DAY 5, Apr 16 Tuesday, 2024:

Kiyomizu-dera temple, Higashiyama Ninen-zaka, Sannen-zaka, Ryozen Kannon, Kodai-ji, Kyoto apt Check in

SHINKANSEN / BULLET TRAINS

The Shinkansen (Japanese: 新幹線, lit. 'new main line'), colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan managed by 5 companies. currently consists of 2,951.3 km (1,833.9 mi) of lines with maximum speeds of 260–320 km/h (160–200 mph),

The name bullet train stuck because of the original 0 Series Shinkansen's resemblance to a bullet and its high speed.

Pic below has our shinkansen trips lined with red

Shinkansen tickets booked in advance

We bought Shinkansen tickets in advance for Tokyo Kyoto Leg as well as the one leaving Kyoto. For that we have to register online then it becomes easy to buy the subsequent tickets as well. We registered on Mar 17 and bought advance tickets.

https://shinkansen2.jr-central.co.jp/RSV_P/smart_en_index.htm

It is possible to buy these as walk ups, and we did that many times for our day trips from Kyoto to Himeji, to Hiroshima and back but for this leg we didn't want to take the risk of all seats full when we appeared with our bags.

Departure date: Apr 16, 2024 Tokyo(07:00)-->NOZOMI 203-->Kyoto(09:12)

Series N700 with 16 cars Ordinary Car.14 Seat.19-Dar.14 Seat.19-E Adult(s): 2

Hayatoku-21 Wide Total: 23,640 Yen

We made one transfer on our local train to reach Tokyo station, boarded our Shinkansen train at 7am from Tokyo station...

KYOTO

Surrounded by the hills of central Honshu, Kyoto is one of Japan's largest cities and the educational hub of western Japan

It was the residence of the Emperor and Japan's principal cultural center for almost 1,100 years,

it is the only major Japanese city to escape the devastation of WWII. So the atmosphere of the past has been preserved.

centuries-old architecture, influenced by Buddhism can still be seen in the many splendid temples of the old city.

Kyoto still has 30 of its temples serving as centers of various Buddhist sects, along with some 200 Shinto shrines within the city limits.

Our apt would be ready for check in only after 3:00 PM, they said we can leave bags at 11am, it was just 9.15, so we put our bags in a coin locker for 700 yen at the train station

we walked to the bus stop. boarded the bus to Kiyomizudera temple.

Kiyomizu dera

Kiyomizu dera (清水寺, literally "Pure Water Temple") is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It was founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall's pure waters.

we went to the side temple first and had our meal.

The whole place was slammed with crowds.

The temple was established in 778, Many of the temple's present buildings were constructed in 1633 on the orders of the shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. There is not a single nail used in the entire structure.

Sanju-no-to (Three storied Pagoda)

Cleansing fountain

we hit gently for our wishes to come true...

Kiyomizu-dera is located in the foothills of Mount Otowa, part of the Higashiyama mountain range that dominates eastern Kyoto.

The main hall has a large veranda, supported by tall pillars, that juts out over the hillside and offers views of the city.

Otowa waterfall

Beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, where three channels of water fall into a pond. Visitors can catch and drink the water, which is believed to have wish-granting powers...health, longevity, and success in love life.

Ninenzaka, Sannenzaka

The old cobblestone streets of Ichinenzaka, Ninenzaka, and Sannenzaka have prospered since ancient times, 807 in fact. These sloping streets are lined with historic Japanese-style buildings that typify Kyoto,

Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s wife, Nene, founded Kodaiji Temple and from her nearby house would ascend the hill to Kiyomizu Temple to pray for the safe birth of a healthy child.

Sannenzaka (“Three-year hill,” a.k.a. “Sanneizaka)” and Ninenzaka (“Two-year hill,” a.k.a. “Nineizaka”) derive their names from the Japanese word for childbirth and Nene’s name, respectively, with the third street eventually being given the name of “Ichinenzaka” (“One-year hill”).

This is Tanuki, the tipsy trickster ferret dog. It's kept in entrances for good luck

We bought some wasabi peanuts and a spice mix.

Ate this sample of rice with a spice mix, liked it and bought the spice mix

Peter Rabbit, the beloved animation character...

We walked on in the Gion area

One of the most striking structures in the Kiyomizu area is the five-story, 46-meter high pagoda located at Hokanji Temple, which is said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku in 592.

Saw a huge Buddha statue.

Got some directions from a traffic cop there and walked to the temple.

Ryōzen Kannon Temple

The Ryōzen Kannon (霊山観音) is a war memorial commemorating the dead of the Pacific War

The concrete and steel statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara (Kannon) unveiled on 8 June 1955 is 24 m (80 ft) high and weighs approximately 500 tons.

The shrine beneath the statue contains an image of Bodhisattva Ekādaśamukha and images of the god of wind and god of thunder. Memorial tablets of 2 million Japanese who died in World War II are also stored here.

Negai no Tama (Wishing Ball)...

Kagami Ike (Mirror Pool)

Kodaiji (高台寺, Kōdaiji)

Then we went to Kodaiji.

Kodaiji (高台寺, Kōdaiji) is an outstanding temple in Kyoto's Higashiyama District. It was established in 1606 in memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan's greatest historical figures, by Hideyoshi's wife Nene who is also enshrined at the temple.

Kodaiji's tsukiyama-style garden with Kaizando Hall...

behind the temple lies a mausoleum for Hideyoshi and Nene. The interior is richly decorated with special lacquerwork, known as Kodaiji Makie, that features designs of powdered gold and silver set in lacquer, a technique that Kodaiji is famous for.