Let's continue from where we stopped last post.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We got back to Shinano Station, where we left out luggage in the station.
Managed to make use of inquiry period to dry our umbrellas. Some of the Japanese were puzzled by our actions as I guess they're not that 大胆 to do things in the public.
As shown, there's a total of 3 trains to catch and we have to rush for 1 train where there's only about 20mins in between.
(Luckily we're not the only ones rushing for the train. Others too are rushing and i heard it's a norm in Japan
especially peak periods.)
In Japan, if you happened to seat in the reserved seats area, you will get 'a lesson' from the elderly straight away.
I guess it's due to the culture and manners they've been brought up. I really adore Japanese's courtesy and politeness. Definitely a million times better than Singapore.
Nowadays, children (and even teens) don't have manners especially towards their parents and grandparents. I was brought up in a stern family where manners is not deferred as a child's play but a form image you present to others.
'Seriously I'm way off the topic.'
I've forgotten what station this is but it's an active interchange. Similar to Dhoby Ghaut Station.
Indication of the cabin no. for different trains. Some have 6 cabins while some have 8 cabins.
Next stop - Nagoya. The station where we only have about 20mins to change for the next train.
We're on the dot to catch the final train to our final destination - Kyoto.
(You'd have know our final destination from the train tickets)
Smoking area (in China, there's only a 'cozy area' instead)
Left - The Kyoto Tower
Right - the Shopping Mall above Kyoto Station.
We finally found our hotel after asking the local.
Breakfast area for tomorrow
A tour of my room, together with my sister and aunt.
The room was rather small but walkable, if you're staying with *ahem* a big-size friend, you may have a problem.
The designers know how to optimize the room to its fullest, not leaving any space that's left unused.
On the left side, just a few inches away from the single bed.
A closet that's right behind the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The start of the final tour in Japan, Kyoto.
Remember our tour guide in Takayama. She has helped us to contact her partner, who take tours in Kyoto, to bring us around.
(Definitely include those that large tour groups will not get to see)
Before that, we bought the on day bus ticket.
Kyoto's tourist attractions are easily accessible by bus, just like Singapore. And if you ever get lost, the local are happy to guide you. But for us, we've got a tour guide
The names of the donor who donate generously for Nijo-jo Castle's maintenance
Our tour guide bought us away the neighbourhood instead of taking public transport as the next destination is only known to the local.
Singapore has double storey for bicycles outside MRT station. Over here, they have double storey for cars.
Japan's kindergarten.
Next destination is 達摩, Bodhidharma, temple.
We took a bus to Kiyomizu-dera, 清水寺. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site. The best time to visit the temple is during autumn where the vicinity is clouded with maple leaves, accessorizing the view.
Left: For a better luck, better relationship in terms of friends, family, colleagues, find your other half, wash away the bad luck.
After deciding, scoop the water and pour over the Buddha (below). You can choose all 4 if you like, no harm trying all right
The 'world heritage' position of Kiyomizu-dera
Next, we took the train down to Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社).
It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds.
Our tour guide said the people who donate to the temple is able to get one of the gate with their names or company engraved on it.
You can read more
here.
You may want to wash/cleanse your face and hands before entering. It's said to be one of the tradition.
My brother enjoy playing with the rope.
This rope is attached to a bell (do you call those bell that's seen in the temple as 'bells' ?)
You're supposed to toss a coin to a coin holder, clap 3 times, make a wish, lastly, grab on to the rope and stroke the bell.
Us posing with the torii gates.
While waiting for some of us, who went to the restroom, we came across this Singaporean couple having their wedding shoots.
We took the train back to Kyoto and also bid farewell with our tour guide. (without taking a photo with him)
We went up the Kyoto Tower.
The yellow light indicates which level you're at while going up the elevator.
Sunset from Kyoto Tower
This marks the end of my KYOTO Holiday.
I'm so gonna visit Japan again, until I've managed to save up about a thousand. *fingers-crossed
Also you may check out my Kyoto Travelogue:
Day 1
Day 2&3
End of Day 3 and Start of Day 4 ~ Part 1
Day 4 ~ Part 2
