Japan Trip: Day 6 Kyoto (Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Pontocho Area) part 3

As we continue our day 6 (its the third part), we jumped on the train from Arashimaya and head back to Kyoto station, to catch a bus to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Take the bus number 100 or 206 (15 minutes, 220 yen). Get off at Kiyomizu-michi bus stop, from where it is a ten minute (depends how your phasing in walking is) uphill walk to the temple, about 750m from the bus stop.


Kiyomizu-dera Temple


Its almost 3 oçlock in the afternoon, as we approach to the temple along the steep and busy lanes of the atmospheric Higashiyama District. The many shops and restaurants in the area have been catering to tourists and pilgrims for centuries, and products on sale of local specialties.

Chawan-zaka slope toward Kiyomizu-dera (Higashiyama District)



Higashiyama District/ Map around Higashiyama, Gion and Pontocho Area


Kiyomizu-dera ("Pure Water Temple") is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto. The temple was originally associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest schools within Japanese Buddhism. The best attraction of the temple is the main hall (Hondo) on a steep slope that has a famous verandah. Admission fee is 300 Y.

Sai-mon gate and the three storied pagoda



Nio-mon and Sai-mon gate



The pagoda of Kiyomizu-dera

Clockwise: cleansing with water, admission ticket on hand, kimono girls,
scenery from the Hondo Main Hall, they always though i was a japanese guy

zarah with two japanese girl in kimono

Hondo (Main Hall)

The Otowa Waterfall is located at the base of Kiyomizudera's main hall. Its waters are divided into three separate streams, and visitors use cups attached to long poles to drink from them. Each stream's water is said to have a different benefit, namely to cause longevity, success at school and a fortunate love life. However, drinking from all three streams is considered greedy.

Otowa Waterfall

Kiyomizu-dera

After an hour and half here at Kiyomizu-dera, we walk down the steepy hill to the bus stop, the ride was just a few block to Gion District  (almost 5pm)...



Gion District

Gion, the most famous geisha district, located in the city center around Shijo Avenue between Yasaka Shrine in the east and the Kamogawa River in the west.

Yasaka Shrine, Hanami-koji Entrance, Shijo Avenue

Gion attracts tourists with its high concentration of traditional wooden machiya merchant houses.The most popular area of Gion is Hanami-koji Street from Shijo Avenue to Kenninji Temple. A nice (and expensive) place to dine, the street and its side alleys are lined with preserved machiya houses many of which now function as restaurants, where geiko (Kyoto dialect for geisha) and maiko (geiko apprentices) entertain. Many tourists visit Gion hoping to catch a glimpse of a geiko or maiko on their way to or from an engagement at an ochaya in the evenings or while running errands during the day.

wooden machiya houses as restaurants and tea houses



spot a geisha in Hanami-koji

Ken'nin-ji Temple


As we walk in at the end of  Hanami-koji street, we reached the Ken'nin-ji Temple,  it is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto.

Ken'nin-ji Temple

Sanmon Gate (Ken'nin-ji Temple)

Gion Corner is a unique theater presenting one-hour shows of seven of Kyoto's professional performing arts - kyogen classical comedy, kyomai dance, gagaku music of the imperial court, koto harp, bunraku puppet theater, the tea ceremony, and flower arrangement. Gion Corner is located inside Yasaka Hall on the north side of Gion's Kaburenjo Hall, where Maiko  and Geiko  give presentations.

Gion Corner

As nightfall comes we were a bit hungry and tired as well, so we decided the best place to eat is here in Hanami-koji area...

the streets of Hanamikoji

dinner at  Restaurant Junidanya



after dinner

 Restaurant Junidanya

Ponto-cho Alley

As we regain strength, we decided to continue the journey, as we walk the Shijo Avenue, Zarah was trying to shop for some cute girly stuff,  I came a cross with three japanese girls in their traditional kimono clothes, as usual, I took a snap on them..... As we crossed the Kamogawa River, a narrow alley that is a block of Shijo street, is Ponto-cho, a pleasure area. On the both sides of the alley are geisha houses, bars and restaurants. Many people come and go on this alley especially in the evening.

three kimono girls

ShijoAvenue

Ponto-cho Landmark Entrance

Ponto-cho Alley

Ponto-cho by night

We capped the night off by the Kamogawa River..... As we go back to the Sakura Kaede it was around 9pm..... What a lovely day!!!

Riverbank of Kamogawa River