Kansai East last Part; Walking inside Kodai-Ji

4 Days Revisiting Japan in Winter with my Mother

February 10 to February 14, 2015

Kansai East 1st Part; Fushimi Castle and Arashima's Bamboo Forest

How to go to Kodai-Ji;
More than a kilometer walk from Guion-Shijo train station (covered by Kansai Thru Pass). Entrance fee of 600JPY. Photography and video taking is permitted, tripod not allowed.

Kodai-Ji Temple, formally known as Kodaijusho-zenji Temple, is located in the Higashima mountains of Eastern Kyoto just south of Yasaka Shrine. It was established in 1605 by the noblewoman Kita-no-Mandokoro in memoryof her late husband, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.This temple was ravaged by series of fires after 1789, and all that survive of its original buildings are the Otama-ya, Kaisan-do, etc. Fortunately, these remain in an excellent state of preservation, and have all been designated "Important Cultural Properties" by the Japanese Government.

Kansai East last Part; Walking inside Kodai-Ji

Kansai East 1st Part; Fushimi Castle and Arashima's Bamboo Forest

4 Days Revisiting Japan in Winter with my Mother

February 10 to February 14, 2015

Kansai West last Part; Kobe's Gigantor and Harborland

How to go to Fushimi Castle;
Around 700 meters walk from Momoyama-goryomae train station (covered by Kansai Thru Pass). No admission fee within grounds only. Photography and video taking is  permitted.

Fushimi Castle, also known as Momoyama Castle, is a castle in Kyoto's Fushimi Ward. The current structure is a 1964 replica of the original built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

How to go to Bamboo Forest / Groove;

Less than 500 meters walk from Arashima train station (covered by Kansai Thru Pass). No admission fee within grounds only. Photography and video taking is  permitted.

Kansai East 1st Part; Fushimi Castle

Kyoto Solo Day Trip last part: Nijo-jo and Fushimi Inari

7-days wandering solo in summer Japan
may 28 - june 04, 2013 tuesday to tuesday

Kyoto solo day-trip 2nd part: Kinkakuji & Heian Shrine 

Aside from Ginakakuji (Silver Pavilion), made by the Grandson and Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), made by the Grandfather, another interesting and captivating tourist spots to visit in Kyoto is the Fushimi-Inari Shrine. After having the morning tour (Ginkakuji, Philosopher's path, Kinkakuji, Heian Temple, Imperial Palace and Nijo-jo) with one-day unlimited bus pass on the central city of Kyoto, I made part Inari Shrine as my last destination for Kyoto day-trip.

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. The shrine sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari which is 233 metres above sea level, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines. Each of the torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha is donated by businesses. Inari is the God of rice. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fushimi_Inari-taisha

How to go to Fushimi-Inari Shrine:

JR Nara line to Inari station. The shrine is a 5 minute walk from both stations. Open to the public from 0700H-1800H, no entrance fee.

Fushimi Inari Shrine torii gates

Kyoto Solo Day Trip 2nd part: Kinkakuji and Heian Shrine

7-days wandering solo in summer Japan
may 28 - june 04, 2013 tuesday to tuesday

Kyoto solo day-trip 1st part: Ginkakuji & other city parks

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion Temple) is a shariden, Buudhist Hall containing relics of BUddha. The pavilion is part of the temple that is formally named Rokoun-ji Temple, but commonly called Kinkaku-ji Temple or Temple of the Golden Pavillion. Rokoun-ji is Zen Buddhist Temple. Yoshimitsu, 3rd Shogun of Muromachi period, took a liking to the area and acquired from Saionji family in 1397. After Yoshimitsu dies, in keeping with his will, the villa was converted into temple by the priest Muso-kokushi. The temple's name Rokoun-ji, was derived from the name. The ponds with the Golden Pavilion is the center of the garden. In 1994, Rokoun-ji temple was registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

How to go to Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion Temple):

Just ride any of bus # 59, 102, 204, alight to Kinkakuji-machi bus stop then walk around 300m away going to main entrance. Visiting hours from 0900H-1700H with entrance fee of 400yen. Food and tripod is not allowed inside. Taking video is prohibited also.

Kinkakuji (Temple of Golden Pavilion)

Kyoto Solo Day Trip 1st part: Ginkakuji & other City Parks

7-days wandering solo in summer Japan
may 28 - june 04, 2013 tuesday to tuesday

Hakone solo day-trip last part 

5th day of my 1st visit to the Land of the Rising Sun, where tourism has a concept of "history meets the modern technology". At first my plan was to navigate Kyoto using private trains because I don't have much resources how to do it on cheapest way. But during my strolling inside the Kyoto station, I was surprise a one-day bus unlimited pass is offered for only 500yen ($5). On that moment, I immediately walked to the bus station where the signs direct to the famous toursit destination I am planning to visit. After I saw the bus station, I asked one local tourist where can I avail the bus pass. He said it was just on the tourism office 10 meters away. I went there paying the 500yen in cash together with a free english colorful city map. Around 0800H, I started the one-day city tour.

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a millennium and carries a reputation as its most beautiful city. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan for more than one thousand years, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area. Kyoto is vast in terms of its rich cultural heritage - the material endowment of over a thousand years as the country's imperial capital.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Kyoto

Ginkakuji (Temple of Silver Pavillion)