Arashiyama, Nijo-jo, Ginkakuji, Kinkakuji

Taking a JR train seemed more straightforward if one wanted to go to Arashiyama. Kiyomizu-gojo to Tofukuji to Kyoto Station to the Saga-Arashiyama Station. It would cost ¥510 yen.

With our KTP, going to Arashiyama required for us to change trains at a couple of stations as well. On top of that, we did not save much. We went from Kiyomizu-gojo to Sanjo station where we switched to the Tozai subway line and rode to Uzumasa-Tenjingawa and then here, we got on a tram on the Randen-Arashiyama line to Arashiyama. We paid ¥420 on the Randen line. The rest was covered by our KTP.

But Arashiyama was great! If I were to go again, I would choose to spend the whole day here because there was so much to see. This trip, however, we aimed to go to the infamous bamboo groves ....

We were glad that we came early, because it was so quiet and there weren't many people around ...

Walking and enjoying the greenery and the calm and quiet atmosphere .... 

Arashiyama is famous for its bamboo paths; and there was a little park that had trails like this ... just walk there and enjoy the quietness among the greens .... 

Sagano Bamboo Road
But this is the most famous bamboo path in Arashiyama, just after the Tenryuji Temple

You have to be there to experience it yourself. It's so amazingly beautiful! 

Just around the corner of Sagano Bamboo Road was the Okochi Sanso Garden .... and walk further down there's the Jojakko-ji Temple; all these with admission fee .... but if you do not wish to go in ... just walk along the paths and enjoy the cool winter climate and the beautiful scenery. 

Love these pathways that are devoid of people .... 

Ogura-Ike Pond

Loved those colourful lanterns on the ground ....

Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO Heritage Site
I think this would be worth a visit if you have the time ... 

After Arashiyama, we went to Nijo-jo ...

Nijo-jo beyond the walls .... 

Then we went to the Kyoto Imperial Palace Gardens after that; We stopped at the Marutamachi Station, and walked to the gardens. It was really very big .... and our tired legs were only able to bring us to a very small section of the garden even though we walked for a long time.

The vicinity of Kyoto Imperial Palace

A huge sprawling garden at the Kyoto Imperial Palace

At the Imadegawa Subway Station, there was bus to go to Ginkaku-ji .... 

We were fascinated by this signboard at bus station; the little yellow bus symbols actually moved! So it actually tells us when the bus was coming!

Each trip on the bus was ¥230; but with our KTP, we did not have to pay. It wasn't difficult to ride the bus as there was a screen in the bus which indicated which bus stop we were stopping at everytime. Ours was the Ginkaku-ji stop .... We got off and from there it was a short walk to the site.

I realised at Ginkaku-ji that I'd mistaken it for Kinkaku-ji. Darn. Kinkaku-ji - the Golden Pavillion - was the one I wanted to visit and not the Ginkaku-ji - the Silver Pavillion.

On the way to Ginkaku-ji

Anyway, there were again many shops lining the way to Ginkaku-ji .... so we ate instead. 

Nikuman, ¥400

At a small shop, we ate our late lunches .... 

Katsudon, ¥800

 

Tanin Don, ¥700

Braised beef with egg on rice

To get to Kinkaku-ji, we took the bus back to the Demachiyanagi Station, and from there we boarded another bus to Kinkaku-ji.

And lastly, we went to Kinkaku-ji. It took my breath away ... so beautiful was the golden pavillion.

Kinkaku-ji; 

From Kinkaku-ji, we took a bus to the Kitaoji Bus Terminal, and then took the train to Sanjo and switched to the Keihan line back to Kiyomizu-gojo.