Kyoto (Kiyomizudera Temple) 10 Nov 2010

Kiyomizudera Temple (Clear Water Temple, 清水寺).

How could anyone miss Kiyomizudera Temple when visiting Kyoto? We were 2 weeks early, the foliage hadn't reached it peak yet, but the crowd had already started...

It can be reached by taking bus number 100 or 206. Admission is JPY300 per ticket.

On the way to the temple, there are some shops selling pottery, Japanese sweets, etc.



Beautiful pottery



Walking up to the temple...
A monk.



It was cloudy, but luckily didn't rain.
This is for hand-wash, not for drinking.

See what i meant? The foliage hasn't reached its peak yet, the autumn colour was not that appealing.

Looking down to Otowa Waterfall. People seeking good-luck were lining up for it.







Koyasu Pagoda




Wikipedia:

Beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, where three channels of water fall into a pond. Visitors can catch and drink the waters, which is believed to have therapeutic properties. Drinking the water of the three streams is said to confer wisdom, health, and longevity. However, some Japanese believe that you must choose only two; if you are greedy and drink from all three, you invite misfortune upon yourself.

The stairs will lead you to Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to deity of love and matchmaking.

"Imitated Maiko". They got their makeover from one of the shops downhill. Maiko is apprentice Geisha.

Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine) Nov 2010

FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE

This place becomes tourist's favorite spot after the movie "Memoir of A Geisha".

Its countless torii gates which are offerings by workshippers, forms a trail over the mountain.

Take JR train to JR Inari Station, the second station from Kyoto on JR Nara Line. Admission is free.



Fox holding a key in its mouth, at the main gate.








Amazing, thousands of torri gates trailing up the mountain.

A smaller shrine on the way up.

Try to carry the stone after you make a wish, if you feel heavy then you wish is not granted.



Each of the torii is donated by a Japan Business. Engraved on each is the date of the offering.



We then took the train back to Kyoto Station, and took a bus to Kiyomizudera from Kyoto Station.

Hakone 8 & 9 November 2010

HAKONE

Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. You may be able to view Mt Fuji if weather is good. ..we were unlucky :-(

If you have JR pass, you may get to Odawara Station. The train was extremely comfy.


Odawara Station. A large station with some nice biscuits and snacks offered in some shops.


Buy a 2-dayHakone pass at Odawara Station to explore Hakone. Cost JPY3900 per person if you buy at Odawara Station. You can use the pass to take a train to Hakone-Yumoto from there.

Hakone pass is an economical and convenient way to explore Hakone, it gives you unlimited usage on their cable cars, pirate ship, railway and buses. Arrive around 9am if you intend to do the round course within a day, most of the attractions will be closed by 4.30pm and they are not near to each other. You might need to take into accounts of traffic jam on certain roads too.

There are some shops, an tourist information counter near Hakone-Yumoto Station. I felt so romantic when strolling along the streets...





Nice scallops to go with wine or beer.











Wines & beers, with prices.


Earning morning, clear blue sky in Hakone




Hakone-machi, where we take the pirate ship, supposedly


Some shops at Hakone-Machi.




Beautiful Lake Ashi

We were very unlucky as the weather turned bad that day, the wind was too strong and unsafe for pirate ship and cable cars to operate. We have no choice but headed to Kyoto without exploring this beautiful place further. You can imagine how disappointed I was....

I have to go back again!

MY JAPAN ITINERARY