Japan... Again!

[NoobFlyer]

And it became even more magical after sunset...

 

[NoobFlyer]

Day 5(?? - who knows I've already lost count ) - Nara and Kyoto
A quieter day today after the energy sapping USJ. I had originally left this as a flexible day with possibility of returning to USJ if the first was too crowded to do everything but as it turned out we were happy with how it went so we're able to fit in a day trip out to Nara then a few sights of Kyoto and a nice steady pace (or so I thought).

Nara Park
First snow fall of the trip! Not in the place we were expecting though.


Some of the temples and shrines in Nara Park.



The locals.


And just a picture of the scenery that I quite liked


Then back in the train up to Kyoto for our first visit.

 

[NoobFlyer]

Kyoto
Knowing that we would be visiting Kyoto again later in the trip, we decided to visit a few of the temples and shrines that were in the other direction to the rest to streamline our next visit. So from Kyoto station we transferred to a local train and headed back south to Inari, for the Fushimi Inari Shrine and the Torii Gate walk up to the summit of Mt Inari.









Traveller tip: if you're just looking for a nice view of Kyoto, the above picture was taken from a lookout only about 30 mins walk from the base, there aren't really any good photo opportunities further up the mountain. What you do get the further up you go is a much less crowded and more peaceful experience. It isn't a particularly easy walk to the top (though there were plenty of elderly people making the trek) but also don't be afraid to get off the beaten path of the torii gates. Many offshoots will lead to dead ends but more often than not I found very secluded areas with some excellent photo opportunities away from the crowds.

 

[NoobFlyer]

So that's brings us up to date! Amazing how much you can get through on a Shinkansen ride to Hiroshima
The plan for today is to visit the Peace Park and A-Bomb dome in Hiroshima, before catching the train/ferry out to Itsukushima (commonly known as Miyajima Island). A big trip for 1 day from Osaka but hopefully we fit everything in.

 

[NoobFlyer]

Day 6 - Hiroshima and Itsukushima
A big day trip to do from Osaka but we managed to get in as much as our feet would allow.
First up was the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum.
Wow.
How anyone can go through that museum and still believe that nuclear weapons have a place in developed society is beyond me. I'm sure it's more complicated than that but this is the feeling you get once visiting the museum. They have done a remarkable job at balancing the historical retelling of the tragedy and how it happened with personal stories from around the area with a number of personal artefacts (most from children) each with their own story of the poor victims whereabouts on August 6, 1945.

I can't begin to describe the magnitude of what this place evokes. It is simply something everyone should experience. I didn't take any pictures inside the museum as there's no way they could provide the same sense of tragedy that befell this city.

A few from around the park.
A-Bomb dome.


Children's Peace Memorial


The Memorial Cenotaph


A rather sombre walk back to Hiroshima Station then on the train down to Miyajimaguchi for the ferry across to Itsukushima (Miyajima Island).

 

[NoobFlyer]

Day 6 (cont) - Itsukushima and Mt Misen
After catching the train down to Miyajimaguchi it was a short walk to the JR wharf for the Ferry across to the island (covered by our JR passes).
The main feature of Itsukushima is the giant Torii Gate standing prominently in front of Itsukushima Shrine.

Then a shortish walk up to the ropeway station for the ride up to Mt Misen (well for one of us anyway, the other wisely decided that she would rather do some souvenir shopping than hike 40 mins up a rocky, icy and steep path.

A few shots from around the shrine and ferry wharf area later in the day with the nicer light from the setting sun.

 

[NoobFlyer]

Day 6 (cont) - Mt Misen
From the top of the Ropeway was still a rather difficult 30 min hike down a little valley then up to the peak of Mitchell Misen where a few shrines and the lookout is located. There is also a lookout adjacent to the ropeway station with not-quite-as-good views.

Looking up to the peak from the top ropeway station. Yea quite a hike.


The view makes it all worth it though, absolutely breathtaking on a fairly clear day like this.

 

[NoobFlyer]

Day 7 - Kyoto Round 2

The days of walking-heavy itineraries had caught up with my partner so she took today off as rest day and I bounced out of bed right on time 7:43 for a day of Temples, Shrines, Gardens and Palaces. Where else could I do this but Kyoto. I get the feeling you could spend a whole week of doing nothing but visiting shrines and temples in Kyoto yet still not cover them all, they are literally around every corner. Having already visited Fushimi inari a couple of days ago, this left Kiyomizudera, Ginkakuji (the Silver Pavillion - not actually silver) and Kinkajuji (the Golden Pavillion - actually covered in gold) as the reminding big POIs then I joined the dots so to speak with a few smaller temples. I decided to complete this path using a combination of the extensive bus system, the not-so-extensive subway system and plenty of pavement pounding. In hindsight, I probably could have planned my route a little more efficiently but that's how it goes.

