Kyoto: Gion

I found myself in Gion, twice. First time with Moo Moo Gal and Ms Mo, second time myself, after travelled back from Amanohashidate.

Unconsciously, I actually missed lunch but was glad I had remaining swiss roll in my bag as snack. By the time I reached Kyoto, it was time for an early dinner. As I wanted to be in the 'golden time' (approximately 4.30pm to 6pm) to catch a glimpse of maiko or geisha, I had a quick dinner in a small shop in Kyoto Station, very near to where I got off Hashidate train.

Kakiage soba, 400 yen. Simple but delicious, look how clear the soup was. Different from the little shop in Hiroshima station where we had to eat standing, I get to sit for this one. Ordering as usual, to indicate soba or udon, and pick up my choice of topping, in my case - kakiage. A new popular soba/udon shop has opened in Sydney with this type of operation, I have yet try but it's in the list to visit.

Stepping in the main street in Gion, it was difficult to imagine how one could meet any maiko or geisha. It was bright, with stretch of shops on both side of the road. Hmm..

This look more of a probable place right, a little quieter...

Anyway, I later (before my second visit) found out that one has to hover around some particular street, and not some Tom, Dick and Harry street - it was called, 花见小路 (I think it's read as Hanami-koji).

I reached there somewhat 5ish. I loitered about till 6pm, I think. I saw only one maiko, and I think she was not a real one, just dressing up. It was a blur photo too - it did not help when the camera's battery is dying, she was walking, it was dark and I didn't want to flash, so I won't post it up here.

On another note, when I was in Gion the first round, there was some sort of festival called Toka Ebisu (January 10 Business Success Festival). A lot of people were carrying a bamboo branch plant. According to JNTO website, it it said that buying a good luck bamboo branch and pray to Ebisu, the patron deity of commerce for success in business.

Hence, there were stalls set up and mobile toilets to which I'll leave the story to Moo Moo Gal :P

Here's some pictures on the stalls.

toffee apples or in this case, りんごあめ (ringo ame)

Takosen, I read that they break takoyaki and smeared it over wafer biscuit. I didn't try any though, next time!

たい焼き (taiyaki)

Side note: Hehe.. I did get those Tobira textbooks from Junkudo bookshop in Kyoto, right before they closed for the day ^_^

Amanohashidate (天橋立)

I initially planned to take the 1.52pm train back, as no change of train needed. That... was a wishful thought as there is no way it could be done if you walked across 'the bridge'.

One of the very first thing you will see is a boat pier - Ichinomiya Station. The boat leaves at interval of approximately 15 minutes, I think it is worth a check on the time before heading off to the viewing park, especially considering the infrequent train.

After a few days of good weather, the sky threaten to rain and it did - rained and snowed. :(

Armed with a map I got from the tourist info office at the train station earlier, I walked towards Kono Shrine for cable car/lift.

This is Kono Shrine... and to get to the cable car/lift station one have to walk through the archway and by the side of the temple, which is a bit weird but.. oh well.

I got myself a return ticket (640 yen) from a vending machine, hoping to go up with a cable car and return on a lift. Luck not on my side, the lift service is closed for maintenance. Only cable car was available.

Despite all the hype on how beautiful Amanohashidate is (and yes, it is beautiful), to me, the surrounding of the viewing park was kind of let down. It just doesn't jive, like a wrong jigsaw puzzle piece. I got out of the cable car, up a flight of staircase, went in a souvenir shop and out on its "balcony" - welcome to Kasamatsu Park.

Here's the viewing spot, where you stand and view the sandbar upside down through your legs - a practice call "matanozoki". Back to the name of the place, Amanohashidate - Bridge in the heaven. By view it upside down through the legs, the sandbar was as if crossing the sky, in a way :)

This one to show what mata nozoki is... in case I make no sense :P

Yes, I did that but at the same time worried I would toppled over. :P

Despite I have reservation about the viewing park, there is no doubt it was a beautiful sight. Even the gloomy weather added to the magic.

In Kasamatsu Park, there was a similar wisdom ring.

Speaking of that souvenir shop, there was a chirimen postcard size picture on Amanohashidate which caught my eye. I was tempted, but I didn't buy it. I could've so kick myself now. Hmm.

After taken enough photos to my content, I took the next cable car back to Ichinomiya. There were shops along the way.

These blowfish (fugu) to ward off all kinds of evils (such as sickness, bad luck, etc)

I decided to take the boat on my way back - one way cost 520 yen. Thinking back, I think the weather was kind to me. The weather was pretty good on my walk. Only started to rain after I finished crossing the sand bar :)

Two ladies bought a small packet of prawn cracker on sale at the boat pier. I thought they were going to eat on boat, but no. They fed the birds from the boat.

Those birds chased the boat we were in for a bit till all the snacks were gone.

