Kyoto, Japan

10th May 2014 - Kyoto

Today we will travelled 130km west - to the old Kyoto.. travelling by car will take more than 2 hours but we will go by shinkansen which will roll for only 35 mins. But mind you the price is ¥5,590 for a one way ticket (RM172) per adult. So return trip will be around RM400!

Kyoto (京都, Kyōto) served as Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face.

Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its historic value, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and spared from air raids during World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today.

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Kinkaku-ji Temple (Golden Pavilion Temple).. built by a samurai named ** in the year **. Originally built as his retirement house. Upon his death, the son converted the house into a Buddhist temple.. the 3 storey pavilion was designed with 3 different architecture.. level one as a aristocrat, level 2 samurai warrior and finally level 3 the Buddhist temple.

The wall of this golden building is made from the golden leaf, a very thin layer of pure gold.. it was reconstructed 63 years ago with the cost of ¥800,000 after the burning of the golden pavi in 1950 by a crazy young monk who was jealous of the pride of this building.

Thanks to Itou-san.. our very nice and highly knowledgeable guide who narrates this very interesting history of Kyoto ;)

** Hi there Itou-san ;)♤♤♤♤ (he called me Shogun!!!)

Then we had an amazing Japan style lunch at a vegetarian restaurant inside the Tenryu-Ji Temple. The old architecture buildings amazed us alongside the magnificent bamboo forest with a blowing fresh scent of bamboo cuts and leaves.

The next stop was the Gionji Temple - the green mossy forest. Gionji was known as the mistress for a well-known shogun, Taira Kiyomori in older days. Kiyomori later fell in love with another younger and more beautiful lady and kept Gionji aside. With broken hearted she left Ashikaga and build up the Gionji Temple before turning herself into a nun. The forest is stunningly beautiful with green moss u cant get your eyes off.

Hirosawa pond is also specially made artificial lake for relaxation overlooking Kyoto mountains.

Hanamikoji Dori is a street which preserved it's traditional buildings and does not allow new development or high-riser within this district. Find Motosan building or go to the nearest local train stn, Keihan Gion-Shijo stn if you want to explore this area.

Finally, the most interesting area - Ninnenzaka or Sannenzaka (2 years or 3 years) is where you can find all the old Kyoto buildings and people wearing kimono on the streets. This is a must visit for those coming to Kyoto.

Now we are on board shinkansen back to Nagoya again with simmering hope that we will be here again next time.

**not-to-mention the ticket price is ¥5,800 !!!!