Autumn in Kansai Area 2023

 We've been to Kansai area before but it was a short stay since we went to Tokyo too during that travel. This is so common for 1st time travellers wanting to see it all in one trip, that was one M-A-J-O-R mistake though. Anyway during that visit, we really enjoyed Kyoto more than OSAKA. Kyoto was like a haven for us, quiet streets at night and the spots are just really near each other.

So here's what we did at the peak of Autumn in Kansai. Never really expected it to be that AWESOME,  but it was one quiet of a big pack added to my core memories.

Sharing with you our itinerary for the whole trip. Please note that these are all DIYs. If you are a nature lover like us, you will love this jampacked itinerary (Not for Disney Princesses though).

1st Day Kyoto-Gion Area
2nd Day Kyoto-Arashiyama
3rd day Kyoto-Inari
4th Day - Nara
5th Day Himeji
6th Day Miyajima-Hiroshima
7th Day Universal Studios
8th Day Osaka

1st Day Kyoto-Gion Area

First Day High!

We started so early in the morning, the bus schedule is 06:26 AM at the stop near our hotel, which is like 2mins walk or so. We took Bus 80 and alighted at Kiyommizu-michi Bus stop. We just followed the people and did not turn on our google maps, then I realized it wasn't the correct entry street for Hokanji. I remember the alley was narrow  but this one is a little wide and the road is going uphill to Kiyumizudera. So we turned left and found this photospot on our way , there' actually a mark on the road indicating that.

•  Hokanji 

Finally found the correct alley

took another spot here to replicate our shot here last 2017

2017, back when we was shorter than me

behind us are people trying to get a snap as well of Hokanji 

• NinenZaka and SannenZaka

view from the top

Down the stairs view

spotted a cute store

• Breakfast at Starbucks Kyoto

We explored the NinenZaka and SannenZaka first while there are not so many people yet.  After that we lined up at Starbucks to take our breakfast. Surprisingly, there were already quite a few waiting in line. I counted 10 people before us.

No more space for tatami seating

managed to get a spot in the corner just for the 'gram post..hahaha

cute souvenir you can buy from Starbucks

TIP: When the Store opens, they require customers to take the stairs and save a spot first before you can order. Get someone from your group to save your spot and the other one going to the other end of the hallway and go back down to order your drinks and pastries.

Going to Kiyumizudera

saw a newly wed couple in a photoshoot

saw one photographer taking a picture here, so we stopped and took ours

• Kiyumizudera

view from the garden

see the pagoda from our back?

it's too tight to take a picture here , a lot of people wanting to take their spots

walk a little away from the platform and you'll get the same view minus the crowd

the pagoda that was on our back in the photo earlier
Tip : do not take pictures at the front, there is no crowd at the back

After Kiyumizudera, we headed back down to Ninenzaka to go to the next Stop. Kodaiji.

see the crowd around 11AM, this is the exact reason why we took pictures here earlier

Japan streets are so photogenic

women supporting women, probably besties

• Kodaiji

at the entrance

The Kodaiji Temple was closed for renovation but we actually went here to check the Bamboo Forest as well. The Bamboo Forest here is less crowded but it literally took me out of breaths, there is only one way you can go through it, you need to climb uphill then go down, no counterflow traffic. It is just a small area compared to the Arashisyama Bamboo Forest

If you only have one day in Kyoto and can only spend in Gion, it' s better to drop by here to get the Bamboo Forest Feels.

• Nishiki Market

Took our lunch here and went around. No More Free Taste in Nishiki Market. Hahahaha. Too bad, my son loved their free Karaages and nuts.

Went to some shoe stores and 2nd Hand stores, but the price is still expensive. So we opted to spend coins in the gachapons. 

taken at 1:43 pm. probably not a good time to drop here at this hour


We were heading next to Pontocho Alley but then I had to take a bladder break. We went down to the Subway area just to find restrooms. Arggh, no restrooms in the train station, luckily there are stores and what seemed like underground mall. We then found this Mario head by accident after getting out of the underground.

• Pontocho Alley

                                    the stores are still close, this looks better at night though

• Tatsumi Bridge

If you have watched memoirs of Geisha, this picture might be familiar to you. Yes, I am a fan of the book and the Movie.

this bridge is pretty in Spring, so I read

we walked through the small alley in the bridge and saw these tourists wearing their kimonos

Original Plan was for us to go to Hanami-Koji Dori then to Kennin-Ji before going to Yasaka Shrine but my son kept bugging me to buy his headphone so we head back to Kyoto, alighted at the stop near Yodabashi Mall.

testing the headphones, you can also score cheap shoes here, read from the dummies page they were able to buy NB 327 for 3500 PHP

We then walked to the hotel just so we can pass the Higashi Honganji Temple. We did not enter here though as we've been here last 2017.

We then took our dinner near the hotel and head back to Kyoto again to search for the Thrift stores.

Kyoto Tower view from Kyoto Station

mysterious light beam, we thought aliens are coming but nah this is just from kiyumizudera

.Ended the night at 8:42 PM, stopped by the nearest 711 and did some shopping for post dinner snacks.. Of course , we are Filipinos.

This is a DIY itinerary and we spent most of the time- walking.. 

