Kyoto: Kinkaku-ji and Arashiyama

It's been a while, hasn't it? With the holidays around, it seems like a lot of people have been going to Japan lately. And because that's making me miss the place a lot and I realized I still have a lot of backlogs (!), it's high time I bring back Japan on this blog. So here it is, the final entry to complete my Kyoto 2016 series: snippets on and snaps from Kinkaku-ji, Nishiki Market and Arashiyama.

With its gilded panels, Kinkaku-ji stands as one of Kyoto's most recognizable landmarks. Its name translates to "Golden Pavilion", and is listed as another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After exploring Fushimi Inari, we hopped on the JR line back to the main hub, Kyoto Station. From there, we rode the Kyoto City Bus #205 (not covered by the JR Train Pass) and alighted at Kinkakuji-michi.

Entrance fee is 400 JPY, and opening hours are from 9AM to 5PM. Take note: selfie sticks are not allowed in the villa. Actually, the Kinkaku-ji referred to is the structure itself-- a three-story building covered in pure gold leaf from the top level to its second floor. The complex, on the other hand, goes by the official name Rokuon-ji (Deer Garden Temple) and is a zen Buddhist temple.

From Kinkaku-ji, we headed to Nishiki Market for another glimpse at some Japanese fair. To get there, we once again took the Kyoto City Bus and hopped off at the Shijo Kawaramachi stop. The marketplace is dubbed as "Kyoto's pantry," so you can expect a lot of food choices. Unfortunately, most of the shops closed early-- or we got there pretty late, whichever. But we did manage to buy some food items, like the dango (the colorful-mochi-balls-on-a-stick emoji) and onigiri. The area itself is littered with shopping arcades though; so if ever you're there at primetime, you won't run out of things to check out.

Since our market run didn't seem too fruitful, we decided to waste no more time and set forth on our way to Arashiyama. From our current location at Kawaramachi (or was it Karasuma?), we took the Hankyu railway to Katsura, where we transferred to the local line that would then take us to the Hankyu Arashiyama station. Other ways to get to Arashiyama by train would be via the JR line and the Randen tram line.

Upon arriving at the district of Arashiyama, you'll notice a shift in ambiance. The place feels more provincial, right from its quaint-looking train station. We walked towards the direction of the bamboo grove, following road signs along the way. And because we were going for the scenic route, we pass the Togetsu-kyo Bridge. The bridge looks picturesque against the backdrop of mountains covered in lush greenery, with a stream of clear water bordering its foot. The bridge is a sight to behold because it is said to look beautiful at any season, with surrounding trees changing colors.

By taking the same course, you'll pass the Randen Arashiyama station. This station is no doubt nearer to the bamboo forest, but will make the bridge out of the way. However, they do have the famous Kimono Garden, which is also a worthy photo op spot from what I have seen in the net.

But of course, our main target was the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.  It's a forest of towering bamboo trees that make for the perfect picture. Besides the solace, there is a certain beauty to the way the sunlight filters through the trees. It is open to the public 24/7, with no entrance fee. Also, there is a certain section with smaller bamboo trees and a pathway that allows you to weave through them. It is also worth checking out if you want more photos.

From the grove, we did not walk back to the same train station we came in. Instead, we chose to explore more and head the opposite direction towards JR Saga-Arashiyama. There's not much to see, but it does give you a better idea of what domestic life is like. And because I'm one clumsy oaf, I lost my footing along the way and nearly twisted my ankle. Good thing the damage wasn't too bad; else, it would've put a damper on our five remaining days in Japan!

We then returned to the JR Kyoto station, and took the bullet train back to JR Osaka. As it was already dinner time, we decided to look for a good place to eat at the arcade behind our hotel. In the end, we ate at a pretty decent yakiniku place.

Shijō Street

Nishiki Market

Hankyu Arashiyama Station

Togetsu-kyo Bridge