5 Types of People I Met in Japan

1) Fakes.

Just because Maikos (real or not?).

I'm not really sure if they were real or not but their very elaborate make up and fancy head dresses caught my attention.

2) The Japinos!

Filipino and Japanese in one. I met these three sisters who where my friend's friends. They were the nicest people I met in Japan. They toured us around the Namba and Umeda area and brought us to nice restaurants. They also taught us what to do and not to do while in Japan and some basic Japanese. And lastly, they taught us the right pronuciation of "Ki o tsukete". 

And they're amazing! Couldn't say anything better.

3) The creepy old man.

I met him at Osaka Castle. He didn't introduce his self; he just approached me and told me to go with him because he will share a story about the castle and the emperors that lived there. At the back of my mind, who is this guy? I went with him because he doesn't really look scary. At first he was speaking in English but then he started speaking Japanese and my, he walks too fast!!! Dude, I don't speak Jap and I just had an injury. 

4) The friendly old ladies.

Unlike #3, they're friendly not in a creepy way. They smile a lot and they're so cute (Coach Anzai of Slamdunk cute). We learned from them that the bus is usually late when it's 5 pm (we were in Ginkakuji area). Their english isn't that bad but sometimes they forget that I don't understand Japanese and they continue talking and I try  to pretend I understand them.
"Yeah, kamehame wave!"

I asked them if we can have a picture with them and they were hesitant at first but they give in due to my persistence. I just love old people like them; they looked so happy and adorable. :)

5) Burgis.

I thought they were the most boring and plain people in Japan. So I googled (because they look mysterious to me) "salary men japan" and I wasn't disappointed. Well, for starters they are very well dressed that you'll feel very poor when you sit beside them on trains. But when the night comes, they're just the same as you; drowning their selves with beer and be crazy.

Of course, the briefcase.

-goodnight-

donna

Kansai International Airport

KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Kansai International Airport (KIX) is a major international airport of Japan and the gateway to Kansai region and to the other parts of Japan. One interesting fact: the airport stands on a man-made island located in Osaka Bay.

KIX airport provides practically everything. I listed here the service facilities that would be helpful upon your arrival at KIX Airport.

Information Counters

This is where you go when you think you’re lost or doesn’t know where to start. The staffs are friendly and speak decent English. Information counters are identified by their (?) marks.

I remember the moment we arrived at the airport the first thing that we looked for was a Currency Exchange shop and just a couple of steps from this shop is the Information Counter. We went to the Counter to ask where we could buy tickets and rent a Wi-Fi router. They happened to be just a couple of steps away.

Tourist Information Center

Tourist Iformation Centre and Travel Desk

Basically, they provide tourist information (Kansai and throughout Japan) that you might need. They also handle tickets and hotel reservation; we bought our Kyoto City Bus One Day Pass here. For more information visit Kansai Tourist Information Center.

Currency Exchange

There are a number of currency exchange shops at the airport. Japan is a cash-based society; trains, buses, vending machines and most stores only accept cash. So exchange at least an equivalent of 10, 000 yen or higher. Don’t worry about keeping large amount of cash; Japan is an incredibly safe country.

Rental Services

Near the Tourist Information Center are the Wi-Fi router rental shops. Although there are plenty of Wi-Fi hotspots in Japan we still opted to rent a Wi-Fi router due to its convenience.

Wi-Fi routers are pretty useful specially when exploring; this will prevent you from getting lost (google maps). For us, we used the router for looking up nearby restaurants and food shops that are “must try” since we forgot to search for places to eat in Osaka and Kyoto beforehand.

Transport Services

Ticket Vendos for Nankai and JR Lines

There are a number of options to get to and from the KIX airport: bus, train, car, taxi and high-speed ferry. But it all depends on where you’re going to or coming from and how much are you willing to spend. As for us, we prefer the train and bus.

