Japan Spring Time 2015: Day 5

Day 5 is the first day of our Kyoto Tour. This is also the day where I dress up in a kimono. :) It's a must do activity while in Japan, during Cherry Blossom season, and well you're in Japan, so why not? :) Also, this day is a chance to take on Kyoto's subways. It only has two lines so pretty easy than the numerous subway lines in Osaka.
 

6:00 AM	Wake Up
7:00 AM	Breakfast
8:30 AM	Leave Hotel
	Walk to Gojo Station

9:00 AM

ETA Nijo-jo Mae Station (short walk from Nijo Castle)

Aside from Hyperdia, you can also use Arukamachi Kyoto Route Planner to plan your bus or train trips. Upon reviews from users in Tripadvisor, Kyoto's traffic can be worse. So they advised to take the subways instead. Sure it would mean that you would walk some distance but still you'll get to your destinations faster.

Nijo Castle is a must-visit destination in Kyoto. The castle has a rich history going way back to the Tokugawa Shogunate.  Take an hour or two to explore the castle grounds especially during Cherry Blossom season. It has some lovely cherry blossom trees and the flowers are in full bloom, colors of pink and white.

Entrance to the main castle

View from one of the towers

Trees in full bloom...

Garden Pond

Zen feeling rocks

Le Parents walking by the Sakura Trees

Prior to visiting Kyoto, I already made reservations for a Kimono Rental at YumeYakata. Spring is peak season so expect a lot of tourists to also make kimono rental reservations. The best schedule I got for a kimono fitting was 11:00AM. Kimono fitting would take an hour and of course I had to get my hair done to complete the look, extra cost by the way.

10:45 AM	ETD Yume Yakata
	by City Subway: from [Nijojo-mae] Station, take a Tozai Line to [Karasuma Oike] and transfer to a Karasuma Line to [Gojo Station]. Get out from Exit No. 1 (the manned ticket gates side) and walk straight about 1 minute.
11:00 AM	ETA Yume Yukata
	Kimono fitting and hairstyle :)

Pink Kimono!

As seen from above picture, the rental includes the kimono, sandals, bag and the white tabi socks (are yours no need to return). I'll post the price of the rental and hairstyling at the end of this post. Anyway, you can return the dress the same day without extra charge before 5:30PM. Or if you want to wear it on a night out you can return it the next day for an extra charge of Y1,000. You can leave your clothes and your other stuff in the shop without any worries.

12:00 PM	Lunch nearby
1:30 PM	End of Lunch
	ETD Fushimi Inari Shrine 1. Go to Kiyomizu-Gojo Station (10-15min walk from YumeYakata) 2. Take Keihan Main of Nakanoshima Line Local or Keihan Main Sub-exp going to Fuhimi Inari 3. Get off at Fushimi Inari Station
2:00 PM	ETA Fushimi Inari Shrine

I rode the subway from Kiyomizu-Gojo Station because it had the least transfers going to Fushimi Inari. Once you arrive at the station, there will be lots of signs going to the shrine itself.

Senbon Torii

It was a rainy day and it was quite challenging to walk and not get your kimono dirty. Once you get to use walking around in a kimono, it just feels like a normal fluffy dress. Lots of layers inside so you don't feel that cold. Going back to Fushimi Inari, you walk up the steps as seen in the third picture above. There are signs leading you to the Senbon Torii gates. The gates go up the hill but you need not go up the hill. Just walk along until you feel tired or have taken in the wonderful sight, just like the scene in the movie Memoirs of a Geisha.

2:45 PM

ETD to Kiyomizudera Temple

ETD Fushimi Inari Shrine 1. Go to Fushimi Inari Station 2. Take Keihan Main of Nakanoshima Line Local or Keihan Main Sub-exp going to Fuhimi Inari 3. Get off at Kiyomizu-Gojo Station

It's about a 20-minute walk from the Station going to Kiyomizu-Gojo. Don't worry, there are signs and maps going to the temple if you don't have wifi to navigate going to the temple. If it's during peak season, you'll see lots of buses and tourists alike going there as well, so just follow them. :)

3:45 PM

ETA Kiyomizudera Temple

Kiyomizudera is one of Kyoto's most visited temples. And for me it's also a large temple situated at the top of a hill. Pretty much an uphill climb going to the temple so best to reserve your energy if you're planning to explore the grounds. Take about 1.5 hours or more to enjoy the scenery and to take a drink at one of the three falls, Otowa Waterfalls.

Lots of tourists, temple under construction

View of the falls/streams

The pagoda at the far end of the temple ground

I took a drink from the middle of the three falls

It would be greedy to drink from all of the streams. Just drink from one, it may give you better health, luck or some superstitious belief. Well, since you're there might as well try and free water as well. :)

View of the main road

We passed by Sannenzaka and maybe passed by Nene-no Michi. Our last stop was Maruyama Park, famed for the Weeping Cherry Blossom Tree. The tree is beautiful and lovely at night, unique from the other cherry blossom trees I have seen. Probably because of the lights that were lit for the tree but even without the lights, the tree is mesmerizing to look at. Pink and white or white and pink at the same time.

Map from Kiyomizudera to Maruyama Park

passing by some pagoda

Weeping Cherry Blossom Tree

Beautiful background :)

8:00 PM

ETA Gion Dinner

We had dinner somewhere in Gion, somewhere close to Gion Subway Station. I'd say that Day 5 was all about temples, culture and history of Kyoto. My favorite part of the day was wearing the Kimono and feeling like you were back in time. The beautiful sights, the cherry blossom trees were just perfect, the feeling like those in the anime that you've watched growing up, something like out of a Rurouni Kenshin episode. :D



Expenses:
Food: Y2000/person
Hostel - Nijo: Y360/person
Nijo - YumeYakata: Y230/person
Kiyomizu Gojo - Fushimi Inari (RT): Y420/person
Nijo Castle Entrance: Y600/person
Kiyomizudera Temple Entrance: Y300
Kimono Rental: Approx Y5,500 (includes hairstyling and hair accessory that you can choose)