Japan's Day 8, its time to leave the beautiful Kyoto, also time to say good bye to our hotel here... it was such a very japanese experience being here. And we still try to visit a few more site before catch our train going to Osaka once again.
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| Bye, Sakura Kaede!!! |
Kyoto Station
Kyoto Station is located in the south of Kyoto city. Opened in 1997 to celebrate the 1,200th anniversary of the foundation of Kyoto (Heian) as the capital of Japan, the 15-story, glass-plated gray monolith. It is 70 meters high and 470 meters from east to west, with a total floor area of 238,000 square meters. Architecturally, it exhibits many characteristics of futurism, with a slightly irregular cubic facade of plate glass over a steel frame, designed by Hiroshi Hara.
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| Kyoto Station |
Directly outside the station is Kyoto Tower, which is illuminated at night.
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| Kyoto Tower By Night/ By Day |
The Kyoto Station's building includes a department store, the Granvia Hotel, a theater, exhibition space, a museum as well as numerous shops and restaurants.
The Sky Garden on the top 15th floor is a pleasant roof garden with incredible views of the city.
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| Happy Terrace/ Sky Garden |
Philosopher's Path
The Philosopher's Path (哲学の道, Tetsugaku no michi) is a pleasant stone path through the northern part of Kyoto's Higashiyama district. The path follows a canal which is lined by hundreds of cherry trees.
Approximately two kilometers long, the path begins around Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) and ends in the neighborhood of Nanzenji. The path gets its name due to Nishida Kitaro, one of Japan's most famous philosophers, who was said to practice meditation while walking this route on his daily commute toKyoto University.
Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion)
Ginkakuji (銀閣寺, Silver Pavilion) is a Zen temple along Kyoto's eastern mountains (Higashiyama). In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today's temple, modeling it after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), his grandfather's retirement villa at the base ofKyoto's northern mountains (Kitayama). The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa's death in 1490. This temple is one of 17 constructions of "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" designated as a World Heritage Site.
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| Silver Pavilion |
Silver Pavilion can be enjoyed shorty after entering the grounds. Formally named Kannonden (Kannon Hall), the pavilion's two stories are constructed in two different architecture styles and contain a statue of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. However, the interior of the building is not open to the public.
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| sand garden |
Ginkakuji consists of the Silver Pavilion, half a dozen other temple buildings, a beautiful moss garden and a unique dry sand garden. It is enjoyed by walking along a circular route around its grounds, from which the gardens and buildings can be viewed. A sand garden, known as the "Sea of Silver Sand", with a massive sand cone named "Moon Viewing Platform". Besides the garden stands the Hondo (main hall), which displays paintings on its sliding doors (fusuma) but cannot be entered.
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| lovely moss garden |
A walkthrough Ginkakuji's moss garden, which features ponds with islands and bridges, little streams and various plants. The path climbs a hill behind the buildings from where there are nice views of the entire temple grounds and the city beyond.
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| view from the top of the hill |
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| shopping area outside Ginkakuji |
Ginkakuji can be accessed by direct bus number 5, 17 or 100 from Kyoto Station in about 35-40 minutes and for 220 yen one way. Alternatively, you can reach Ginkakuji by foot along the Philosopher's Path.
Next stop, Heian Shrine...
Heian Shrine
The Heian Shrine (平安神宮 Heian jingū) is a Shinto shrine located in Kyoto, Japan.[1] The torii before the main gate is one of the largest in Japan. The architecture of the main building (社殿 shaden) mirrors the style and features of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.
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| The Main Building of Heian was Pattern from the Kyoto Imperial Palace |
The torii gate stands between the Kyoto Municipal Museum and the Modern Museum of Art Kyoto, and is on one of the most dramatic boulevards in Kyoto.
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| Heian Massive Torii Gate |
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| Cherry Blossom at Heian Shrine |
The garden's most striking feature are its many weeping cherry trees, which bloom a few days later than most other cherry trees, making the garden one of the best cherry blossom spots in Kyoto.
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| The Beautiful Garden of Heian Shrine |
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| Stepping-Stone Path |
Heian Shrine can be reached by Kyoto City bus number 5 or 100 from Kyoto Station in about half an hour (220 yen). Alternatively, take the subway via Karasuma Oike Station to Higashiyama Station (20 minutes, 250 yen), from where the shrine is a ten minute walk.
Kyoto City Bus
Kyoto City Bus basics, Kyoto city buses are boarded from the rear and exited from the front,
In paying your fare ; first option, just get on the bus and when reaching your destyination, put an exact change into a slot , and If change is desired the fee machine will change up to 1,000 yen bills.
Second, would be getting a bus number from a machine, so to determine the fare please check your number and look at the display screen at the front of the bus, and put the excat amount on the slot and if change is desired the fare machine will change up to 1,000 yen bills.
Third is what we did, we got the City Bus one day-pass, when boarding the bus, insert the card into the card slot, the current date will be printed at the back of the card and when getting-off you simply show the bus driver the card with the date in it. on your next bus ride you simply hop-in and when getting off just show the city bus pass with its current date with it. You can buy the one day bus pass or the sightseeing 2day bus pass at any city bus, subway information office or ticket office or in any hotel that are offering the card.
In getting off the bus, you will see the next bus stop on the display in front of the bus, or you will hear the announcement. When you hear or see your stop is next, push the red button near the isle or near the seats.
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| Kyoto Bus Experience |
Back in Kyoto Station to have a quick lunch before heading to OSAKA...
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| Underground Mall in Kyoto Station |
Osaka once again....
Back in Hotel Gravia Osaka, (inside Osaka Station). its time to explore the area of Minami (South) of Osaka.
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| Hotel Gravia Osaka/ Osaka Station |
Located in the Nipponbashi area, Den Den Town is an electronics district comparable to Tokyo's Akihabara, and you may be able to bargain to a better deal. Den Den Town is becoming known as an otaku paradise with numerous manga and anime retailers as well as maid and cosplay cafes located there.
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| Den Den Town |
Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade and the surrounding Shinsaibashi area is Osaka's premiere shopping center. Approximately 600 m long, this area is unique as it combines chain retail stores and trendy boutiques with expensive department stores and top designer fashion labels.
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| Shinsaibashi area |
One of Osaka's most popular tourist destinations, this street runs parallel to the Dotonbori canal. It is a popular shopping and entertainment district and is also known as a food destination. At night it is lit by hundreds of neon lights and mechanized signs, including the famous Glico Running Man sign and Kani Doraku crab sign.
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| Dotonbori |
And these are my guilty pleasures.....
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| my new toys |
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