Japan Spring Time 2015: Day 6

Last highlight in Kyoto
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Day 6, Last day in Kyoto. :( Kyoto became one of my most favorite places in Japan. It feels like being in an anime setting or just going back in time dressing up in Kimonos, walking around prim and proper all the time. You had to because of the tight wrapping of the kimono and your sandals as well.

Kimono, bag, sandals...

Kimono Rental is just a one day event for me. Today, I went back to Yume Yukata to return everything.

6:00 AM	Wake Up
7:00 AM	Breakfast
8:30 AM	Go to Yume Yakata to return Kimono, sandals and bag
9:00 AM	ETD Tenryuji Temple/Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

We took the subway from Gojo Station to Arashiyama Randen Station. From this station it is another line going directly to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

10:00 AM	ETA Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
	Explore Bamboo Forest

Old houses along the way..

Beautiful, colorful roses

It’s about a 15-min walk from the station to the Bamboo Forest. Once you’re out of the station, turn right and walk along the street until you pass by Tenryuji Temple. You will see a small bus stop on the left where there are a lot of tourist buses that would stop by. Walk along the path, usually there are a lot of tourists going to the Bamboo Forest. You’ll know once you see a lot of bamboo trees, kind of like the scene from Rurouni Kenshin live-action movie.

Seems like we're on the right track

 

Traditional temple

Wedding inside the temple

Bamboos behind me...

 

More trees

After an hour or so we went back to the station. We didn’t go to the Tenryuji Temple as we just want to see the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. We had a quick ramen lunch at the station then it was time to go to Kinkakuji Temple

11:30 AM	ETD Kinkakuji Temple
12:15 PM	ETA Kinkakuji Temple

There’s no direct subway line going to Kinkakuji Temple. From Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, we rode the Randen line going back to Arashiyama(Hankyu) subway station. From this station I think we got off at Kitaoji Station or some station (forgot the name). From the subway station, there’s a bus (Kyoto City Bus) going directly to Kinkakuji. I thought that we could pay on the bus but turns out you had to buy the tickets at the terminal we boarded. We were so in luck that day because there was this lady who had a lot of bus ticket (I think there were 10) and she gave us three tickets! :) I know so lucky, right? :)

Anyway, here are some pictures of Kinkakuji Temple

The Golden Temple/Kinkakuji Temple

Peacock/rooster on top of the temple?

The Kinkakuji Temple and its reflection on the pond

We were supposed to go to Ryoanji Temple but decided to skip it. Aside from rock or pebble garden, I think that our time would be better spent at Ginkakuji Temple and at the Philosophers Walk.

2:15 PM	ETD Ginkakuji Temple
	1. From Kinkakuji Mae, walk to Kinkakuji Michi (Kyoto City Bus) Northbound. 2. Take City Bus 204 bound for Jodoji(Kyoto City Bus) Northbound 3. Get off at Jodoji(Kyoto City Bus) Northbound 4. Walk to Ginkakuji Temple
2:45 PM	ETA Ginkakuji Temple

From the bus stop it was a long uphill walk going to Ginkakuji, but the view was so worth it.

Sakura trees lining up the canal

Sakura petals flooding the canal

Up close...

Sakura petals everywhere....

Usagis(Rabbits)!!!

Aww...so cute :)

At Ginkakuji, there was also a long line of tourists waiting to go inside the temple. You’ll see the temple and the garden. I thought the temple would be silver, just like its namesake…but it wasn’t.

Eating sakura ice cream outside the temple entrance....

Zen garden

Overlooking Kyoto

Ginkakuji Temple/Silver Temple

Me and my dad decided to go up the hill expecting to see more, but what we saw was the view of Kyoto. The city skyline was free from pollution and it seemed organized as well. It was time to head back to meet up with my Mom and explore more of the Philosophers Walk. The sights along the way are pretty much the same at the start of the Philosophers Walk, lots of sakura trees and sakura petals on the ground.

Fishes swimming along the sakukra filled canal

It was a long, long walk. We left the temple around 3:30PM or so and arrived at Yasaka Shrine around 6:00PM.

This is the path that we took:

The estimated time of walking was not accurate as I got lost going to Maruyama Park. Even though I had GPS I still got lost, probably because of the direction of the map I was looking. We arrived at the opposite side of Maruyama Park, from the back. Yesterday, there were no stalls or any vendors. But tonight, there were a lot of stalls, a lot of food and drinks. Then it hit me, it was Hanami time, where people go to the park and admire the cherry blossom trees. There was even news coverage of the Weeping Cherry Blossom Tree.

Hanami viewing

After dinner, one last stop was the Yasaka Shrine. I followed my GPS but I could’ve just gone through the park instead as it was connected after all. At night, there were still a lot of people going to Yasaka Shrine and Maruyama Park. It was definitely a wonderful, tiring experience. All day long seeing the pink and white flowers, definitely a memorable Japanese Experience. :)

Dinner under the sakura trees

Hanami viewing

People praying...

on the way out of Yasaka Shrine

View outside, from the opposite street

With Dad

 

Mom and Dad :)

We walked along Gion Street, the main street for the last time as it was our last night in Kyoto, then Tokyo the next day. :) At the end of the street was the Gion Subway Station, the last time we would be taking the subway in Kyoto. We took the subway back to Kiyomizu-Gojo Station then walked back to our hotel.

View of the Gion main street

Busy street...

Expenses:
Food: Approx. Y2,000/person (for lunch and dinner)

Gojo to Arashiyama: Y260/person (subway ride)
                                   Y210/person (Arashiyama Randen line)

Arashiyama to Kinkakuji: Y210/person (Arashiyama Randen line)
                                           Y290/person (subway ride)

Kinkakuji to Ginkakuji: Y230/person (Kyoto City Bus Ride)
Kinkakuji Entrance: Y400/person
Ginkakuji Entrance: Y500/person

Gion to hotel(Kiyomizu-Gojo Sta.): Y150/person

Ice Cream: Y300