Wed Jan 10 2007 (Day 20) - 3rd day in Kyoto

First destination today is Fushimi Inari Shrine . Took the train to Fushimi Station which is part of JR so we were able to utilise our JR Pass.


The fox statues guarding the entrance

Entering the torii gates

It was still quite early around 9am i think. But there are quite a number of people heading uphill and some downhill. Most are elderly groups as part of a gathering activity.

The elderly Japanese are quite fit and healthy. They do lots of walking

The light

We were not going to go all the way. Mainly to pass through the torii gates.

Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of my favorite places. I love the mystical feel passing through these vermillion torii gates.

Mini torii gates as offerings

Back at the entrance

and heading back to the train station

a drink before the next destination


We took the train to Sagano to see the Bamboo Groves at Arashiyama. On the way walking to the Bamboo Groves

The entrance to the Bamboo Grove is a bit further on the left


At the Bamboo Groves. There were some trishaws trying to pick up passengers

At the entrance/exit

We took the train back to Kyoto Station to catch the bus to Kinkakuji

After Kinkakuji, Ryoanji 'next door' was our next destination but it was close to 5pm. We have to make it because these 2 places took us a long bus ride to get here and we are not going to return here. We raced to the supposedly nearby Ryoanji which took us forever to get there. Luckily we made it before 5.30pm which was the last entry time. And to our biggest disappointment..this was what the sight we had raced-till-we-almost-collasped for



A quick restroom break. Even my camera is out of breath

This is the main attraction - the Zen Garden

The model of the zen garden

The hall prior to the Zen Garden

That was Ryoanji. Totally overrated
We got off from the bus at Gion

We've covered quite a few sites today. Tomorrow we will head to Himeji on the shinkansen.

Next day...