Travel@HamHamFarm - The World, Here We Come!

Kyoto was formerly Japan's capital from 794 to 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.5 million people. During World War II, the city was largely spared from the atomic bomb and other conventional bombing because of historical values. With its 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, as well as palaces, gardens and architecture intact, it is one of the best preserved cities in Japan…

We arrived earlier so that we can drop by the Tourist Visitor Centre to gather more information on the Kyoto Sightseeing One/Two Day pass card… To our disappointment, the day pass card only allows unlimited use on the City Bus / Subway. Unlike Osaka, it does not allow concessions to popular destinations. So we ended up buying the City Bus All Day Pass at JPY500 (S$6.50) which allows unlimited use on the City Buses within the same day. The pass comes with a route map for the various bus lines to most sights. Single trips for buses is fixed at JPY220 (S$2.90) per trip regardless of distance. Interestingly, the entrance of the bus is at the back door and exit at the front. Bus fare is paid as you get off the bus. Alternatively, show the Day Pass to the driver on your way out…

We visited Kinkakuji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) which is a Zen temple formally known as Rokuonji. … Followed by Nishiki Market (a.k a. "Kyoto's Kitchen") and ended our day at Isetan located in JR Kyoto Station.

Leaving on a jet plane? Nope… we are going to Kyoto from Osaka via Shinkansen…

The trip is about 20 mins…but no moment is spared to play with the PSP…

JR Kyoto Station…

The Kyoto Tourist Information Centre located on the 2nd floor of
JR Kyoto Station doesn’t entertain foreign visitors as this one is geared towards local tourism.
Proceed to Isetan Departmental Store, take lift to the ninth storey
and you will be able to locate the Information Centre for foreign visitors…

We arrived early at Hifumi Ryokan and hence was not able to check in…
It’s a 5 mins walk from the JR Kyoto Station…
BTW, most Ryokan has a check in time at 3PM and checkout time at 10AM…

Reception of Hifumi Ryokan…
Vance: They just got tons of really cute stuff.... EVERYWHERE! :)

Astro boy!

This is the Kyoto Tourist Information Centre located on the 9th storey inside Isetan…

There’s seating areas inside the Kyoto Tourist Information Centre…
So we did a quick check before proceeding to Kinkakuji…

Yap… entrance from the rear door for the buses…
Not a bad idea as passengers will not be crowding around the front door…
Can Singapore implement this?

That’s actually a bus arrival indicator…
Vance: It tells you the proximity the buses are to the bus stop you are at!

Interior of the City bus…

Say cheese!

Entrance of Kinkakuji…

Cost = JPY400 (S$5.20)
The admission ticket looks like a huge amulet...

Kinkakuji is famous both in Japan and abroad as a
symbol of Kitayama culture. The Kinkaku, or "Golden Pavilion",
was built as the Shariden. Covered with gold, the image of the pavilion,
which stands at the edge of Kyokochi pond, is reflected in the water….

Pose pose with the Golden Pavilion…

Souvenir shop inside the Golden Pavilion…
basically there’s various types of amulets for different purposes,
including Health, Study, Traffic, Money, Luck…. You name it, they have it…

Traditional Japanese hut within the temple…

Tea drinking area (outdoor)….

Tea drinking area (indoor)….