From Shizuoka, I continued my Japan trip south by taking the shinkanzen to Kyoto.
I love Kyoto. Historic city full of temples and sights to see. Could have stayed a week there. It’s full of tourists but there are so many temples that only the main ones are overcrowded. Rented a bicycle which is the best way to get to know a city!
Kyoto was Japan’s capital & the emperor’s residence from 794 until 1868.
Thankfully, it remained unscathed by WWII which means many places are actually the original ones.
My highlights:
Saw the Nintendo HQ!
I saw geishas!
Drank hoppy
Hoppy (ホッピー Hoppii) is a beer-flavored almost non-alcoholic drink (0.8% alcohol)
Higashi Honganji Temple
one of the great popular centers of Buddhism in Kyoto. Higashi Honganji, or “Eastern Temple of the First Vow” is one of two head temples of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Pure Land Buddhism, the most popular form of Buddhism in Japan.
Tōfuku-ji
One of the Five Great Zen Temples in Kyoto, Tōfuku-ji was founded in 1236
Fushimi-Inari Hike 伏見稲荷大社
What an amazing hike! I loved every second of it. Just imagine hiking amidst thousands of stunning Torii gates on a blue sky/sunshine day in the amazing city of Kyoto. That was incredible and I’ll do it again anytime I’m in Japan.
It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters.
Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.
Jonangu Shrine
A lovely shrine & a pleasant getaway from the more crowded shrines and temples in the city center
Sanjusangendo 三十三間堂, is the popular name for Rengeo-in which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after the original structure had been destroyed in a fire.
Measuring 120 meters, the temple hall is Japan’s longest wooden structure. The name Sanjusangendo (literally “33 intervals”) derives from the number of intervals between the building’s support columns, a traditional method of measuring the size of a building. In the center of the main hall sits a large, wooden statue of a 1000-armed Kannon (Senju Kannon) that is flanked on each side by 500 statues of human sized 1000-armed Kannon standing in ten rows. Together they make for an awesome sight.
Kiyomizu Temple
One of my favorite temples in Kyoto. It overlooks the city offering stunning views. I was there around dusk and that was incredible. It’s located on top of a hill full of shops, geishas etc very touristy but great for shopping.
清水寺 is a temple complex, with a spectacular location overlooking the city.
The main hall’s wooden veranda, supported by hundreds of pillars and offering incredible views over the city.
Jishu Shrine, the love-themed shrine selling countless charms to help you snag the one you love, and featuring two “love stones” positioned around 18m apart which the lovelorn must walk between with their eyes closed to confirm their loved one’s affection, and Otowa-no-taki the temple’s waterfall, which gives it its name (Kiyomizu ‘pure water’ Visitors stand beneath the waterfall, and collect water to drink by holding out little tin cups.
Kyoto International Manga museum
Japan has given so much to the world in terms of culture and art and manga is a big part of it
Nijō Castle.
One of the highlights of Kyoto, with fine gardens and splendid centuries-old structures.
The castle was originally built by the Tokugawa shoguns to serve as the shogun’s residence in Kyoto.
The series of ornately-decorated reception rooms within the Ninomaru Palace complex is particularly impressive, and known for its “nightingale floors” – wooden flooring which makes bird-like squeaking sounds when stepped on so as to give advance warning when someone was approaching.
Myoshinji Temple 妙心寺
Kinkaku-ji: 金閣寺 Temple building covered in gold! Its top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408.
It has burned down numerous times throughout its history including twice during the Onin War, a civil war that destroyed much of Kyoto; and once again more recently in 1950 when it was set on fire by a fanatic monk. The present structure was rebuilt in 1955.
妙心寺退蔵院 Taizoin Zen Buddhist Temple
Taizō-in is the oldest sub-temple of the Myōshin-ji Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple
AloJapan.com