kyoto

March 27, 2014

Kyoto Tower Observatory

At 131m, Kyoto Tower (京都タワー) is Kyoto’s tallest building. The observatory is at 100m and offers a great view on the city.

March 26, 2014

Kyoto walk: Imperial Park / Kamo River / Higashiyama

On my last day in Kyoto, I went on a random walk: I passed through the Imperial Park, walked along the Kamo River and visited the Higashiyama neighbourhood.

March 26, 2014

Ryoanji Temple

Ryoanji Temple (龍安寺) is a zen temple famous for its rock garden.

March 26, 2014

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.

March 26, 2014

Miso Tsukemen at Ginjo Ramen Kubota in Kyoto

Miso Ginjo Tsukemen (味噌吟醸つけ麺), with additional soft-boiled egg.

March 26, 2014

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).

March 26, 2014

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.

March 23, 2014

Shoyu Ramen at Shinpuku Saikan in Kyoto

Tokudai-Chashu ramen.

March 22, 2014

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.