Konnichiwa Japan - My very first trip to the land of rising run

[rbjhan]

Okay that was in Nov 2014. Trust me I asked myself this question many times before, how did you not visit before?! Well I first planned a Japan trip in 2011, but then the great Tohoku earthquake and tsunami happened...☹

July 2014 I started planning again, wanted to go in November. I thought 4 months should be quite enough. Yeah that was a mistake. To be fair I made many mistakes during this trip, the important thing is I learned from it

Initially I picked Nov as it's a relatively quiet time at work so I can take annual leave, also to get away from the Melbourne pollen.
Since I had 10 days, I thought 5 each in Kyoto/Osaka would be good. Problem was I had no idea November was peak Momiji season in Kyoto! The whole city was literally sold out by July, I could only managed the first 3 nights, so ended up booking 6 nights in Osaka, and a ryokan in Arashiyama.

Finally ready to go.

 

[rbjhan]

No direct flight from Melbourne to Osaka, I went MEL-HKG-KIX. Sorry no flight pictures back then.

Took the Haruka limited express train to Kyoto, about 1.5 hours.


APA Hotel Kyoto Gion
Excellent location just opposite Yasaka Shrine.


As mentioned above, I was lucky to find 3 nights here for 25000 Yen. I didn't know single rooms in APA were notoriously small. Fortunately I was upgraded to a twin, no idea how!


Even got a view of Mt Higashiyama


Arrived quite late that evening, so only went downstairs to check out the immediate surroundings.
This is Shijo Dori.


Dinner was a bento box I picked up from Kyoto Station.

 

[VPS]

yay

 

[rbjhan]

Day 2
Tofukuji is one of the best autumn colours spots in Kyoto. I knew it would be popular, so started the day early. Took the private Keihan railways from Gion Shijo Station straight to Tofukuji, note that limited express trains don't stop here. Arrived just as the gate opened.


View from Gaun Bridge


Not too many people on the Tsutenkyo Bridge yet, phew!

And the famous valley of maple trees

 

[rbjhan]

yay

Might be useful for you.

 

[rbjhan]

The Hojo's zen gardens



Another angle of the Tsutenkyo bridge.


Sanmon

 

[rbjhan]

Komyoin just outside the southern gate of Tofukuji.
Few visitors, very nice and quiet temple.

 

[rbjhan]

I dropped my lens cap into the creeks in Tofukuji , had to go to BIC Camera to get a new one.

Had lunch at Tsukiji Sushisay inside Kyoto Isetan.




Afterwards, seeing the sun was coming out, decided to go to Kinkakuji.

 

[rbjhan]

Kinkakuji


It was splendid in the afternoon sun


Another angle.

 

[rbjhan]

Ryoanji
Widely considered to be the best kare-sansui in Kyoto, I dunno, this place is extremely crowded which made the experience not so zen? I certainly prefer the Hojo Garden in Tofukuji....


Apparently there are 15 stones but you can only see 14 from any angle....so let's look at the sandbox miniature instead

 

[rbjhan]

Tojiin

Not a well known temple. I came as it was highly recommended by a friend.

 

[rbjhan]

Got back to Shijo, I was exhausted....according to Fitbit I walked over 32000 steps that day!
Went to the famous Ichiran ramen


*How to eat at Ichiran:
1. Buy a ticket from vending machine.
2. Find an empty seat according to the seat map
3. Personalise your ramen with the order sheet
4. Press the button, staff will emerge from nowhere to take the order sheet
5. Eat!

You likely won't see anyone the whole time (don't worry, everything's multilingual)

Ichiran's unique seating.
All individual seats are partitioned off, perfect for a introvert?

 

[drron]

Now if you had gone to Japan in 2011 as we did 2 months after Fukushima then you could have gone to Ryoanji and maybe like us have the place to yourself as we did.
And no it wasn't dangerous as at that time in Tokyo the radiation levels were lower than those in Melbourne.

 

[rbjhan]

Now if you had gone to Japan in 2011 as we did 2 months after Fukushima then you could have gone to Ryoanji and maybe like us have the place to yourself as we did.
And no it wasn't dangerous as at that time in Tokyo the radiation levels were lower than those in Melbourne.

Keep in mind I hadn't been to Japan before....for all I knew this was a place I plan to visit once, why would I risk it?

 

[drron]

Though you probably would have fallen in love in an even bigger way.We experienced incredible service and virtually always thanked for coming to Japan.
Remember for the future it is often the best time to visit another place a little after a crisis.Less tourists and grateful locals.

 

[AIRwin]

All individual seats are partitioned off, perfect for a introvert?

And now perfect for social distancing if it's still open for dining in...

 

[rbjhan]

And now perfect for social distancing if it's still open for dining in...

A bit too close, but otherwise perfect!

 

[rbjhan]

Day 3
Up early again, streets were quiet.

Ishibe-koji


Shops weren't open yet...


Sannenzaka

 

[rbjhan]

But early birds already flooded Kiyomizudera!
Trust me, if you want to see this place, go as early as humanly possible...


The famous wooden stage


Best view from the Okunoin Hall.


*The main hall actually underwent a major restoration shortly after this trip. Only re-opened March this year.

 

[love_the_life]

Sigh

The memories.