Kyoto trip in 2011

2011/09/24 - 2011/09/25

I went to Kansai area this time with friend, went to Osaka and Kyoto. I like Kyoto in any season, can find new discovery any seasons.

エリア 嵐山・嵯峨野・太秦・桂(京都)

We went to Osaka, Dotonbori, most busiest spot in Osaka.

Signboard of Carl Ojisan, character of crisps.

In the clothes shop, funny combination of Mao Zedong and バカボンパパ (Dad of Bakabon, famous cartoon character).

I found a signboard of cat.

Famous ferris wheel on the building of Don Quixote (Shop selling many kinds of cheap things).

One of the most famous signboard in Japan, by Ezaki Grico, confectionary company.

Kyoto tower.

We went to 清水寺 (Kiyomizu dera) the next morning. It was founded 778, but the building was burnt down in several times. The current buildings were built in 1630's. One of the most popular attraction for tourist in Kyoto.

I like the view in autumn, but summer is also nice.

Ninenzaka is always crowded...

I have been to Kyoto a few times already. I saw those Japanese umbrellas and thought what the shop was... It was cafe, 我楽苦多 (Garakuta, meaning junk things).

We went to my favorite temple in Kyoto, 真如堂(Shinyodo). The best season to visit there is surely in autumn, because of red maple leaves, but still beautiful in late summer.

This temple was founded 984, after several times of fire, the current building constructed in 1693.

I love to take a photo of moss. Nice shape:))

On the way to go to Ginkakuji, I found cute cats t-shirts in souvenir shop.

One more.

This is Jishoji, commonly known as Ginkakuji. The idea of this temple by Yoshimasa Ashikaga, and the construction finished in 1490, a month after his death.

Its garden was neatly arranged.

Better moss picture!

Excellent garden.

Actually a lot of tourist there... Tant pis!

We could walk on the path back of the temple.

Back of Ginkakuji.

We tried to go to Kinkakuji, but it was too late to enter... So while waiting the bus to go back, we went to the cafe, Ishida Cofee. The old couple made cups of coffee for us. It is like the place the time stops.

We went to Izakaya at night, it is pity I did not remember where we went. It is grilled beef tendon. Yummy!

Negiyaki, Japanese style savory pancake with leek.

The next day, we went to Arashiyama area with 嵐電 (Arashiyama line).

In Katsuragawa, I saw クロサギ (Pacific leef heron). We could see also white ones in Japan, but white and black ones are same kind, just different color, it seems, maybe because of camouflage. But it is unknown, wikipedia said.

There was a white one also!

It is Togetsukyo on Katsuragawa. Very famous bridge, one of typical kyoto image. When I went to Kyoto in junior high school trip, we took class photo by the river in front of this bridge.

I saw two more white herons.

Quite wide river.

It is Tenryuji, was founded in 1345 by Takauji Ashikaga. That property was very big, had 9 million square metre and about 150 small temples. But more than several fires, most of the buildings was built after the middle of 19th century.

There was a pond and I found dried lotus flower. Look like reckon (lotus root).

They were the kind of roof decorations. The face was Oni (kind of Japanese demon).

More moss pictures!

Zooming up pictures of pine leaves.

Back of the temple, there was a garden with Sogenike.

Nice flowers, but I do not its name...

There were frog statues, but I do not know its meaning... lots of coins threw into the pond.

We walked through the bamboo forest, it is famous touristic place in this area.

We back to Nijo castle, closer to Kyoto station. Long years, there was a kind of castle since Muromachi government, but the current one was built in 1603 by Ieyasu Tokugawa.

It is the main gate.

This looks like temple, but it is flat castle.

This kind of animal carvings remind me of Nikko Toshogu.

On the roof, there was the mark of 菊 (chrysanthemum), the flower of emperor.

There is nice garden too.

Bye bye Kyoto.