Travel With Kids: Kyoto, Japan-Day 4

For some, getting on a bus full of teenagers for another day of hiking through popular sights in heat and humidity might not work, but this is why we came.  Finding things that enthuse our teenagers is important to us…and they had wanted to come see Japan for awhile.  So here we were, taking a bus ride west from Osaka to Kyoto on our fourth day of travel….to follow our intrepid guide through some of the most iconic sites in Japan.

Like Nara, Kyoto is an ancient Japanese city set a bit farther away from the ocean toward the mountains, both were once capital cities of Japan.  Also like Nara, Kyoto escaped major bombing in WWII so that most of its oldest historical sites still stand.  Onward to Kyoto:

Kinkaku (the Golden Pavilion)

The Golden Pavilion is a building that stands inside the site of a Buddhist Temple, called Kinkakujji.  The Golden Pavilion was originally built to show off power and wealth.  It was completed in 1408 and transformed into a Zen (Buddhist) temple after the lord,  shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu died.  The building fell into disrepair but stood until 1950, when it was burned by arson.  The Golden Pavilion was quickly rebuilt, presented again to the people in 1955.  From 1986-1987 the gold leaf on the building was reworked as the thinner version was found to be peeling off (yep, it’s real) and the roof was rebuilt in 2003.  The pavilion has three stories and is shaped like a pagoda.  Sadly, it’s not open to the public, but you can walk around part of it on the path through the monastery….where there’s lots of other buildings to check out and scenic gardens and pools.  On the day we went, it seemed crowded in the beginning around the best viewing spots of the Golden Pavilion, but once we continued up the path on our own, the crowds thinned out.  Apparently, views of the gardens and zen ponds are not as popular as the pavilion.  Here’s my pics of Kinkaku:

Arashiyama District (Arashiyama Bamboo Grove)

The Arashiyama District is an area just a bit outside Kyoto with abundant restaurants, tourist attractions, shops, temples, the famous Togetsu-kyo Bridge and the famed Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.  On this day, we took off from the Golden Pavilion and headed to the Arashiyama District to see the bamboo grove and give everyone a chance to grab some lunch.  I wish I had done just a bit of research before coming here, as I really didn’t know the significance of the area and the abundant heat and humidity really had an effect.  With continuing jet lag, heat and humidity, I was a crabby person, but we sorted all that out with some food and a cold drink.  If you are put off by crowds….head up the river or into the bamboo grove quickly, because these streets were crowded.  But don’t be put off, the area is worth seeing- just be warned about the crowds, heat and humidity.

On the way to the next adventure, our bus driver allowed us to to see the old capital of Japan at Kyoto (Emperors Palace).  The photos were taken out of a moving bus window.

Fushimi Inari-taisha

Fushimi Inari-taisha is a Shinto Shrine located at the base of a small mountain in Kyoto.  This shrine is the head shrine of all Inari Shinto Shrines in Japan, there are approximately 32,000 sub-shrines.  The shrine has over 10,000 Senbon Torii (gates) donated by individuals and Japanese business’ and is one of the most popular shrines in all of Japan, with over 3 million visitors per year.  The shrine has been known in writing since 965 and its iconic two story entrance gate is at least three hundred years old.  The main path up the mountain has over 800 Senbon Torii in a row, making the experience of walking through them feel like a tunnel….a red tunnel.  Here’s my pics:

Back to Osaka: Japanese Style Dinner & Osaka at night

After the hiking and walking throughout the shrine, we found the bus and enjoyed the ride back to Osaka.  On the way back, we knew we were heading right for dinner…which would turn into a culinary event.  After finding the right restaurant (into a building, down a random unmarked hallway and past a door marked with the barest kanji), we were asked to take off our shoes and led through large sliding doors into a room large enough for our group.  Inside were 6 large Japanese style tables with tatami mats.  The tables were low…so you sat cross legged or legs out front at a seat.  Then we waited.  No menus, it was a set menu but the food was spectacular.  As we waited, a parade of food started coming into the room, served at all the tables nearly at once.  The night started with beautiful ceviche, sushi and ended with gigantic bowls of carefully prepared udon.  Here’s my photos:

As we finished dinner and walked back to the bus, night began to fall on the city and it was really pretty.

Things to know….if I could do this day again: 

– The Golden Pavilion– Yes, 100%- Easy to get in and easy to get out, bus parking right at the site. 

– Arashiyama Bamboo Grove– Yes, but I would take more time to purposely go see the grove and the river/bridge and understand the cultural significance.  If I had very young children with me, this may not make my list of sites to visit. 

– Fushimi Irari-taisha– Yes, 100% again.  But this time, I would take more time and actually hike the mountain more completely.  I would also wander the grounds further, as unlike more sites, the main object of worship here at this site is able to be observed and seen by all.  We didn’t happen to know this, so we didn’t go see it, but I think if you observed with a reverent attitude and respect, it might be ok.  However, the bus parking lot is a bit of a hike uphill through actual traffic and busy neighborhoods…then back downhill again to get back to the bus.  It’s also dangerous shopping territory as you get closer to the shrine and I wish we had taken the opportunity to buy several pieces that the HelmsMistress found- higher quality than in other touristy areas.   

– Kyoto– Yes.  I wish we had been able to see more of the actual city but our bus did go right through the city several times, seeing the old Imperial Palace and capital area was a highlight.  

I gotta admit, this post took me awhile to put together.  Not because I didn’t have material and experience to write about, but because there’s just much packed into one of these days and there’s so much history in each of these sites.  It’s just a bit of a brain drain to figure out how to write about our experiences at each of these sites, and then try to throw in some of the major history too.  When everything is thousands of years old and has its own legacy, it all becomes important.

Other posts in this series about travel to Japan with kids:

Travel With Family- A Summer Trip To Japan- 1

Travel With Family- Osaka, Japan- Day 1

Back to Japan…in a most unexpected way- By The HelmsMistress

Travel With Kids: Osaka, Japan- Day 2

Travel With Kids: Nara, Japan-Day 3