Kyoto Things to Do Tips by sacrebleu

Both bus number 100 or 206 stop nearby the temple but it takes approximately 15 minutes to get there walking uphill from the Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka bus stop. Don’t be distracted by all the shops along Sannenzaka and Ninen-zaka – the two picturesque stepped streets leading off from Kiyomizu-zaka. You will need more time to explore this best known sight of the city. I would suggest going early in the morning when there are less visitors. I was there late afternoon and it was crowded with both tourists and students. I couldn’t really enjoy the visit to its fullness as I was constantly bumping into people, needless to say having my photo taken without including the others was a mission impossible. It would have been nice going there earlier, wandering around and emerged in the tranquility.

Highlights of the temple are its wooden verandah in the main hall which offers an impressive view of the city; the waterfall (Otowa-no-taki) where the temple is named after and the love temple (Jishu-jinja), which, during my visit, was packed with students praying for puppy love. The "love stones" placed 18 metres apart in Jishu-jina suppose to bring love to the lonely hearts if they manage to walk between these stones with their eyes closed. There is no mention about cheating so you can of course ask your friend to shout and direct you!

Next to the waterfall is an open-air teahouse where visitors can sit in lotus position while enjoying traditional tea and sweet. But if you prefer some peace and quiet, there are also two teahouses situated downhill towards the exit.

Do check the Kyomizu-dera web site before you go as I think they also open at night in some months.

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Website: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3901.html

The bus ride from Kyoto Station to Kinkakuji was long, it was approximately 50 minutes! On the day I visited it, the temple was packed with an influx of local and foreign tourists gathered in front of the “Mirror Pond” where the Golden Pavilion stood for their photos taken. The temple’s name Kinkakuji is named after this building but its proper name is Rokuon-ji. Kinkaku consists of three types of architecture – the 1st floor palace style, 2nd floor samurai house style and the 3rd zen temple style. Both the 2nd and 3rd floors are covered with gold-leaf on Japanese lacquer. A thicker new coating was reapplied in 1987.

Apart from the golden pavilion, the garden which remains as its original form is worth visiting too. It was found in 1220’s and is a typical zen style garden. I can’t say I fully appreciate the beauty of rocks sitting in the middle of the pond or the minimal design of such landscape, but I guess if I had a garden, I would have it in zen style too. Besides it is low maintenance, somewhat the combination of water, bamboo, stones and white sand just go beautifully!

There is a classic tea house called Sekka-tei near the exit of the temple where you can pay 500 yen to enjoy a cup of matcha tea and Japanese sweets either outdoor under the bright red umbrellas or indoor on the tatami floor. The settings outdoor with bamboo trees around were beautiful.

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Phone: 075 4610013
Address: 1 Kinkakuji-cho, Kita-ku
Directions: 5 mins. walk from Kinkakuji bus stop
Website: http://www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/kinkakuji/

Together with Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryu-ji is another landmark of Arashiyama. The name means the Temple of the Heavenly Dragon is actually famous for its zen style Sogen Garden. The temple was established in 1339 by a shogun but has been ravaged by fires eight times over the centuries since its founding, thus most of the present buildings date only to the Meiji period (1868-1912). However, the garden behind the Main Hall is one of the oldest in Japan. It retains the same form as it was designed in the fourteen century, was the first Special Historical Scenic Area named by the Japanese government. Honestly, there isn’t much to see apart from the white sand and rocks surrounded by wall but the sand is so immaculately lined with patterns which makes it alien-liked, you know a bit like crop circle!

There is no entrance fee for the temple but if you wish to visit the garden and the main hall, it is 500 yen. Visitors need to take shoes off when visiting Main Hall. Whilst you can see the garden when walking around the Main Hall, you will have to enter from another entrance situation diagonally across the Main Hall where shoes are allowed.

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Address: 13, Ryoannji-Goryonosita-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Directions: Arashiyama
Website: http://www.ryoanji.jp

It takes about twenty minute walk from Sannenzaka to another must visit Buddhist temple, Yasaka Shrine. On your way, you will pass through all the shops built in Japanese traditional wooden houses along Sannenzaka and also the quieter part of Gion. Here is more beautiful than Gion Corner but likewise is full of restaurants, so I imagine would be a good choice for dinner.

Even though Yasaka-jinja is much much smaller than Kiyomizu-dera, it is one of the temples that the local would visit during Japanese New Year. The lanterns decorate the stage marked with names of festival sponsors are beautifully lit at night.

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Directions: Gion

At 600 yen per trip, the toy-like steamed train runs 9 times a day between Torokko Saga and Torokko Kameoka Stations. The 25 minute scenic sight-seeing ride is a must thing to do when visiting Arashiyama. Runs on tracks built on the edge of the mountain, the train passes through scenic views and river which change in colour in different seasons. Advance booking is recommended during peak seasons. Note that the train only operates from 1 March – 29 December only. Train tickets, timetable and maps are available at the Kyoto JR Office. The staff there are helpful and speak English.

I didn’t board the train at Saga Station as Togetsukyo Bridge and Tenryuji Temple is approximately 20 minutes walk further from the station and I wanted to save time since I had pre-booked the romantic train tickets, so instead I walked through Bamboo Grove which was the last sight-seeing spot and boarded in Torokko Arashiyama Station instead. When the train arrived at the final stop, Kameoka Station, we just walked along the rice field for 10 minutes and took JR back to Kyoto station. It was less than 300 yen.

In retrospect, I should have taken JR from Kyoto Station to Kameoka Station first, then took the Sagano Romantic Train to Torokko Saga Station and visit the sight-seeing spots at last which would have given me more time spending in Arashiyama.

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Website: http://www.city.kameoka.kyoto.jp/english/contents_detail.php?co=kak&frmId=7

Approximately 15 minutes walk from the JR Saga Station, the “moon crossing” (Togetsukyo) concrete bridge is the landmark of Arashiyama. With forested Mount Arashiyama as backdrop and the reflection on the Oi River, it forms a great postcard-like picture. If I didn’t need to worry about catching the Romantic Train, I would have taken the Japanese long boat through the river.

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Address: Saga, Nakanoshimakanyuchi, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City

After a few days in Tokyo, I didn’t bother to do anymore shopping in Kyoto. However, Nishi Market is a must visit.

It is a very big long market full of grocery/souvenir shops. The highlight was of course seeing vegetables and fruits which I had never seen before. Japanese produces all looked so scrumptious and fresh. I saw these tiny thumb sized “potatoes” packed neatly in a plastic box but I couldn’t confirm whether they were indeed potatoes cos’ I don’t speak Japanese. There are sweet shops sell beautiful ornate floral like candies. I have bought some back, they looked better than their taste.

But the mission was not just browsing! We aimed to find a tea shop which sold quality matcha tea powder. After an hour or so, we have found this oldish tea shop where we had stayed for another hour because the shop owner (it was family run) was so keen to tell us all about matcha. He was stern but very helpful and knowledgeable about what he does. He showed us how to make proper matcha and let us tasted some of his tea products. I like the texture of matcha but not so much of its taste, think he wouldn’t be too happy if he knew I prefer the matcha latte from Starbucks in Tokyo!!

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Directions: Kawaramachi

I have seen bamboos in Hong Kong but not like this tall! You will see the bamboo grove outside the north entrance of Tenruyi-ji Temple. It is a small trail leading to the second Romantic train station - Torokko Arashiyama.

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