anaroundtheworld: April 2007

Day 3 : Daytrip to Nara

We took the train at Kyoto Main Station for our daytrip to Nara (Local train 70 min, 690Y) Trains leave regularly so no real need to check timetable.

When you arrive in Nara you can go straight to the Tourist Info Center on the right, were a lady will give you an English map and some advice that, according to her tone, you'd better follow :-). She was very nice and speaking very good English anyway.

Arriving in Nara you can just walk to the Park. On you way you'll find the Kofuko-Ji and it's Five-storied Pagoda. We didn't visit the other things like the Treasure Hall as there were entry fees and there were so many things to see that we tought it was not really worth it.

Then you take a walk in the park towards Kasuga Grand Shrine. The shrine is all new and we were lucky to arrive during a ceremny. But the walk to the shrine with the numerous stone lantern along the path is just as beautiful.

And again we wandered in the park were people were having a picnic, towards Nigatsu-Do and Sangatsu-Do.

Back down the hill, the Todai-Ji complex is a "must-see" with the monumental buddha. You'll find one of the pillar of the temple with a hole in it, which represent Buddha's nostril. If you can fit in the hole, then you're sure to reach enlightment.

We then walked back to the station through some old city streets. Finally we stayed in Nara from 11:00 to 16:00 which allowed us to come back to Kyoto for late afternoon drinks and diner

Day 4 : Kyoto

On our 3rd day in Kyoyo it was really time to start doing the "tourist" tour of Kyoto as we had avoided the biggest sights up until now.

We started with Nijo-Jo, the castle of Kyoto. Nice but not spectacular... Also a "must see" so... Then we went to the Imperial Palace but you need to apply for entrance in an outside office, which we hadn't done. We just took a walk in the gardens around then...

The philosophers' path was waiting for us. Bus stop at Ginkaku-Ji Mae. A very nice "promenade" along a little river, with cherry blossom all around. And also a lot of tourists but what can you do?

We had to leave without finishing the path as we had to be back at 15:00 to Gion for the Miyako-Odori dance (cherry-blossom dance). This dance is performed by the geishas and Maikos in April. You can reserve seats at the Koubu Kaburenjo Theatre by phone (+81 75 541 3391). The cheapest ones are 1900Y, you're seating on big spaces, not on chairs and you'd better start queuing 1/2 hour before the show. Appart from that the view is certainly just as good as the seats at 3800Y. You can check the pictures on my previous post on Miyako-Odori.

Than we hurried towards Kiyomizu-Dera which is really a fantastic temple. Even only your path to get there is one of the best street in Kyoto. It is tourist shops all along, but still nice. This is also the place where we saw a real geisha "live". Also a lot of legends and beliefs exist around this temple (the two love stones for example).

I have spent so much time looking up our destinations and sightseeing in Japan on the Internet that I feel it is my duty to help the next people who want to go there.

So here it comes : the Japan 10 days Package. I have to say we were very proud with our organization, we saw the most importants sights and city, didn't feel stressed or lacking time.

Here is our trip and tips, day by day.

Day 1 : From Taipei to Nagoya

It is much cheaper coming from Taipei to fligh to Nagoya rather than Tokyo. We decided to leave the dorm around 10:30AM, take our usual bus-MRT-bus to the airport and enjoy the Burger King there. Well the Whopper we enjoyed but the Passport control line we didn't. We were not travelling inside EU anymore and it tends to take a lot of time to get pass these numerous controls. Our plane was leaving in 3 minutes, we were still queuing. They might have been calling us but even the calls are discreet in Asia so we had no idea (and particularly no excuses to cut the queue, big no-no here). There has been a very long and fast run to the plane, a quick sorry smile to the stewardess at the embarkment gate, a sigh of relief once in our seats, and then an accute stomachache, thank you BG.

We arrived at Nagoya airport and were looking for a way to go to the city when a Japanese volunteer came and helped us. These people are just amazing. They are waiting for lost tourists just as we were, in order to help them get acquainted with the transportation or simply get where they need to.

So we took the Meitetsu train line to the city (800Y). Then we just walked to our hostel Aichiken Seinenkaikan (http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/index.html 3000Y/night).

A little snack keeping near the Fushimi station area and finally a beer at a British pub (Elephant's nest), taking it light on our 1st day.

Day 2 : Nagoya - Kyoto

At 8:00 we get up, most unusual for us but we didn't know yet that it would be one of our longest sleep in 10 days.

We walk to Nagoya station to take the JR bus to Kyoto (3500Y, 2h30). It is our first encounter with Japanese punctuality : the bus was supposed to leave at 10:00, at 9:59 the driver started the engine, at 10:00, we left. We also then learnt about the "1 break every hour policy", we really tought we would never get there!

13:00 Kyoto Station, here we come!

When arriving, go straight to the Tourist Info Center on the 2nd Floor, and grab a Kyoto City Bus Sightseeing Map your new Bible. Also by a day-pass for 500Y, otherwise you have to pay 220Y for each ride. But not from your starting point to your destination, you also have to pay every time you transfer!!!

So we decided to leave our stuff at the hostel first. Very good and conviniently located place : Econo-Inn Kyoto (tel : 07.53.43.66.60)

We also decided to visit Kyoto area by area, starting with North East :

Kinkaku-Ji and the Golden Pavillion

Then a 15 minute walk to the Ryoan-Ji gardens :

Then back in Gion for dinner and drinks :

In the streets of Kyoto

Shopping...

Going down the stairs.... not easy!

Serving us drinks at our favorite bar

And they are at the Gion Koubu Kaburenjo Theatre in Gion for the Miyako Odori, which is the Cherry Blossom dance performed by Geishas and Maiko (the apprentice).