japan
Fushimi Inari Shrine
On my last day in Kyoto, I went to the Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha). It is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto, famous for its thousands of red torii gates along a series of trails that go from the base of Mount Inari to the summit.
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle (二条城; Nijōjō) was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867).
Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei
Located in Kyoto’s eastern mountain range on Mount Hiei (比叡山), Enryakuji (延暦寺) is one of the most important monasteries in Japanese history. Enryakuji’s temples are concentrated in three areas: Todo (east area), Saito (west area) and Yokawa (which I did not visit). I went there using the Sakamoto Cablecar, the longest cable car route in Japan. While I was there, it was raining heavily and there was a lot of fog.
Osaka
Osaka is the biggest city in the Kansai region. By train, it takes about 30min to get there from Kyoto.
Nara
Kyoto
I finally visited Kyoto (as well as Osaka and Nara) this week.
I took the Shinkansen in Tokyo on Monday morning and arrived a bit more than 2 hours later in Kyoto. I walked from the train station to Sanjusangendo Temple and its 1000 statues of Kannon. Then I continued to Kiyomizudera Temple. Part of it is currently undergoing renovation so I could not visit all the buildings. I walked for a bit in the area (known as Higashiyama) and visited the Ryozen Kannon war memorial as well as the Kodai-ji Temple and its zen garden. I then made my way to the Yasaka Shrine and then on to the huge Heian Shrine. After that, I took the bus to Ginkaku-ji Temple (“Temple of the Silver Pavilion”). Not having reached temple overload yet, I ended the day at Kinkaku-ji Temple (“Temple of the Golden Pavilion”). Contrary to the Silver Pavilion (not actually covered in silver), this one is indeed plated with gold leaf. I then went back to my hotel, near Kyoto train station.
Cape Manazuru
After Yugawara, I stopped at the nearby Cape Manazuru, a small peninsula protruding into Sagami Bay. Apparently, its shape resembles a crane with open wings. At the tip of Cape Manazuru, there is a distinctive rock formation called “Mitsuishi” (三ツ石; Three Rocks). There are also trails in the forest near the rock but I didn’t have time before nightfall. To get there, I took the bus from Manazuru station to the tip of the peninsula and walked down to the ocean and the Mitsuishi rocks then went back to the station by bus.
Above, Cape Manazuru seen from Mount Nango.