers to last the whole year. I visited so many places!
On a whole, even though Kyoto is filled with cultures I personally prefer Tokyo. There's awesome places in Tokyo for season viewings! More shopping, more modern stuff, more food etc.
_
Next post, Back to Tokyo!
