After all the snow in Hokkaido we went back to Tokyo and transfered to Kyoto the following morning. It takes two and a half hours with the Nozomi Shinkansen and it gives you the opportunity to see the Fujisan on your right-hand side.
Kyoto
Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a millennium, and carries a reputation as its most beautiful city. It was not bombarded during the World War II so it managed to keep most of its temples and old streets. You can get a little bit stressed if you try to do all the “must see and must do” in Kyoto unless you have two weeks to stay in Kyoto, so… take it easy and enjoy whatever you manage to see. We recommend to go off-the-beaten path and visit the temples that are not highlighted in the guides and will probably surprise you.
On the day we arrived (February 3rd) it was the Setsubun Festival (the day before the beginning of spring according to Japanese calendar) and a number of ceremonies were held, so we had the chance to enjoy the temples and the ceremonies at the same time.
Recommended by Ricard and Asako, we stayed one night at Yachiyo Ryokan located at the north east are of the city. It is very convenient to visit various nearby temples and shrines. It was an excellent stay and we could simply not finish the dinner we were offered. After that we slept for two nights at Satomo Ryokan that offers good value for money right next to the Kyoto JR station.
Troç de càmeres que porten les iaies
Cool cameras not to miss a detail03-Feb-2011 12:21, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 5.3, 46.0mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 400
Això es crema al final de la festa
That will be burnt at the end of the celebration03-Feb-2011 19:04, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 2.5, 35.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 1600
Els amos del restaurant on vam sopar amb la Mika
Owners of the restaurant where we had dinner with Mika04-Feb-2011 21:56, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 2.8, 35.0mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 1600
Like Taiwanese people, Japanese also have the culture of having some food souvenir from every city/region. In the case of Kyoto it is the green tea(matcha) in various forms (regular tea, mochi, Yatsuhashi, icecream, cakes or even a local kit-kat version)
Setsubun at Sanjo dori
February 3rd, which was one day before the Risshun (the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar), is called the Setsubun in Japan. It is not a national holiday, but mame maki (bean throwing) ceremonies are performed on Setsubun. Traditionally, people throw roasted soy beans throughout their home, shouting “oni wa soto”(demons out) and “fuku wa uchi”(fortune in). It is believed that people will be healthy and happy if they pick up and eat the number of fortune beans (fuku name) equal to their age.
Apart from the ceremonies at the shrines and temples at the tourist information mentioned that there was a parade at Sanjo dori and we decided to join. It was really Japanese freak 100% including a mini performance to represent the fight against the demons. Enjoy!
Els dimonis rebent l'atac a base de mongetes
Bean-Throwing at the demons04-Feb-2011 15:07, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 8.0, 35.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200
The day before flying back to Taipei we decided to escape from Kyoto to nearby Nara (~40 minutes by train) and Inari (~5 minutes by train). Nara was nice but we were probably already a little bit saturated of temples as to fully enjoy Nara. The most funny bit is to interact with the deers that wander around. Following the recommendation of Wikitravel page we visited Inari at the sunset and it was just amazing!
Tren local per anar a Nara i Inari
Japan Rail local train to Nara and Inari05-Feb-2011 14:31, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 7.1, 18.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
Cèrvol esperant que algú li compri menjar
Deer waiting for a tourist to buy him/her food05-Feb-2011 10:11, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 10.0, 32.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
Todai-ji (l'edifici de fusta més gran del món). Podeu veure l'Albert saltant?
Todai-ji (the largest wood building in the world). Can you see Albert jumping?05-Feb-2011 10:25, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 9.0, 22.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200
Buda gegant dins el Todai-ji (14.98m d'alt)
Giant Buddha hosted at Todai-ji (14.98m of body height)05-Feb-2011 10:30, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 3.8, 20.0mm, 0.077 sec, ISO 1600
Algú ha de pintar les portes no?
Someone has to paint the doors, right?05-Feb-2011 15:50, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.0, 24.0mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 800
Posta de sol a Inari, el millor moment per visitar-ho
Sunser at Inari, best moment of the day for a visit05-Feb-2011 15:59, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 7.1, 35.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 200
Mika is a Japanese friend of Anna. They were learning Chinese together for couple of months in Taipei and Mika joined some of the parties we organized at home. Mika moved back to Japan and she’s living now at Kyoto. We went for a dinner with her and a friend of her.
Mika is working at LST organizing weddings. Mika asked if we would mind to be models for a photo session with traditional Japanese wedding dresses so LST could use the pictures in some of their marketing material. We accepted (of course!) and this is the result!
