Day 13: Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

Previously:
Day 12: Gion, Kyoto

Another World Heritage site to visit in Kyoto is Kiyomizudera. This temple is famous for its wooden stage that just out from its main hall, 13 meters above the hillside below.  The main hall was built without the use of nails, how clever!!  To get there, you can take a bus number 100 or 206 and get off at Gojo Zaka or Kiyomizu Michi bus stop, from there you need to walk uphill about 10 minutes before arriving the temple. 

Lucky smoke

Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

Otowa Waterfall

Love stone is apparently very popular among the youngster.  If someone can walk blind-folded from one stone end then touch the stone from another end, she or he is believed to find the true love. 

Green tea puff 300yen/each

Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

The closest bus stop:

Gojo-zaka and Kiyomizu michi bus stop (bus number 100 or 206)

From there, you need around 10 minutes walking uphill to the temple

Entry fee: 300yen

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 13: Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Stairs, Kyoto

Day 12: Gion, Kyoto

Previously:
Day 12: Nishiki Market, Kyoto

Pontocho is a narrow lane full of restaurants and bars running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, just one block west of Kamogawa River.  But we didn't have our dinner in here as it is more for tourist trap, so pricey.

Pontocho

Gion

Goin is another place that you need to visit while you are in Kyoto.  This place is very famous with their Geisha.  If you are lucky enough, be here around the Hanami Koji or Gion Corner area in the evening after 6pm, you may encounter with one of the genuine Geisha that only have about 250 Geisha in Kyoto.  You are allowed to take photo of her but do not stop or interrupt her, it is considered as rude and inappropriate behaviour.  They also tend to walk very fast and it is just the nature of them and they have been trained that way.  

We saw a few Geisha actually around this street, but didn't get a single nice shot of them.  As the light was very low and I didn't want to use flash, so all of my pictures are blurry and the one I post is so far the clearest I could get.

Cold soba set with tempura 1,400yen

Tempura assorted 1,000yen and rice with salmon cod roe 300 yen

In Gion, you feed your eyes with the enchanted beauty of Geisha and your mouth with the delicious crispy golden Tempura.  This one that we got were delicious, the vegetables and prawns tempura were deep fried to golden colour and the batter was very light and extremely crispy.  Then we got the choice to sprinkle some matcha salt on it as well.

Kyoto Tower

We stayed at APA Hotel for 2 nights while we're here in Kyoto.  You actually need abit of walk from Kyoto station to the hotel, is about 10 minutes walk but price per night is considerably cheap.  So far, I think, this is the smallest hotel we have stayed, yet still clean and staff are friendly as well.

Hotel APA Eki-Horikawadori, Kyoto

1 Aburanokoji-cho, Shiokoji-nishi

Aburanokoji-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 13: Kiyomizudera, Kyoto

Day 12: Nishiki Market, Kyoto

Previously:
Day 12: Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), Kyoto

When you guys visit Kyoto, please please do not miss this market!!  Nishiki market is loaded with variety of food and snacks that you are hardly get them combined all together in one market.  I had sample a few of those yummy snacks to the extent where my tummy can't handle food no more.  Here are some of the shots of the markets that I took including the food that we tried.  So enjoy and octie appetie.

Nishiki Market

Fresh Oysters 1,000yen/4 pieces

Unagi square sushi 250yen

chopstick rests

Deep fried stuff

Tofu doughnuts with chocolate topping 250yen/6 pieces

This the one snack that I've been looking forward the most from this market.  Doughnuts that are made from soy bean.  It's like eating junk food in a healthier way.  The texture is pretty much the same with normal doughnut but it tastes slightly lighter.  At first, I though that chocolate sauce on top would similar with any crappy chocolate topping sauce I always get in any cheap ice cream shop in Australia, however I was absolutely mistaken, it tastes really good and definitely goes very well with those doughnuts.

Omelettes 350yen

Salmon roe

There is a small temple at the end of the street of the market and we made a short visit to say thank you for the food that we ate just now.  All delicious.

Nishiki market

Stalls:

Mochiyaki Rice Crakers

Konnamonja Doughnuts

Miki Keiran Omelettes

and plenty more.

Opening hours: 09:00 - 18:00

Stay tuned for the next blog still in Japan:

Day 12: Gion, Kyoto