Showing posts with label Kiyomizu-dera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kiyomizu-dera. Show all posts

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Itinerary: Kyoto

Before every trip, it is very important to research on the places you intend to visit.   It is equally important to plot everything so that you can maximize the little time you have bearing in mind the expenses you will incur.

Let’s face it, sometimes researching for your trip can consume most of your time before your dream vacation. Of course, if you are on a tour group, they prepare everything for you.

Sharing to you my 2-day itinerary in Kyoto, Japan.
Golden Pavilion
Day 1: April 26, 2013
06:05AM – Arrival at Kyoto Station via Overnight bus from Nagano Prefecture
06:05AM – 07:00AM – Travel to Cathedral of St.Francis Xavier (We arrived on a Sunday so we decided to attend mass before going around)
07:00AM – 07:30AM – Quick tour in the church and prepare for mass
07:30AM – 08:15AM – Holy Mass
08:15AM – 09:45AM – Travel to Kyoto ShuhokakuHotel (leisure morning walk)
09:45 AM – 10:20AM – Early registration and left our luggage
10:20AM – 1!:15AM – Breakfast near hotel
11:15AM – 12:00NN – Walk from hotel to Kiyomizu-dera (including the 20min from the city streets to the main entrance)
12:00NN – 01:00PM – Explore Kiyomizu-dera
01:00PM – 01:30PM – Walk to Kodaji Temple
01:30PM – 02:15PM – Explore  Kodaji Temple, Maruyama & Yasaka Park Shring
02:15PM – 03:00PM – Explore Kyoto downtown and Gion area
03:00PM – 03:30PM – Travel to Kyoto Shuhokaku Hotel
03:30PM – 05:00PM – Check in and Rest (Eat snacks from convenience store)
05:00PM – 06:00PM – Travel to Kyoto University (I visited a place near the university)
06:00PM – 06:30PM – Met with the Director of the place
06:30PM – 07:30PM – Travel back to the Hotel
07:30PM – 08:30PM – Rest
08:30PM – 09:30PM – Special Kaiseki dinner at the Hotel
09:30PM – 10:30PM – Wash up! Prepare for tomorrow

Day 2: April 27, 2013
06:00AM – 07:00AM – Wake up! Prepare ~
07:00AM – 07:40AM – Hearty breakfast at the Hotel
07:40AM – 08:15AM – Pack things (We leave the hotel at night so we need to check-out early)
08:15AM – 09:00AM – Travel to Kinkakuji
09:00AM – 10:15AM – Explore Kinkakuji (GoldenPavilion)
10:15AM – 11:00AM – Travel to Ryoanji
11:00AM – 11:45AM – Explore Ryoanji
11:45AM – 12:30PM – Travel to Nijo-jo
12:30PM – 01:45PM – Explore Nijo-jo (Nijo Castle)
01:45PM – 03:00PM – Lunch and Rest! (We walked a lot!)
03:00PM – 03:30PM – Continue to stroll to Imperial Palace
03:30PM – 04:15PM – Explore Imperial Palace
04:15PM – 04:30PM – Travel to Gion area
04:30PM – 06:00PM – Explore Gion at night and bought some souvenirs
06:00PM – 06:20PM – Go back to Hotel
06:20PM – 06:30PM – Just grab our luggage!
06:30PM – 07:00PM – Travel to Kyoto Station
07:00PM – 07:40PM – Explore Kyoto Station
07:40PM – 08:30PM – Dinner at McDonalds in Kyoto Station
08:30PM – 09:30PM – Rest
09:30PM – 10:30PM – Went to the bus, board and rest again!
10:30PM – Departure!

That’s it for my Kyoto trip. It was very short so I just visited the major destinations in town.

This is just a simple guide to help you plan your Kyoto escapade. Feel free to modify my itinerary according to your interest and schedule.

If you have more time in Kyoto, you can explore other places: (not a complete list)
Ginkaku-ji – Silver Pavilion. Arashiyama.. Shugakuin Imperial Villa. Tenryu-ji. Kamigamo & Shimogamo Shrines. Mount. Kurama. Kyoto National Museum.

Enjoy your Kyoto trip!

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Kyoto | Kiyomizu-dera: A Temple in Otowa Mountain


April 26, 2013

Exactly a year ago, I visited Kiyomizu-dera or Clear Water Temple in English. It is one of my top 5 places to visit in Kyoto. A beautiful temple at the East side of Kyoto and just walking distance from our hotel, Kyoto Shuhokaku Hotel.
Kiyomizu-dera's main temple
Yes, striking distance but that doesn’t mean less than 10min of walk because the walk from city streets to the temple entrance is already 20min. Hence, from our hotel, it’s approximately a 35min stroll. Travel Tip: Consider wearing sneakers. The walking time might be easy for you! But how about the elevation and slopes! Take note, the temple is located in Otowa Mountain.

But it's a pleasant walk! Most people, including Japanese high school students in their school uniforms, heading to the temple would also walk to the entrance.  There's a wide array of shops too along the way. Travel Tip: Grab the green tea or sakura ice cream. It’s amazing! Buy some refreshments too!

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