Kyoto ~ 2 Nov 2008

~ Route of the day ~

Hotel Raizan South ~ Shin-Imamiya ~ Osaka ~ Kyoto ~ Arashiyama ~ Kameoka [Sagano Romantic Train ~ Bamboo Groves ~ Togetsukyo Bridge ] ~ Arashiyama ~ Kyoto ~ [Kiyomizu-dera temple] ~ Kyoto ~ Omihachiman [SATY Shopping Center] ~ Osaka ~ Shin-Imamiya ~ Hotel Raizan South

We woke out around 7am in the morning. After simple breakfast, we start our day 2 trip around 8:30am. Our destination today is Kyoto. We took Subway to Osaka and then transit to JR & proceed to Kyoto. We visited the information center @ Kyoto Station & confirmed the top sights to be visited @ Kyoto.

Arashiyama ~ Kiyomizu-dera temple ~ Kyoto Tower ~ Omihachiman

Our first stop of the day is Arashiyama (嵐山). We took JR from Kyoto to Saga-Arashiyama Station then transit to Kameoka.

We arrived @ Kameoka around 11:15am. Since we already bought the Romantic train ticket from Kameoka to Arashiyama which is 12:15pm. Thus, we just stop by @ Lawson for simple lunch.

Cold Beverage selling @ Lawson ~ wow.. Starbucks coffee is available here as well…

Another surprise for me, they selling hot drink in can. This shelf is actually hot.

After lunch, we walked to the Kameoka to catch our Sagano Romantic Train on 12:15pm. The Sagano Romantic Train clostly follows the course of the Hozu River though the idyllic canyon from Kameoka to Arashiyama. (You can choose to take the train from Arashiyama to Kameoka as well). The journey takes approximately 25 minutes & cost ¥600.

Another pleasant thing to do in Arashiyama is taking a two hours boat tour down Hozu River. Due to timing problem, we skip this ride and proceed to Bamboo Groves. Bamboo Groves are found behind Tenryuji Temple and along the trail to the Okochi Sanso.

You will see a lot of tricycle along the way

After leaving Bamboo Groves, we continue our way to Togetsukyo Bridge (渡月橋) which literally means “Crossing Moon Bridge”, Togetsukyo with Mt. Arashiyama as backdrop is the symbol of Arashiyama.

Riverside parks provide space for a pleasant break.

We left Arashiyama around 3pm & ahead to our next stop ~  Kiyomizu-dera temple. We took JR from Arashiyama to Kyoto & takes 206 bus from Kyoto to Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺)

This temple is up a hill and it takes another 10 minutes of walking from the bus station. A lot of shop available along the way to the temple.

DON’T FORGET green tea ice cream when you travel to Japan. Its only ¥200

Here is the Main Hall of Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Behind Kyomizudera’s main hall stands Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love.

In front of the shrine are two rocks, placed several meters apart from each other. This stone is called “Love-fortune-telling” stone. Successfully walking from one to the other rock with your eyes closed is said to bring luck in your love live.

We left around 5pm and got back to Kyoto station. The view of Kyoto Tower from 10th storey of the station.

From Kyoto, we go to our last destination of the day ~ Omihachiman. We had our dinner @ one of the Ramen shop in Saty Shopping Center. This meal is only cost us total of  ¥1800.

We shop in the SATY after our dinner before we got back to our hotel. From Omihachiman, we got back to Osaka. This is the time we only realize JR train is available from Osaka to Shin-Imamiya which we doesn’t know previously. :s.

~ End of 2nd day ~

In fact, our plan today should include Kinkakuji Golden Temple as well. But, we skip that due to timing constraint.

Tags: Japan, Kiyomizu-dera temple, Kyoto Arashiyama, Kyoto Tower