I'll be posting photos later but a summary of the main sites today.
Kiyomizudera
Unfortunately there was lots of restoration work occurring so probably not an accurate reflection of how pretty it can be. Would be spectacular in Autumn which is common among all the sites around Kyoto and I can imagine why this city is so popular for the Sakura and Autumn colours seasons.

Ginkakuji
In my opinion the prettiest of the three locations but also the least crowded for my visit. Lots of excellent photo angles possible from around the gardens.

Kinkakuji
Quite crowded during my visit but obviously still very pretty and only in comparison to the other two locations.

 

[NoobFlyer]

Kiyomizudera

 

[NoobFlyer]

Ginkakuji

 

[NoobFlyer]

Kinkakuji


A little over exposed but still my first one of these long exposure waterfall shots I'm happy with.

 

[NoobFlyer]

Last one for today. Some shots from various other sites in Kyoto and the Imperial Palace grounds.

 

[drron]

This is developing into a wonderful TR.You are describing the places visited with your tips mixed with a little humour.
Your photos are enhancing the story.The photos of the temples in Kyoto are magic.You are capturing the essence of Japanese gardens which are designed to look good in all seasons.
Even better as we will be there in 3 months.Thanks.

 

[kpc]

Currently, on the way back ftom Japan having just spent 10 days there visiting Tokyo, Osaka, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Nara...: Not my 1st trip to Japan and won't be my last...it was snowing in Kyoto yesterday and 2 days ago when we were there. Photo below is in the front page of today's Japan Times.

 

[NoobFlyer]

This is developing into a wonderful TR.You are describing the places visited with your tips mixed with a little humour.
Your photos are enhancing the story.

Many thanks for the kind words drron, I hope a few of the pictures can maybe evoke other's memories of their previous visits to Japan and inspire the thirst to visit for those who haven't yet (or perhaps revisit for those who have). I plan to get a few of these images printed to hang around my house once I get home and I imagine I will be looking back at them in years to come with very fond memories. This might also sound a little arrogant but if anyone else would like a full resolution version of any of my photos to do likewise I would be only too happy to oblige.

You are capturing the essence of Japanese gardens which are designed to look good in all seasons.
Even better as we will be there in 3 months.Thanks.

Heartily agree with you there, each season brings its own twist to what is already a very picturesque sneeze. Though I imagine you are planning on seeing some cherry blossoms during your trip? Can only imagine how spectacular some of these locations would be at that time of year.

 

[NoobFlyer]

Currently, on the way back ftom Japan having just spent 10 days there visiting Tokyo, Osaka, Miyajima, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Nara...: Not my 1st trip to Japan and won't be my last...it was snowing in Kyoto yesterday and 2 days ago when we were there. Photo below is in the front page of today's Japan Times.

Indeed the snow adds a very different and in this part of the country quite rare dimension to these scenes. We were also in Kyoto 2 days ago and to get our first snowfall of the trip there and in Nara was a little surprising considering where we are spending the next week. Always happy to see some of the white stuff though! My partner wasn't so convinced...

 

[Fifa]

Thanks for the fantastic TR NoobFlyer.
We are off to Japan in 10 days and I can't wait. Your amazing pictures have me mesmerised.
I've visited more than 10 times (for skiing and sightseeing) and just love everything about the country.

 

[trentusjuventus]

This is a great TR and brings back memories of my own trips, keep it up!

I'll add a +1 for Japan being amazing, and never being such a thing as 'too many trips to Japan'.

Also I never tire of reading people's J TRs no matter which airline and where they are flying to, so have no problems reading about every nook and cranny of the flights as well.

 

[PatMcrotch]

Great TR! I am going to Japan for the first time soon...can't wait!

 

[NoobFlyer]

Thank you for the feedback everyone, much appreciated.

A quieter day today with the trip back to Tokyo on the shrink again providing some spectacular views of Fujisan. The rest of the day was spent shopping and wandering some of the cities' districts. Now settled into our AirBnB for the night ready to hit the town early tomorrow for our train out to our next stop, skiing in Hakuba!