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
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| Finally found the correct alley |
took another spot here to replicate our shot here last 2017
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| 2017, back when we was shorter than me |
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behind us are people trying to get a snap as well of Hokanji
 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. |
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| No more space for tatami seating |
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| managed to get a spot in the corner just for the 'gram post..hahaha |
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| 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.
saw a newly wed couple in a photoshoot
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| saw one photographer taking a picture here, so we stopped and took ours |
- Kiyumizudera
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| view from the garden |
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| see the pagoda from our back? |
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it's too tight to take a picture here , a lot of people wanting to take their spots
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| 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 |
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| see the crowd around 11AM, this is the exact reason why we took pictures here earlier |
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Japan streets are so photogenic
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- Kodaiji
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| 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
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- 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.
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| 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. 
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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.
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| this bridge is pretty in Spring, so I read |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Kyoto Tower view from Kyoto Station |
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| mysterious light beam, we thought aliens are coming but nah this is just from kiyumizudera |
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.
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