A Thousand People
Kyoto used to be the capital of Japan and, of course, the emperor must have his palace. A visit to Kyoto Imperial Palace wasn't in our original plan because we were not able to book a tour online. When we were already in Kyoto, we heard that it was open to the public for the next two days. And so we went. And a thousand or more people went too.
The palace grounds is huge and there were many buildings (though none could be entered). Since there was no tour guide, we just went where the throng of people went. My regret for this tour is that we didn't have a guide (or at least an audio guide) who could have told us the significance of each of the structures around the palace.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
京都御所
9AM to 4PM (5PM from April to August)
Closed on Mondays
Free admission
Free English guided tours at 10AM and 2PM
Audio guide available for free
Good news! Kyoto Imperial Palace is now open to the public, no prior booking needed!
Directions to Kyoto Imperial Palace: Take the Karasuma subway line to Imadegawa Station (exit 6). Or take the bus to Karasuma-Imadegawa bus stop.
A Thousand Statues
It was awesome to see 1001 life-size gilded statues of the goddess of mercy, Kannon, housed in a temple called Sanjusangendo. There are 33 intervals between the temple hall's columns, thus the name 三十三間堂 Sanjusangendo where 三十三 means 33, 間 means ken/gen which is a traditional unit of length, and 堂 means hall.
Sanjusangendo
三十三間堂
8AM to 5PM (4PM from November 16 to March 31)
Admission fee: 600 yen
Directions to Sanjusangendo: Take the bus to Hakubutsukan-Sanjusangendo-mae bus stop. Or take the Keihan Line to Shichijo Station (5 minutes walk to Sanjusangendo).
A Thousand Torii
Before the trip, my brain upon hearing the word Kyoto would evoke two images: one dominated with red, the other with green.
First, red, and where else could it be but the thousand vermillion colored torii of Fushimi Inari Taisha.
Fushimi Inari Taisha is a shrine dedicated to Inari, the kami (Shinto god) of rice. Where other shrines have stone lions or dogs standing guard at the entrance, Inari shrines have stone foxes for they are believed to be Inari's messengers.
Before reaching Fushimi Inari Taisha's senbon torii, the iconic parallel tunnels of vermillion torii, we saw its majestic main gate (Romon), main shrine building (Honden), worship hall, and other smaller buildings. We decided to just walk up to the end of the senbon torii though the trail marked by more torii continued to snake toward the summit of the mountain (it would take 2-3 hours to hike to the summit and back).
Fushimi Inari Taisha
伏見稲荷大社
Open all day, every day
Free admission
Directions to Fushimi Inari Taisha: Take the JR Nara Line to Inari Station (Fushimi Inari Taishi is right next to the station. Or the Keihan Line to Fushimi-Inari Station (5 minutes walk to Fushimi Inari Taisha). Or take the bus to Inari Taisha-mae bus stop (7 minutes walk to Fushimi Inari Taisha).
A Thousand Bamboo
Next: green. We arrived in Arashiyama as the sun was setting and with every step towards Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, the sun inched lower. We reached the bamboo grove empty of people...and bathed in darkness! Haha! (I had to go back the following year to take a photo in the daylight.)
Directions to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: Take the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station. Or take the Keifuku Arashiyama Line to Arashiyama Station. The bamboo grove is a 5-minute walk from either station.
JapanKnow Before You Go
Single Entry Tourist Visa for Japan
Roam Around Japan with a Swagger
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10D/9N | Tokyo, Toyama, Kyoto, Hyogo, Osaka, Hiroshima
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Tokyo: Doing Touristy Things in Tokyo
Toyama: A Night to Remember in Ainokura
Kyoto Accommodation: K's House Hostel Kyoto
Kyoto, Japanecdote: Wisdom from the Road: On exits #2
Kyoto: By the Thousands (you're here!)
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Kyoto Accommodations: Guesthouse Wind Villa, Shiori Yado