Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a thousand years. With over 19 million people in the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe Metropolitan Area, it ranks as the second most populous metropolis still in Japan (Tokyo is the most populous worldwide), just after New York (20.43 million projected 2020).
The distance from Tokyo to Kyoto was around 500 kms by the Shinkansen (bullet train). That is slightly less than Hyderabad to Bangalore (576 kms). We did that distance in 2 hours 20 minutes, from station to station. That's slightly better than trying to reach the airport an hour earlier, flying for an hour and then collecting your luggage.
The cost is normally around 14,000 Yen (8,500 INR) one way, but if you buy a 7 day Japan Rail Pass (18,000 INR) then you can travel all over Japan using the Bullet trains of Japan Rail for free (excl. some specific trains)!
The JR Pass can only be bought outside Japan for 1/2/4 weeks and a sales agent was there in Bangalore. I had a one week pass (exchange order) that I did not use for the first few days since I was in and around Tokyo.
It is worth repeating again: If you want to travel across Japan, please buy the JR pass given the enormous savings that you get using shinkansen.
Buses around most cities in Japan use the IC cards or coins. I had the Pasmo card (Suika is one more), bought at the airport in Tokyo which I could refill at any store or supermarket.
This was my hostel in Kyoto. Nothing really fancy, but very livable!
Old friends sat on a park bench like bookends
Cherry
blossoms bloom for two weeks. Their life is short, and they fall like snowflakes to the ground just after the fullness of their beauty.
Japan has special meaning attached to the "Sakura" with literature, and poetry around these beautiful trees. They symbolize
the cycle of life, death and rebirth, on the one hand, and of productive and reproductive powers, on the other.
The Imperial Palace at Kyoto.
Buildings inside the Golden Pavilion Complex
The Golden Pavilion dating back from 1397. It is one of the most iconic buildings in Japan. Called Rokuon-ji ("deer garden temple"), it is a Shogun's villa converted to a Zen Buddhist temple after his death.
Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) was rebuilt in 1955, based on the original plans. It has a lot of gold leaf, on the top two floors, because Gold is supposed to be purifying, and dispel negative thoughts to death, and so on. As usual, this houses relics of the Buddha. I sometimes wonder at how many places the Buddha died, and whether his toenails are enshrined somewhere.
On my way to Arishyama.
Temple at Arishyama
Arishyama Bamboo Grove
I like baabiesss. The parents had to be accommodated in the photo.
Tenryu-ji Temple at Arishyama
Crab crackers
Cherry Blossoms
Kyoto Tower
A food stall in Gionmachi
Yasaka Shrine at night with the cherry blossoms in full bloom
Yasaka Shrine at night
Why eat Belgian waffles in Japan? Fresh Waffles and Bread are to kill for in Japan, that's why! I found the shop only by smell like a dog.
"There is nothing else but that in the world: love for each other." - Jean Valjean, Les Miserab
Higashiyama
Kiyomizu-Dera-1
Kiyomizu-Dera Pagoda
Kiyomizu-Dera
A view of Kyoto from
Kiyomizu-Dera
Kiyomizu-Dera-2
Street shops at Higashiyama
Street shops at Higashiyama-2
Street shops at Higashiyama-3
Yamazaki Menjiro Ramen : I went here in search of the best ramen that Kyoto had to offer. I wasn't disappointed.
Yamazaki Menjiro: The waiting line extends around the block. Finally you wait in the back seats, while the batch before is served, eats, and vacates the place. That's when you get to really wait for your ramen while the cooks dole it out.
Beef, Pork, Eggs, Ramen- I couldn't really figure out what else was there! But it tasted nice, and I enjoyed the delicate flavors I was getting in each mouthful. Oh, and you have to use chopsticks and the spoon for the broth!
Fushimi-Inari Shrine
Fushimi-Inari Taisha
Fushmi Inari Shrine: This shrine made in the seventh century CE is dedicated to Inari - the God of sake and rice!
When you get to the top of Mt. Inari, you see four thousand Torii gates that you pass through. All the gates have been donated by businessmen over centuries right from the 8th century. You can still add one more if you feel like it by donating money.
They must have been thoroughly drunk on Sake. I considered for a whole second whether I should donate a gate and dismissed the idea.
Foodstalls at Fushimi Inari
Foodstalls at Fushimi Inari
Teramachi Shopping Street
Food stalls-1
Food stalls-2
Food stalls-3
Food stalls-4
At the Samurai and Ninja Museum in Kyoto: A poster of Samurai with their code of Loyalty, Honor, Mercy, Justice, Courage, Respect and Honesty.
I wasn't aware that Kublai Khan attacked Japan, the second time with 140,000 men and 5000 ships and had to retreat against 40,000 samurai. I also learnt that Kami-Kaze meant Sacred-Typhoons that helped defeat Kublai Khan's naval fleet both times. Kamikaze till now had meant for me those suicide bombers flying down planes that were essentially explosive missiles in WW-II.
I had thorough fun at the Samurai and Ninja Musuem with experience. There was this most likely American person, who gave us a brief summary of Japanese history as he carried us through the museum.
It included the hierarchy of power right down from the Emperor (divine) to the Shogun (political) to daimyos (feudal lords). It showed the ranking of the Samurai and the Ninja.
There were real world pieces of armor ostensibly worn by Samurai warriors.
This Japanese person was obviously wrapped up in the whole Samurai - Ninja thing, and even displayed emotion for perhaps the 16th group of the day, as he unsheathed his sword.
The Japanese Katana is considered to be one of the sharpest swords, but loses its edge quickly (recommended sharpening after killing three persons).
Damascus Steel swords (actually weapons made from ingots forged in smithies of India and Sri Lanka) still are renowned to be one of the best swords, for edge retention, superplasticity, and toughness.
Anyone could be a ninja, and common people such as farmers could be one. Samurais had a high code of honor while ninjas employed stealth, poisons, gunpowder, ordinary farm implements, and had no compunctions about fighting fair.
Part of the Samurai experience was wearing the armor of the samurai, including the heavy helmet, and realizing what it felt like. I felt like a kid, but that is perfectly permissible!
I even got into the act pulling out the katana and posing for the person who insisted on taking my photograph while I did that. I also realized how bending my head down meant I couldn't look forward or sideways through the heavy helmet.
This was clearly a Samurai thing with leather armor, and iron helmet, meant for battle (honorably). If I had to pick, I would much prefer becoming a Ninja because the clothing is more comfortable.
Yaay! I got to play this Koto (Japanese harp) and it was easy, rather like a Banjo, Veena, or Sitar. I even managed to pick a tune from watching the girl perform. She was pleased to see me pick up the tune so fast, and I was pleased to hear myself too. Music is universal, even if you grow tone deaf like Beethoven who composed entire symphonies imagining them.
Kyoto nightscape
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