Train lines from the KIX airport bound for:

Nankai Line

Namba Station – Approx. 34-45 minutes by Nankai Line

Osaka Station (Umeda) – Approx. 65 minutes by JR Line (Kansai Airport Rapid Service)

Shin-Osaka Station – Approx. 50 minutes by JR Line (Airport Express HARUKA)

Tennoji Station – Approx. 30 – 45 minutes by JR Line

Kyoto Station – Approx. 75 minutes by JR Line (Airport Express HARUKA)

Nara Station – Approx. 65-85 minutes by JR Line (with transfer at Tennoji Station)

Hyogo Station – Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes by JR Line (with transfer at Osaka Station)

Wakayama Station – Approx. 30 – 45 minutes by JR Line (with transfer at Hineno Station)

Limousine bus services from the KIX airport bound for:

Osaka Station (Umeda) – 1,550 yen / Approx. 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes by Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise (KATE)

Kobe – 1,950 yen / Approx. 1 hour and 10 minutes by KATE

Kyoto – 2,550 yen / Approx. 1 hour and 25 minutes to 2 hours (depends on your destination in Kyoto) by KATE

Nara – 2,050 yen / Approx. 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 25 minutes (depends on your destination in Nara) by KATE

Wakayama – 1,150 yen / Approx. 40 minutes by KATE

The high-speed ferry has only one route which is KIX to Kobe airport; it costs 1,850 yen (930 yen for children). Travel time is about 30 minutes. While the taxi can be very convenient it is also a luxury. Price depends on the size of the taxi and standard fare ranges from 13,000 to 15,000 yen.

-goodnight-

donna

Kyoto City Bus Basics

GETTING AROUND KYOTO

Bus terminal outside the Kyoto Station.

The most convenient way to explore Kyoto is by bus. The city has a very extensive bus system which could be complicated and overwhelming at first, but they can get you anywhere as long as you know which bus to board. To help you with, you should get yourself a copy of the Kyoto City Bus Travel Map BUS NAVI (there are two sightseeing maps, the simplified one and the more detailed map). They are available at the Kansai International Airport and Kyoto Bus Information Center, outside the Kyoto Station. You could also download them from Bus Navi 1 and Bus Navi 2 and study them in advance.

Major Bus Routes

1) From Kyoto station to Kiyomizudera Temple/Gion: Bus Nos. 100 or 206

-From Hankyu Kawaramachi Station: Bus No. 207 and get off at Kiyomizu-michi

2)  From Kyoto / Hankyu Saiin Station to Ninna-ji Temple: Bus No. 26 and get off at Omuro Ninna-ji (the bus stops right in front of the temple)

Ryo-anji and Kinkaku-ji Temples can be reached from Ninna-ji Temple by Bus No. 59

3) From Hankyu Kawaramachi station to Ginkaku-ji Temple: Bus Nos. 5, 17 or 102 and get off at Ginkakuji-michi

-From Kyoto station:  Bus Nos. 5, 17 or 100

4) From Kyoto Station to Otagi-Nenbutsuji Temple: Bus No. C6

5) From Kyoto Station to Nijo Castle: Bus Nos. 9, 50 or 101

How to Ride the Kyoto City Bus

1) Kyoto buses have designated bus stops, which I find incredibly awesome because we don’t have that here. Here in PH, you can ride the bus anywhere! Going back, all bus stops have signs that display schedule of buses that stop at that area (written in Japanese and English). Major bus stops have signs that indicate the approach of the next bus.

Bus stop near Kawaramachi Station

Sign of an approaching next bus

2) Once your bus has arrived, get on the bus from the rear door and exit at the front.

3) Pay the exact bus fare when you get off. There’s a payment box beside the driver: within the flat fare zone costs 230 yen for adults and 120 yen for children (6-12 yo). If you think you're going to ride the bus more than 3 times, I recommend you purchase the Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass. The One-Day Pass, which costs 500 yen, will let you ride the bus (only for the Flat Fare Zone) as many times as you want valid only for one day.

Ticket vendo

There’s a screen in the bus that displays the route and the next bus stop and at the same time there’s also an announcement of the next stop.

***Kyoto City buses are mostly green colored while Kyoto buses are beige. 

-goodnight-
donna

Kyoto Travel Guide

Kyoto is one of the most well preserved ancient cities in the world. It was the capital of Japan before the Imperial Court transferred to Tokyo. What I love about Kyoto is that I got to experience what Japan feels and looks like in the ancient times while offering me the convenience of the modern world. For instance, inside a temple built in 16^th century is an ultra-modern toilet facility that has more buttons than your cellphone.