P.S.: No, after that we still do not plan to get married
Written by Albert
14 Comments
Jordi Farrés
Feb 10, 2011, 2:59
Fushimi-Inari pel vespre és genial, nosaltres hi vam anar l’últim vespre del viatge i després de tant de temple i caminar ens va anar molt bé passejar tranquilament (malgrat les pujades i baixades ;P )
Per cert, tant la Maite com jo vam passar pel forat de la columna del Todai-ji de Nara, però vam veure a una italiana que la van haver d’estirar XDD
Albert
Feb 10, 2011, 3:07
Jo no vaig passar … i les fotos de l’intent son força lamentables :)
Ricard
Feb 10, 2011, 4:39
A Inari no hi em anat encara nosaltres, me l´apunto a la llista!
Nina
Feb 10, 2011, 5:45
WOW~~~~~~~
I am not the first one…….
Enric
Feb 10, 2011, 12:57
Ei, parelleta,
Nomès puc dir,FANTÀSTIC.
Molts records.
Carles
Feb 10, 2011, 22:11
Us heu casat!!!! i no heu avisat la Lourdes?? greu error!
Impressionant tot! ..la nevada, els festivals, els temples i sobretot el casament aquest :-P
Ara, a nosaltres no ens hi veure pas esquiant i menys amb aquest temporal.
Ara si, a tope hi aniu…com ha de ser.
records
Carles i Mar
Abili
Feb 11, 2011, 16:01
Sembla que no només us esteu enamorant del Japó; a més a més us hi caseu i tot.
Quedeu molt guapos. Segur que altre gent s’animarà. Vosaltres aneuvos-ho rumiant.
Abili i Carme
Carles
Feb 11, 2011, 19:16
Boda! Boda! Boda!……
Enric
Feb 12, 2011, 17:13
La que heu liat je je je je
Mercè
Feb 13, 2011, 18:03
Hola! Estem aqui amb la teva mare, la tieta i la cosina Teresa Mari.
Esteu preciosos, ens ha agradat molt veure aquestes fotos!
La tieta està al·lucinada! :O
Ja veiem que us esteu passant molt bé!!
Una abraçada molt forta de part de tots!!
Esther
Feb 14, 2011, 9:14
Esteu guapissims!!!, fan ganes de venir a passar uns dies amb vosaltres i compartir una miqueta tot aixo que feu. Petons de tots els 5 Garriga-Urruti
Enric
Feb 15, 2011, 15:06
Queremos Boda, Queremos Boda
Enric
Feb 16, 2011, 16:25
Els Garriga-urruti no cal convidar-los, que son molts i no vegis com menjan.
Fushimi-Inari pel vespre és genial, nosaltres hi vam anar l’últim vespre del viatge i després de tant de temple i caminar ens va anar molt bé passejar tranquilament (malgrat les pujades i baixades ;P )
Per cert, tant la Maite com jo vam passar pel forat de la columna del Todai-ji de Nara, però vam veure a una italiana que la van haver d’estirar XDD
Jo no vaig passar … i les fotos de l’intent son força lamentables :)
A Inari no hi em anat encara nosaltres, me l´apunto a la llista!
WOW~~~~~~~
I am not the first one…….
Ei, parelleta,
Nomès puc dir,FANTÀSTIC.
Molts records.
Us heu casat!!!! i no heu avisat la Lourdes?? greu error!
Impressionant tot! ..la nevada, els festivals, els temples i sobretot el casament aquest :-P
Ara, a nosaltres no ens hi veure pas esquiant i menys amb aquest temporal.
Ara si, a tope hi aniu…com ha de ser.
records
Carles i Mar
Sembla que no només us esteu enamorant del Japó; a més a més us hi caseu i tot.
Quedeu molt guapos. Segur que altre gent s’animarà. Vosaltres aneuvos-ho rumiant.
Abili i Carme
Boda! Boda! Boda!……
La que heu liat je je je je
Hola! Estem aqui amb la teva mare, la tieta i la cosina Teresa Mari.
Esteu preciosos, ens ha agradat molt veure aquestes fotos!
La tieta està al·lucinada! :O
Ja veiem que us esteu passant molt bé!!
Una abraçada molt forta de part de tots!!
Esteu guapissims!!!, fan ganes de venir a passar uns dies amb vosaltres i compartir una miqueta tot aixo que feu. Petons de tots els 5 Garriga-Urruti
Queremos Boda, Queremos Boda
Els Garriga-urruti no cal convidar-los, que son molts i no vegis com menjan.
I agree with you Carles! Boda!!! jejejejeeee