Kiyomizudera (清水寺, literally "Pure Water Temple")

I am back to continue my Japan travelogue!
From Eikan-dō Zenrin-j Temple, we head to Kiyomizudera.

How to go? Bus: City bus 100 (covered in your pass)
Go back to the Higashi Tenno-cho bus stop where you alighted. Take City bus 100 again. Alight at Kiyomizumichi bus stop.

Alot of ppl will get down. Just follow. HAHA.

Travelling time: 18 mins.
Admission fee: 300 yen
Opening hours: 6 am to 6 pm

Leading to Kiyomizudera temple is the steep, crowded lanes of the Higashiyama District. Its obviously a tourist trap. HAHA.

Lots of shops selling food, lots of FREE samples for you to try. They are very generous with the samples! I tried everything i wanted. HAHA. (kind of full btw!) And i bought some really nice but exorbitantly priced green tea cookies. But mama says its ridiculously nice, so i think its worth it.


I am highly amused by their smoking corner.


One day, we will become a gracious society, where everyone spares a thought for you and me.
Life is good. I didnt inhale any second-hand smoke in Japan. Very impressed.

Smokers being considerate to non-smokers. Smoke at designated areas ONLY.

FOOOOOOOOOOOOD. Lots of good food. Calories dont exist in Japan.

XX loves this bun alot.






Love this! Anything green tea and red bean pls.


You are near Kiyomizudera once you see this red temple.

BUY TICKETS!


Thats the pagoda you see in the admission ticket.


More of the temple!




Hopes and dreams.


Ring the bell!


Believe and it will come true. Indeed it has. HAHA.


We are fascinated with handling "spiritual water". HAHAH.



This is the highlight of the temple. Drink holy water.
And there's a long queue!


There's 3 streams. Which one to drink from? Each means sth.
(Google now)

It says, drink from any two. Not from all three streams as this will be deemed as being greedy.

The Otowa Waterfall is located at the base of Kiyomizudera's main hall. Its waters are divided into three separate streams, and visitors use cups attached to long poles to drink from them. Each stream's water is said to have a different BENEFIT, namely to cause longevity, success at school and a fortunate love life. However, drinking from all three streams is considered greedy.

But which is which?


DRINK FROM ALL THREE, pray for two and seek forgiveness thereafter. Thats my conclusion.
HAHA.

Its clean to drink the water. All the cups are sterilised. Nah, cleaner than you think.
XX says, any germs/virus/nonsense are killed in UV rays.



Happy happy xx.


Its a mystery how this is built.
Kiyomizudera is best known for its wooden stage that juts out from its main hall, built without a single use of nails. Just how?

So this is the temple!

The three-storied Koyasu Pagoda is said to bring about an easy and safe childbirth. 

Here's a picture!


And a couple pic of course.


Exit the temple after that. Its sunset alr!
Its amazing how fast one day has passed.


Back to food.


Walked over to Higashiyama (Gion) ‐ Hanami‐koji Dori, where geisha are commonly found.
Location: Shjio Avenue to Kenninji Temple.


Another tourist trap. And food is very expensive. Settled for one restaurant and the food sucks so much that it disappoints.

This is our most disappointing meal in Japan.
We decided that we need more happy food.

So round 3.


Diet should not appear in your mind. I repeat, don think of dieting here.


Thats supper and Good night.

KYOTO Part 1 (Kyoto Bus One-day pass, Kinkakuji temple)

If you are in Kyoto for a day trip, i would highly recommend you to get the Kyoto Bus One-day pass. (500 yen for adults, 250 for children)


Most of the attractions are accessible by Bus. Per trip is 220 yen.
You just need to take the bus thrice, and the day pass is more worth it alr.

Should you need to take the subway, use your Suica card. I got mine at the airport!
(There is also Kyoto Sightseeing one and two day pass. It covers the subways and buses. But its more expensive)

Since we are only visiting 3 or 4 attractions, a one-day pass for the Kyoto city bus is sufficient.
There are 5 major sightseeing routes that the bus goes to.

Kinkakuji/Kitano
Ginkakuji/Okazaki
Kiyomizu Temple/Gion
Kawaramachi/Karasuma area
Arashiyama (JR pass can go!)

Where to buy: Go to the Kyoto Bus Information Center, just outside Kyoto Station.

Important: Get an English-language bus map when you buy your day pass; Bus Navi: Kyoto City Bus Sightseeing Map. Its your survival kit. REMEMBER TO TAKE ONE.

Or, you can print this english version of the map here. This is also useful for you to plan your routes.
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/img/busnavi_eng_omote.pdf
http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/img/busnavi_eng__ura.pdf 

It shows all the routes that the bus will go. It will cover most of the attractions in Kyoto.

How the map works: Find a spot on the map that you wanna go. Look at the bus stops in the area to find the bus numbers.

However, pls note that unlimited travel throughout the day is only valid within the zone.

Note: Bus system in Japan is different from Singapore. You will board the bus from the back door and alight at the front door. You will pay using cash/card when you alight the bus.

How to use the card:
When you FIRST alight from the bus, slot the card into the machine found beside the bus driver. The machine will then print a date on your card.

Thereafter, you just need to show the bus driver "the date" printed on your card when you alight the bus.

How to read the map:

I am currently at Kyoto Station (A). I want to go Kinkakuji temple (B). How to go.

1. Look at the white box at the 2 bus stations.

2. Compare and look for the identical colours (small little coloured boxes found in the white box) found at the 2 bus stops.

3. Based on my map, I can take Bus 101, 205, 

Legend:
White circles - Bus stop. The words beside the circle is the bus stop name.
Small colored boxes - Bus numbers. The route that the bus will follow the same colour as the bus number colour as well.


Use this website if you still don understand: http://kyotoadvice.info/navigation/

Our first stop: Kyoto Station to Kinkakuji temple.
Do not mix up Kinkakuji (Golden Pavillion) and Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) (!!!!)

How to go: Bus number 101 or 205 from Kyoto Station.
Admission ticket: 400 Yen
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm.

We took bus 101, cause it came first.


After 40 mins, we finally saw the sign!


Its a hot and sunny weather in Japan during October.


The admission ticket is SUPER COOL.


It looks like a talisman.


The weather makes my photo so chio. OMG. Now i know why ppl tell you this is a "MUST GO".
Just look at this. Just look at the reflection.

(btw, you pay 400 yen to look at this btw. The rest of the park is mediocre. oops. This is highlight ma.)


YAY. Selfie stick to the rescue. My selfie screen is amazing. HAHA.
Honestly, i think selfie stick is very fun!


Just look at what colours can do to your photos. It makes a difference!

Its so pretty!
Its exceptionally beautiful with the awesome weather condition and the reflection on the water.
My great photo opportunity!

Kinkakuji is extremely well-maintained despite it's long years of history. Its easy to go. Although theres is massive crowd. Its heavily TOURIST-ED.

Although you cant enter the temple, its honestly very stunning and impressive to see from afar. No wonder it is a World Heritage site.

And everyone takes the same photo, from the same angle. HAHAHA.



Its coated with GOLD.


Lastly, pls remember to eat the green tea ice cream found in the area.
Anything green tea in Japan sounds like a good idea to me. I am a green tea fanatic. LOL.

Hope everyone gets to visit Kinkakuji Temple on a clear sunny day!