Speaking of temples, Kyoto has thousands and if I’m not mistaken 16 of them are listed as World Heritage Site. But wait, there’s more! Kyoto is also known for its stunning landscapes and traditional houses known as “Machiya”. I almost forgot, if lucky enough you’ll get to see Geishas and Maikos walking around Gion area. Although I find their make-up weird I still find them attractive. 

The City of Kyoto was our  first destination in the Kansai region. Well my first impression of Kyoto was it was mountainous. If you're coming from Osaka you know you're approaching Kyoto when you start to see farms and mountains especially when you're riding the Hankyu Line.

We allotted three days for Kyoto and on our first day it was snowing. I was wearing 4 layers of clothes but I was still shivering! Guys, I'm from a country where the sun feels like it's just meters away. Also, this is my first time to experience winter. It was hard. 

HOW TO GET TO KYOTO

Read Kansai International Airport entry.

KYOTO ITINERARY

Kyoto is one of the cities that offers wonderful places and experiences. I listed here the details of our three-day itinerary which could help you with yours. Read more...

Kiyomizudera Temple

GETTING AROUND KYOTO

The most convenient way to move around Kyoto is by bus. The city has a very extensive bus system which could be complicated and overwhelming at first, but they can get you anywhere as long as you know which bus to board. Read more...

Kyoto Bus Terminal just outside the Kyoto Station

HOTELS

February is a good time to travel to Japan (Kansai Region) though you have to prepare yourself for the cold winter. My friend and I are both budget conscious so we opted for a budget hotel, the Shin-Osaka Sunny Stone Hotel (will make a review on this). We decided not to stay in Kyoto because the rates are higher and besides, Kyoto is just 30 minutes away from Osaka via JR Special Rapid Services and 15 minutes via Shinkansen (but this is expensive). 

In general, check Tripadvisor, Airbnb and Couchsurfing. They have some of the best deals. 

BEST TIME TO GO

During winter when prices of airlines and hotels are cheap. On a serious note, you can visit Kyoto anytime of the year - every month’s weather offers a unique experience. It all depends on you what you want to see and experience. As for us, Japan is the nearest to the Philippines that have snow, so we went here during winter.

Higashiyama Area. Snow :)

TIPS

• You can buy baked goods at family mart or any convenient store. For 100 yen you already have a decent bread for breakfast. Our hotel is just a couple of steps away from family mart so I buy food during the night and eat breakfast in my room before going out. Also, if you're on a tight budget, try all the food samples you'll see. :)
• We eat breakfast and dinner in Osaka, it's cheaper and more convenient to us.
• For day 3 (Arashiyama area), eat a heavy breakfast 'coz you'll be walking a lot. Bring a bottle of water and candies. Also, you don't have to visit all the temples I mentioned on Kyoto Itineraries but you need to see the Bamboo forest and the Togetsukyo Bridge. They're just charming.
• Supposedly, our first stop (for Arashiyama) is Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple but we didn't know that we were right in front of its gate; it's exactly the last stop of the bus. It sucks because we walked pass the temple. Well, the first person we asked didn't know it existed. Too bad for us. :( Even if you have read all the articles and blogs on the internet and googled every travel guide, you will still get lost.
• During winter, Arashiyama is colder than in any other part of Kyoto (I guess) so dress appropriately.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Bring a map. Maps are available at the airport, in stores and tourist spots. They're practically everywhere.  For free!
• Don't be afraid to ask for directions. The locals are very much willing to help you out.
• There are a lot of other places to see in Kyoto like the Fushimi Inari, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and  Museums. Plan ahead. 
• The Kyoto City Bus is your best friend. 
• Use Hyperdia for railway timetable.

-goodnight-

donna

Kyoto Itineraries

Kyoto is one of the cities that offers wonderful places and experiences. I listed here the details of our three-day itinerary which could help you with yours. If you got only one day for Kyoto you could follow our first day and for two days our first two days and so forth. We were coming from Osaka so I also included here the time of departure for Kyoto and what train and bus to ride. 

We opted to stay in Osaka because it would be an inconvenience to transfer hotels. But it's important to note that the hotel must be near to train stations; walking distance near. Our hotel, Shin-Osaka Sunny Stone Hotel, is just a walking distance from the Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station of the Hankyu line and Shin-Osaka Station of JR line.

We didn't follow our plan for day 1 because we woke up very late.