Here's the recap of our 1st day Itinerary:

1. Hokanji

2. NinenZaka and SannenZaka

3. Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka

4. Kiyumizudera

5. Kodaiji

6. Nishiki Market

7. Pontocho Alley

8. Tatsumi Gion Bridge

9. Yodabashi Mall

10. Higashi Honganji

Original Plan

1. Hokanji

2. NinenZaka and SannenZaka

3. Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka

4. Kiyumizudera

5. Kodaiji

6. Nishiki Market

7. Pontocho Alley

8. Tatsumi Gion Bridge

9. Hanami-koji Dori (tourists will be banned here starting April 2024)

10. Kenninji Temple

11. Yasaka Shrine

If you are not intending to shop on the 1st day, you can try to follow the Original Plan. Numbers 9-11 is doable and you still finish at 7 or 8pm depending on your phase.

                                           Click for 2nd Day

2nd Day Kyoto-Arashiyama

Took our breakfast at the train station. We arrived 7am at Saga-Arashiyama Station and saw this yellow tree outside. Took a picture of it, was Ecstatic since this is the 1st time I ever see it up close.

We were too lazy to open up our Google Maps and just followed the people from the train. When we came to the familiar road, we crossed the street and entered the small alley that says Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. This is not the same street we entered the previous visit. I think that time, we entered near Tenryuji.

• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

this part of the Bamboo forest is closed. I remember seeing tourists on a rickshaw here. there must be a special fee when you want to get inside.

the best spot to take photos here in Bamboo forest but the crowd here is non-stop.

you can just take snaps when you get the chance

or you can just blur the people walking if your phone has long exposure capability.
Samsung has it as live view while for Huawei you can use the silky water mode or the pro mode if you know the correct settings.

 

Must be TenRyuji at the left

|We were too early for Okochi Sanso Garden opening so we decided to go to Kameyama Park. We got lost in the Bamboo Forest but when we got back on track, we passed by a small store with full Peak of Autumn Colors. We dropped by to get us a hot drink from the vendo and take some pictures.

this is actually to warm our hands than our tummy..lol

We thought Kiyumizudera was the highlight of our trip but then Arashiyama is definitely better with its colors. 

• Kameyama Park

We went uphill to the Viewing Deck 

Look at the view, I think my heart fluttered a bit here

Had to get a picture here

This is the viewing deck

From Viewing deck , we turned right then down to the side of the riverbanks. We were again greeted by Autumn's grandeur

We continued to walk down till we saw a flight of stairs going to the side of the river. It was steep though so you might need to be careful here.

We chanced a bunch of photographers under a tree, with their model in Kimono.

 And we just had to take pictures too..Look how lovely it is !

Upon passing the tree, realized I knew one of the photographers! Took a selfie with Win, Chris, his brother at the back. 

my eyes are feasting with Autumn Colors!

Yellow boat complimenting the trees at the back

We walked the riverside and to the Togetsukyo Bridge while enjoying the view. Passed by a long line of people buying their coffee. Oh. the famous Arabica!

another line for a restaurant

Tourists posing before their Rickshaw Ride begins

• Togetsukyo Bridge 

The best photospot for this is just across the road, giving you the view of the river and the bridge at the background. We did not cross the bridge as we are not going to the spots at the other end , the monkeys for example.

before the bridge

the bridge view is crowded

We bought pasalubong at the intersection near the bridge. It's the store famous for Filipinos as it was featured by a vlogger.

After buying, we head out to eat our lunch at a restaurant before the Kimono Forest. This is at 10:48 AM.

• Kimono Forest

Better to go here after sunset as these colorful pillars light

took a picture with some tourists wearing traditional outfits.

GGSS mode activated

Took a train to Enmachi Station, supposedly we need to take bus from Enmachi to Kinkakuji but my friend wanted to take a taxi instead as he doesn't want to wait for the next bus as it is full everytime. So we took a taxi to Kinkakuji for 1100 Yen for the 3 of us. 

Just after alighting and walking towards the entrance, my friend said he must have left his phone in the taxi. We walked back to the taxi stand but he is no longer there. We don't even remember the color of the taxi nor the plate number. Good thing I took a video while we were riding and caught the driver's id as I was sitting at the front. We asked the drivers at the taxi stand how we can contact the taxi driver. showed them the photo and then they gave us a number to call. But my Globe postpaid sim is not allowing me to call, getting barred error when calling. 

I called my cousin, Jocelyn who has been residing in Japan, and asked for help in contacting the taxi company. Sent her the photo of the driver's ID as well. She reached back after 5mins and told us the driver is already away from our location and it will take him an hour to get back. He will return the phone but he will charge us for the trip coming from where he was back to Kinkakuji. My friend is ok with the charge. Not wanting to waste an hour waiting for the driver, my friend told me proceed with the Kinkakuji Pavillion Tour without him. He will just wait for the driver at the taxi stand. But I literally went alone as my son did not accompany me! He said he's ok waiting for the driver too.

• Kinkakuji Pavillion (The Golden Pavillion)

it's still a long walk from here

During itinerary planning, I was really going to scrap this spot. Then I asked my friend who was here before if she can recommend this place and she said she did enjoy the place. The pavillion is a beauty. So I said to myself, ok I'll give it a chance. And now, I'm finally here alone! hahahaha.. So anyway, I was amazed, really. It was not in my expectation that I will be awed. No wonder it's called the Golden Pavillion. It just shines like real Gold.

view from the back
The top 2 floors are completely covered in Gold leaf. When you are a the back side , the Pavillion is now closer to your eyes and will make you see the sparkling light at the top reflected by the pond. It just glistens what a wonderful sight!

I went back to the taxi stand by 2pm and we had ice cream while waiting.

After this, we went hunting for thrift stores but never really scored one. Not only are they expensive but they are not much to our liking.