BACKPACK KYOTO TRIP DAY 4 - Kurama and Kibune

March 29, 2010

Initially I wanted to put this part of the trip on the last day. But Franco suggested that today would be better. And so I listened to his advice - turned out to be the best decision I made during the whole trip!

Kurama（鞍馬）and Kibune(貴船）are a pair of tranquil valleys located on the northern outskirts of Kyoto city. They are favoured as nature getaways from the hustle and bustle of urban Kyoto. This place is famous for its hot springs and mountain temples, and also the Kurama-matsuri (Kurama festival) on the night of 22 October.

Demachiyanagi Station - The first station on the Eiden Eizan line

The green sign on the train indicates that the destination is Kurama

The interior of the train

Arriving at Kibuneguchi Station

A shuttle bus to bring us to the heart of the Kibune valley

Clear streams along our trail

Attraction #15: Kibune-Jinja （貴船神社）

This red torii gate standing guard over the entrance of the pathway to the temple is reminiscent of the one at Fushimi-Inari shrine. Likewise, admission to the grounds is free. Although not a particularly impressive or large shrine, the crimson lanterns framing the steps leading up to the shrine make portrait photography quite picturesque.

The main attraction in the shrine - wishing on a wooden card

or tie your fortune papers on a ropeboard


I chose to have my fortune revealed by a piece a fortune paper I purchased for 200 yen..

Another hopeful for her fortune~

Then something spectacular happened all of a sudden...


Yeah! - Snow flakes fluttering from the sky.. My first time seeing natural snow..

I went to check the temperature immediately - 4.5 degrees!

We decided to take a little hike over the mountain - from Kibune valley to Kurama valley. Yup I'm getting old, so I need a stick.

Saw this shrine about a quarter-way up the mountain.. No idea what it's called.


Halfway up the mountain - the Snow Queen makes her presence felt again..

Me trying to be the poster boy of 冬季恋歌II

Trying to capture some snow

BACKPACK KYOTO TRIP DAY 3 - Arashiyama and Sagano Area

Sunday, 28 March 2010 

Today is western Kyoto - the Arashiyama area. It is possible to clear this area in just half a day, if you plan to only visit just the famous temples only. Otherwise, you can fill the rest of the day with a river boat ride and a visit to their monkey park, and to the gals - shopping!

Taking the train from Shijo-Omiya Station （四条大宮駅）

 

 

Attraction #12: Tenryu-ji （天竜寺）

This temple was built in A.D. 1339 after a priest dreamt of a dragon rising from a nearby river. The dragon was thought to represent a deceased emperor's spirit, and so this temple was erected as an appeasement to the spirit. The present building dates from 1900, but the main attraction is the 14th century Zen garden.

The northern exit of the temple. And directly beyond it is the next attraction -->

Attraction #13: Sagano Bamboo Grove （嵯峨野竹林）

For those wanting to combine serenity with a stroll, Sagano Bamboo Grove is the best place to walk in. The dense green bamboo trunks coupled with sunlight creates a surreal effect that makes one feel calm while walking. The bamboo is still used to manufacture various products, such as baskets, cups, boxes, mats and pieces of art at workshops in the Arashiyama area.

Attraction #14: Jokakko-ji （常寂光寺）

We arrived at this temple after walking out of the bamboo grove. Unlike other temples that have some rich history behind them that makes them worth touring, this temple doesn't have much of that. Instead, it just offers good views east over Kyoto.

The famous Tahoto pagoda in the temple grounds

City of Kyoto as my background =)

 On the way back.. 

 A trail beside the pond... And then I saw something..

 Neko!!

A beautiful valley, with boats dotting the Hozu-gawa river (保津川）

 Sakuras on the mountains

 Walking through the tortoise garden.. But didn't see any tortoises.

 A small dam to harness hydroelectric power of the river

 This large notice says that the rows of lamps on the Togetsu-kyo bridge are powered by the electricity generated by the river. And although you can't see it clearly, right now the power generation is 0.03kW.

 More shots of the river

 Me on the Togetsu-kyo bridge (渡月橋）

 Pedestrians and cars crossing the bridge

 The area near the Togetsu-kyo bridge is a small but bustling downtown area, since this place is basically a gateway to the attractions of Arashiyama. The Keifuku Arashiyama station is just nearby, so this place will never experience a lack of tourists and shoppers.

 The Keifuku Arashiyama train station entrance. Back to central Kyoto.