Kinkakuji Temple

Day 1, Higashiyama Area

• Depart for Kyoto around 7 am. 
• Take the JR line at Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto.
• Arrive at Kyoto Station around 7:30 am.
• Take City Bus 100 or 206 and drop off at Kiyomizu-michi.
• Walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Explore temple. In case you get hungry, outside the temple are food stores and shops lined up with free tastes!
• Walk through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka Slope.
• Head to Kodai-ji Temple. Explore the temple.
• Stop by at Yasaka Shrine. 
• Eat lunch at Gion.
• From Gion, take City Bus 12 going to Nijojomae. Walk to Nijo Castle. Explore Castle.  
• From the castle, take City bus 12 and get off at Shijo-Kawaramachi. Walk to Nishiki Market. Walk straight (along Shijo street) then turn right. Shop and eat at Nishiki Market. 
• From Nishiki Market, walk to Hankyu Kawaramachi Station (bound for Osaka) or take City Bus 5 going to Kyoto station. 
• Bound for Osaka.

Expenses:

JR line, Special Rapid Services (Shin-Osaka to Kyoto)	JPY 560.00
City Bus flat rate	JPY 230.00
Hankyu line (Kyoto to Osaka)	JPY 400.00
Food	JPY 2,000.00
Entrance fees
Kiyomizudera Temple	JPY 300.00
Kodaiji Temple	JPY 600.00
Total	JPY 4,090.00

Day 2, Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji Area

• Depart for Kyoto around 7 am. 
• Take the Hankyu line at Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station to Kyoto (Saiin Station).
• Arrive at Saiin Station (Hankyu line has a lot of stop overs) around 8:00 am.
• Take bus 26 bound for Ninnaji Temple.
• Explore temple. There are vendos inside in case you get thirsty.
• Take bus 59 going to Ryoanji Temple.
• Explore temple then take bus 59 and head to Kinkakuji Temple. This is my favorite, maybe because it's gold. Kidding. It's just beautiful. 
• Eat lunch at Kinkakuji area. 
• After lunch, take bus 204 going to Ginkakuji Temple. 
• Explore temple.
• Walk through the Path of Philosophy.
• Walk to Honen-in temple. 
• After exploring temple, take bus 5 (or 17 and 100) to Kyoto Station.
• Bound for Osaka.

Expenses:

Hankyu line (Osaka to Saiin, Kyoto)	JPY 370.00
City Bus One-Day Pass	JPY 500.00
JR line, Special Rapid Services (Kyoto to Osaka)	JPY 560.00
Food	JPY 2,000.00
Entrance fees
Ninnaji Temple	JPY 500.00
Ryoanji Temple	JPY 500.00
Kinkakuji Temple	JPY 400.00
Ginkakuji Temple	JPY 500.00
Honenin Temple	JPY 0.00
Total	JPY 5,330.00

Day 3, Arashiyama Area

• Depart for Kyoto around 7 am. 
• Take the JR line to Kyoto station.  
• Walk to the bus terminal outside Kyoto Station and look for C6 bus stop or you could ask the police on guard at the station (ask for "Otagidera mae" or just show them the map and point Otagidera mae). 
• Once you get on to the bus, tell the driver you want to get off at "Otagidera mae". 
• Travel time is around an hour.
• Supposedly, our first stop is Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple but we didn't find it. Read my post on Adashino-Nenbutsuji Temple.
• Walk to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple and explore.
• Walk to Gioji Temple and explore (and rest too).
• Walk to Nison-in Temple and explore.
• Walk to Bamboo Forest. 
• Walk to Tenryuji Temple and explore. 
• Eat lunch.
• Walk to Togetsukyo Bridge and rest.
• Take bus 72 or 74 going to Kyoto Sation.
• If you still have the energy, walk to Kyoto Yodobashi and shop.
• Bound for Osaka. 

Expenses:

JR line, Special Rapid Services (Shin-Osaka to Kyoto)	JPY 560.00
City Bus	JPY 460.00
JR line, Special Rapid Services (Kyoto to Shin-Osaka)	JPY 560.00
Food	JPY 2,000.00
Entrance fees
Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple	JPY 500.00
Gioji Temple	JPY 300.00
Nison-in Temple	JPY 500.00
Tenryuji Temple	JPY 500.00
Total	JPY 5,380.00

Total Expenses for three days: approx. JPY 15,000.00 (around PHP6,000)
*Breakfast, dinner and souvenirs not included.




