Snow, Onsen and Crab!

[rbjhan]

The Sacred Horse!
Don't ask, it's just what the sign says


No idea what's the proper name in English...they were on their way to some ceremony no doubt.


*Kamigamo, together with Shimogamo, are the two most important Shinto Shrines in Kyoto, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The two together hold one of Kyoto's 3 most important festivals, Aoi Matsuri in May each year.
The other two are Gion Matsuri (probably most famous) and Jidai Matsuri(October, Heinan Jingu) . It is said that Aoi Matsuri dated back to the 7th century.

There were this long queue to get in the main Shrine.....yeah I noped out of it faster than you think.


I did get two shuins though! One is the normal one and this beauty!
That's Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji.


They are big on wedding business clearly...I do love the Shiromuku dress!



The bathroom sign was cute.
I thought about going to the men's side to take a picture too but decided against it

 

[rbjhan]

Took another bus back to Shijo Karasuma.

Obviously I must visit the Traveler's Factory Kyoto shop!


Bought an insert and some small things, very proud of my self-control!

Lunch.


I love matcha, so next stop was Ippodo Tea.

But walked past this shrine, holy xx_ it's more popular than Kinkakuji


Ah, I saw the name....Mikane Jinja, so basically Shrine of Gold?
I did a bit of research after getting back home. Apparently this shrine used to be for those who work with metal, but nowadasy people come to pray for financial success. Some bring their money/cards/lotto tickets etc to wash in the fountain....

 

[rbjhan]

Clearly me not praying in Mikane Jinja meant my wallet would suffer! (you didn't think I would join that queue right?)

Was not that bad


I ordered the special matcha




Also bought these


Total hit to the wallet was less than 7000 Yen

 

[rbjhan]

After Ippodo I went to the shops near Sanjo Kawaramachi.

Kyukyodo, this shop sells paper, yes only paper - plus notebooks and envelopes...you get the idea.


I did mention stationery is big in Japan right?


LOFT




So what did I get?
I bet none of you know what this is


SPY X FAMILY, my new favourite!


Don't ask why I need so many blue inks....

 

[rbjhan]

Back to Kyoto Station for dinner.






End of day 11.

 

[rbjhan]

Forecast for Monday morning (when I checked Sunday night) was snow from 5am onwards...
I was debating whether to get up at some ungodly hour to go to Kiyomizudera as they open at 6am....

Woke up that morning and the forecast had been changed to 7am.....later 8am.....
So I actually had time to have a leisurely breakfast
Yes I gave up on the coffee, Starbucks was in fact not so bad


Ah the snow finally came after 9!


Checked out, shipped luggage to next hotel, stored the weekender in locker and off to Kiyomizudera!

Anyone been to Kyoto lately? Damn the buses are chokers all the time!
Well except for this special tourist bus....(or if you go to Kamigamo Jinja ha ha)


Why?


Obviously people have reasons to save 270 Yen, but for me at least, this bus was well worth it.
*It makes no other stops, straight to Gojozaka.

Oh and on my way back, I took a normal bus and saw these lovely people:


Note on the outside of the bus, it's painted in big letter and multiple languages something like this:
DO NOT BRING YOUR SUITCASES ONTO THE BUS

Have they no shame?!
The answer is clearly not....

 

[rbjhan]

As we were discussing winter footwear, I thought about this day... @ShelleyB

Talk about impractical! But hey good for photos, that's worth it right?


Long weekend + snow + Kiyomizudera = 1 million people!


But but but....
TOTALLY WORTH IT

That's Koyasu Pagoda...

 

[rbjhan]

Good thing they closed this area or people would be falling left right and centre...judging by the shoes I saw...


Instead everyone was at Okunoin.





I declared this the best trip ever.

 

[rbjhan]

Went to Koyasu Pagoda, snow was really heavy!
My friend said this photo should be named "Wuthering Heights"




Happy happy happy!

 

[ShelleyB]

Talk about impractical! But hey good for photos, that's worth it right?

Since being in photos is not my thing (only taking them) the photogenic level of the shoes is not so important to me. The fact that I would probably trip and break my ankle in those ranks a little higher on my list of things to consider.

 

[rbjhan]

Since being in photos is not my thing (only taking them) the photogenic level of the shoes is not so important to me. The fact that I would probably trip and break my ankle in those ranks a little higher on my list of things to consider.

Ha ha those in Kimonos are the next level impractical. I don't want to know how they keep warm ( or not!）

But if you look closely at the photos, like the one on the bus or at the gate...so many everyday shoes...I'm sure they'd been soaked through on that particular day, the snow was no joke! Just why??