Cultural Kyoto

If Osaka is renowned for food, drink and hospitality, then Kyoto takes the cultural mantle. A mix of old and new, it’s basked in history and was the home of the Japanese royal family from the 7th century up until 1868.

It is temple-tastic! Literally, around every corner there is some marvellous monument to the gods. With all these temples going on, we had to play smart and decide which we wanted to see. It was a no brainer; it had to be Kinkaku-Ji aka the golden pavilion. Built in 1397 as a retirement home it was soon converted into a temple. Although mobbed with tourists, like the rest of temple trail it really was worth seeing.

Despite the hoards of visitors to the site it felt really peaceful and a world away from the madness of the city centre. It was actually burnt down in 1950 by a monk who became slightly obsessed with it, but was fully restored to its true glory 5 years later.

Kyoto is known by locals as a bonchi which is a flat tray with raised edges. We got a really good view of this when we went up Kyoto Tower.

We also had so much fun playing with the comedy mirrors!

Although Kyoto is seeped architecturally in a bygone world, there is still a needy mix of the new sitting proudly beside the old as typed in the construct that is Kyoto Station; much more my bag.

The area around the station came alive at night. There was a ‘fantasy aquarium’, a water light show accompanied by classical music which was enchanting.

And, of course, the tower illuminated stood very proudly.

And because we are in Kyoto, I’ll throw in a illuminated temple for Goodluck!

Well, tomorrow we are back to Tokyo for the final leg of our Japanese trip, until then x

Gorgeous Gion

Gion is Kyoto’s old town, packed with ramshackled 17th century wooden buildings housing restaurants and tearooms. It’s also where the Geisha girls (or Geiko girls as they call them in Kyoto) reside. Apparently there are only 1000 Geisha’s in Japan today, with the majority living. Tried, as we did, we did not manage to see a real Geisha, but we did see some Japanese youth regaled in their finery.

You can have a little fishy, on a little dishy…

…you can have a little fishy, when the boat comes y’m! A visit to Nishiki Market in Kyoto, aka ‘Kyoto’s pantry’ was indeed a veritable feast for the senses. Alongside all the fishies, noodles, mushrooms and sweeties I am unsure what else was on offer; but it was quite a sight – it put me mind of the Grainger market 😉

Travelling at the speed of light

This would not be a proper blog about Japan unless I included at least one reference to the bullet trains, or Shinkensen. As a tourist to Japan you can apply for a discounted JR travel card which enables you to get around the island in super sonic speed. Our second, albeit brief, journey was from Osaka to Kyoto. Check him out…

And we are off!!!

Oh, oh, oh Osaka #2

Oh I do like to be beside the quayside! We decided to head out of the city and go and visit the ferris wheel in Tempozan; yeh, we are big kids at heart! It was a beautiful sunny day and the views of the city were perfection.

Then, back into the thick of things in Tenno-Ji. Aside from the magnificent, if a bit dated, Osaka Tower, the area is jam packed with suspicious characters – sounds a bit like Westgate Hill to me 😉

We also visited our first Osakian temple; Shitenno-Ji.

While in Tenno-Ji is would have been rude not to try their local delicacy; kushikatsu – deep fried meats and vegetables – yum.

Well back on the metro homeward bound, one last glimpse of Tenno-Ji by night.

Oh, oh, oh Osaka #1

The first thing you need to know about Osaka is that it has two stations with the same name and ‘shin’ as in ‘shin Osaka’ doesn’t mean Osaka station, it means get off the train and get a metro to the other Osaka station! Yes, you know where this blog is going… Lost in Osaka! Not to worry. After about half an hour, or so, of searching for our hotel (that is only 3 minutes from the station) we made the executive decision of getting a taxi; 15 minutes later we had arrived.

Our hotel was pretty plush and was actually just 3 minutes from the station.

And the views from our window were also pretty awesome. Off we popped for an exploration and some dinner in a mall. I know it sounds bizarre eating in a food court in a mall, but this is how they rock over here.

Day one and I had concocted a pretty full on schedule which included Amerika-Mura, Dotombori and Shinsaishashi. We arrived to what seemed like Beverley Hills; building after of building of big brands.

However, after a few wrong turns we ended up in Amerika-Mura; as the name depicts, the American area filled with kids queueing to get into American dinners and buy the latest hoodie and sneakers. We also found our way to ‘triangle park’, literally a square in its centre surrounded by bizarre light sculptures; it was pretty cool.

We found, per chance, the market street and hooray I got to visit my very first 100 yen shop; yep Japan’s answer to the pound shop 🙂

As night began to fall, the streets came alive and we were encased in neon loveliness.

Only one thing for it, a glass of wine down by the river, oh in the rain 🙂

Japanese eye candy

Now ladies, don’t get excited; or maybe do 😉 this post is dedicated to food. Much to my sister’s disdain, I have been diligently taking pix of all the tasty treats I’ve sampled in Japan. Hope it doesn’t make you too hungry!

Weird, wacky and wonderful Japan

Sometimes there is no categorising; life, emotions, moments, amazement, intrigue… This post is my tribute to the weird, wacky and wonderful place I’ve found Japan to be.

Shinjuku by night

Filled with department stores, eateries and hoards of people, Shinjuku is best visited on an evening. Greeted by the magnificent Cocoon Tower as you leave the station;

We headed down to Tokyo’s Metropolitan Government Building.

The building itself was pretty awesome, yet the views from its observatory on the 45th floor most certainly took your breathe away and made you feel like a tiny dot on a Seurat painting.

Lost in Shibuya

We weren’t really lost, but I wanted to include the ‘Lost in Translation’ reference somewhere 🙂 Shibuya, aside from the famed scrambled junction;

(And, yes, we did drink a coffee at Starbucks to watch the beautifully coordinated scramble across four junctions as all the lights turn red!) is also renowned for youth fashion as epitomised by the Shibuya 109 shopping mall.

Obviously, we spent an hour or so perusing the seven levels and Jacky saw at least two jackets she wanted to buy – yes, I think we will be returning and flashing some cash.
Shibuya also houses the infamous ‘Love Hotel Hill’, Tokyo’s answer to Soho. Aside from the ‘adult’ shops, there is also an abundance of love hotels. These are hotels where you can stay by the hour. Given that space is tight in Tokyo and many youths live with their parents, this place is quite popular.

I’d imagine a trip down here on a evening would feel different, but during the day it had a somewhat kitsch appeal to it.