-goodnight-
donna

Gio-ji Temple

Gio-ji Temple

Gioji Temple is a very small temple with a lovely moss garden and tall maple trees. Like Ryoanji Temple, it gives you a feeling of being at peace; of being connected to nature. I remember my friend is somewhat disappointed because the temple was so small and wasn't visit-worthy for him. The main hall of Gioji was equally small and is incomparable to those of Kiyomizu-dera and Tenryu-ji Temple. I guess I'm just interested with anything abstract or something different because I find this temple magical.

Moss garden and maple trees.

The secret of enjoying this temple is to just watch the garden: study the trees and the moss garden. Notice the different shades of green and how this adds beauty to garden.

Path going to the entrance.

Entrance of the temple.

How to get there:

It's a 15-minute walk from Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple.

Opening hours and fees:

Opening hours: 0900H-1700H

Fees: Adults: 300 Yen
Children: 100 Yen

Map: Arashiyama Map


goodnight - donna

Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple

Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple

We were supposed to visit the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple but we got lost again. Otagi Nenbutsuji temple lies at the top of Arashiyama, at the last stop of the bus, while Adashino Nenbutsuji temple lies before Otagidera. Well there’s no one to ask because there were no other crowd – just us.

Adashino Nenbutsuji

Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple is nothing like the other temples we visited. It was a burial ground during the ancient times, Heaian (793-1183) to the Edo (1615-1868) period. Although it’s literally a cemetery, it had the beauty and serenity of a Zen garden. The Buddha stones laid in the temple were neatly arranged and it looks more of a garden with a lot of statues and not a burial ground. 

Main entrance.

Burial stones at the entrance of the temple.

The temple was said to have been founded by Kukai (774-835) who placed memorial stones for the dead buried in the area during the 9^th century.  Later in the 12^th century it was called Nenbutsuji where the teaching of Amida Buddha is practiced. 

The main building of the temple was built in 1712 which houses the statue of Amida Buddha by Tankei (1183-1392). About eight thousand Buddha stones are laid in the temple. During the ancient times gravestones are only made for the upper class of the society and only a few commoners. 

At the temple is another bamboo path, smaller compared to the bamboo forest but nonetheless charming.

The bamboo path is connected to another burial ground.

On the evenings of August 23 and 24 around 1000 candles are lighted in honor of the souls of the ancestors. 

How to get there:

For Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple

-Take City Bus C6 at the bus terminal outside Kyoto Station. 

-Tell the bus driver you're getting off at "Otagidera Mae". Kyoto bus drivers are polite so I guess you won't have a problem.  It'll take around one hour to get there.

-Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple is just a couple of steps away from the last bus stop.
-Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple is a 5-minute walk from Otagi.

Bus schedules as of February 2015.

The gate of the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple.

I told you, there were no other people around. Just cars.

 To help you with here's a map we got from a store owner near Otagi Nenbutsuji.

 Opening hours and fees:

Opening hours: 0900H-1630H (March to November)

0900H-1530H (December to February)

Fees: 500 Yen

**No photographing of the stones of Buddha. 

Goodnight! - donna

Honen-in Temple

Honen-in Temple

This is the only temple that can be toured for free all year round! We almost did not enter the temple because it looks like a private property and there were no other visitor except us. We asked the passersby if it was the Honen-in temple just to confirm if we were on the right area.

The temple was very serene and a great place to contemplate. Really. It was our last temple for that day and it was nice not to hear any noise.

Main gate and the two white sand bed (Biyaku-sadan).

The two mounds of sand are said to represent water that cleanses the mind and the body of the visitor. The gate was closed when we were there and we pass through a different route.

The main hall wasn't open during the time so we just roamed around. It houses the black Amida Buddha figure and is only open during the first week of April and November.

At the bridge going to the main hall.

Moss covered garden.

Gate at the entrance.

While touring around we passed by a cemetery which at first looks like an ordinary garden to me; it doesn't have that creepy atmosphere.

How to get there:

From Kawaramachi station of the Hankyu Line, take City bus 17 or 32 and get off at Ginkakuji-mae. It's a five minute walk from there.

From Kyoto Station, take City bus 5, 17 or 100.


Opening Hours and fees: 

Opening Hours: 07:00H to 16:00H

Fees: None