And so, I obviously missed the 1.52pm train I intended to. I love the JR pass... cos I casually hopped on 3.04 train bound for Shin Osaka. I thought, oh well, I could easily get another train back to Kyoto from Osaka. LOL. In fact, I slept on the train and only woke up when it stopped briefly in Fukuchiyama. Seeing a lot of people got off the train, I thought I would to and hey, I found a connecting train to Kyoto. *Lucky* :)

Edit:Forgot this very eye catchy manhole :)

Side note: Oh.. looks like blogger has been fixed ^_^

Amanohashidate (天橋立): Nearby Sights and 'the bridge'

I didn't get a shot of the famous busy Shibuya crossing... but here's one crossroad on my way from Capsule Ryokan to Kyoto Station. (Mental note to self: More attempts to find a seat in Starbucks in Shibuya which is said to have the best view of that crossing and watch the world go by)

Breakfast for the day - swiss roll with coffee before I make my way Amanohashidate.

Amanohashidate or "Bridge to Heaven", is actually a 3.6 kilometers sand bar planted with 8,000 pine tress. This sand bar spans across Miyazu Bay on Tango Peninsula in northern Kyoto Prefecture and it ranked as one of Japan's three most scenic views (nihon sankei) along with Matsuhima in Miyagi Prefecture and Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture.

It takes about 2 hours to get to Amanohashida from Kyoto. Hashidate are direct trains from Kyoto to Amanohashidate with a brief stop in Fukuchiyama.

I took Hashidate 1 which had 7 cars. Car 1 and 2 were reserved seats, car 3 to 7 were non reserved. However car 5 to 7 stopped in Fukuchiyama and not proceed to Amanohashidate. I am not sure if it happens to all trains but worth to confirm before boarding the train.

JR pass does not cover the whole train ride, only up to Fukuchiyama. I paid 1380 yen (one way) from Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate. The conductor only collected the fare at Fukuchiyama as it was covered by a different company.

There was a ticket sleeve at the train seat. I later observed the person sitting at the opposite seat left his ticket on the sleeve so that the conductor did not need to wake him up to check the ticket.

As the travel to Amanohashidate took some time, one may want to also visit some other sights.

Chion-ji Temple Monju-do which popularly known by saying "Out of the counsel of three comes wisdom of Monju". This gate said to call the Golden Tower.

Next to this temple, a few tea shops sells a popular delicacy, a type of mochi - Chie no Mochi (Wisdom Rice Cake).

Kaisen-kyo (Rotary Bridge)

Likewise the name, this bridge is said could rotate. I didn't exactly see it in action but I think it works the same like Pyrmont Bridge.

View from the bridge...

Nearby to the bridge, one can find "Chie no Wa" (Ring of Wisdom). It is said that you may grow wiser after you pass through the ring three times (not sure exactly if it meant to throw a hoop over it or literally passing through it). There was another one at the Kasamatsu Park viewing deck.

The beginning of the walk on 'the bridge'

Yeah, I walked crossed the sand bar and awarded myself with a can of hot chocolate drink. :P

Pine trees and beach partly covered with snow. The photo on the title bar was taken in Amanohashidate, when walking cross the sandbar.

The blog post is getting a bit too long, I'll split it to another part.

Reference: Japan-guide, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Ama no Hashidate View Land



Side note: *Yawn*

Osaka: Namba and Shinsaibashi

I found myself back to Osaka for the neon lights which we missed the previous trip. Back to familiar changing of train to reach JR Namba Station.. as well as Namba Walk.

This time, the aim was to find a bookshop as I wanted to buy textbook for my course. The selling price in Australia was two times the retail price in Japan... some daylight robbery. So, since the timing was right, I am willing to lug the book back. I googled and found that Kinokuniya is nearby, also that most smaller scale bookstore does not carry foreign books or textbooks for foreign students. Since I did not have map on Osaka, I thought it would be good to drop by the tourist info centre and get one. Little did I know, it took me ages to find that tourist info office, that I lost count the times I walked back and forth in Namba Walk. = ="

Namba Walk is not a night market. It's an indoor area with mazes of shops and lanes, connected by trains and subways. 

The good news was, I found it and they suggested that I try Junkudo Bookshop, one of the biggest bookshop available. It was lucky that I asked, as it was very, very near JR Namba Station. Definitely easier to get to compared to Kinokuniya in Osaka.

I tried my very best to locate those textbooks (and thank you to my sis and Little P for texting me the details of the books) with my limited Kanji. Unfortunately, Junkudo in Osaka didn't carry the book at that time. The helpful shop assistant checked and found that their branch in Kyoto did have them in stock and asked if I want it to be reserved. I didn't know if I would have time to go pick them up, so I didn't.

I spent so much time hovering in Namba Walk, ended up having my dinner there as well - エビフライド＋カツ丼　(Ebi Fry + Katsu don)

Thereafter I walkabout Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi.

Outside Hotel Dotonbori

A passerby was staring as to why I took picture of this... am I weird or he was?

Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi gave a feeling of とてもにぎやか. Here's some pictures on the vibrant neon lights.

And last but not least, one of a pretty manhole

Side note: I wish today is Saturday!