Day 436: January 11, 2023
Wednesday – Kyoto x Nara
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| Before anything else, we had our breakfast at Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium |
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| Itadakemasu! |
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| First destination - Uji City |
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| With Oujichama at Uji Station |
We walked across the overpass from our hotel to the Horikawa Gojo bus station. We boarded the bus bound for Kyoto Station when we arrived at the bus stop. We next changed to a train destined for Uji Station in Kyoto Prefecture's ancient city of Uji (宇治市).
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| The Sako-gata (茶壷型ポスト) Post outside Uji Station |
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| Uji Tourist Information Center |
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| Check out this gyoza vending machine |
Upon exiting Uji Station the first thing that we did was take a picture with the unique-looking sako-gata post/teapot-style post outside the station before going to the Uji Tourist Information Center which is right beside the station. The staff provided us with a map and a day-tour itinerary.
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| Uji Bridge |
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| Statue of Murasaki Shikubu |
With the map in hand, we followed Ujibashi Street until we reached Uji River. There was a small park named Yume Ukihashi Hirobe where you can see and admire the Uji Bridge / Ujibashi. You can also see the Statue of Murasaki Shikubu in the park.
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| Byodoin Odomotesando's torii |
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| There are plenty of stores in Byodoin Omotesando |
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| Byodoin Omotesando |
From there, we followed the Byodoin Odomotesando that leads to Byodoin. This road has the aroma of matcha as numerous stalls sell them.
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| It costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children to enter Byodoin grounds |
To enter Byodoin, we needed to pay 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. This allows us to enter the garden area and the museum. There is an option to view the Phoenix Hall for an extra 300 yen but we were content to see it from a distance.
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| I got Byodoin's goshuin for my collection |
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| Byodoin is the temple in the 10 yen coin |
Byodoin is the temple shown in the 10 yen coin. Of course, I didn’t miss out on taking photos of the 10 yen coin with the temple as its backdrop. Aside from that, I also made sure to get the goshuin of Byodoin.
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| Byodoin Museum Hoshokan |
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| Enjoy the view from the museum's rest area |
Before leaving the temple grounds, we went to the Byodoin Museum Hoshokan. The artifacts were beautifully displayed and were worth the entrance fee. Sadly, photography isn't allowed inside the museum so we contented ourselves with the museum's rest area with the view of the zen garden.
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| Starbucks Byodoin Omotesando |
From there, we headed to Starbucks Byodoin Omotesando which was just outside the temple grounds. However, the special Matcha Genmaicha Mochi Frappuccino wasn’t available so we decided to skip our coffee cravings for the day.
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| Uji Station |
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| Waiting for the train at Uji Station |
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| Going to our next city for the day - Nara City |
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| Arrived at Nara Station |
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| A photo with Nara City's mascot - Sento-kun |
We then returned to Uji Station and boarded a train bound for Nara Station. It’s our 4th time in Nara City (奈良市) as a family. Like Kyoto, a visit to the Kansai Region is incomplete without visiting Nara Prefecture.
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| Nara Tourist Information Center |
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| Shikamaro-kun - the official mascot of the Nara City Tourism Association |
The first place that we visited in the city was the Nara Tourist Information Center. It’s not that we needed an itinerary for this trip, my daughter and I just wanted to get the Nara City stamp for our stamp collection.
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| We bought some "shika-senbei" to feed the deer |
From there, we went to the bus stop in front of Nara Station and boarded a bus going to Nara Park. It was a memorable experience feeding the deer.
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| Todaiji Chumon |
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| Todaiji's Great Daibutsu |
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| Check out the size of the Great Daibutsu |
Since we were already in the park, we didn’t miss out on entering Todaiji to see the Great Daibutsu. Sadly, due to the COVID restrictions, the Buddha Nostril was boarded up so we were not able to crawl through it this time.
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| We saw more deer on the way to our next stop |
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| Kasuga Taisha Nammon |
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| Inside Fujinami-no-ya |
To wrap up our visit to Nara City, we headed to Kasuga Taisha. Of all the places that we visited today, this is the first time that we have visited this UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, we didn’t want to tire my pregnant wife so it was only Ella and I who explored the shrine complex. I wanted to get the goshuin but due to COVID restrictions, they don’t write directly at the goshuincho by selling pre-written goshuin instead so I decided not to get one this time.
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| The postal box outside Nara Station |
It was already late afternoon when we finished exploring the shrine. After meeting up with my wife, we decided to head back home so we rode the bus from Nara Park going to Nara Station.
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| Filling up the "Lost Property Receipt" |
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| Ella reunited with her pink water bottle |
Instead of returning to Kyoto Station, Ella and I needed to go back to Uji Station because she had forgotten her water bottle there. It was significant to her since it was a gift from her grandmother. Fortunately, the bottle was found in the Lost and Found. I simply filled out a "Lost Property Receipt" form, and the bottle was returned to us.
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| We had dinner at the Yoshinoya near the Hachijo Entrance of Kyoto Station |
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| Itadakemasu! |
From there, we rode the train back to Kyoto Station. We first ate dinner at the Yoshinoya near the Hachijo Entrance of the station. We then rode the bus to Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium.
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| Movie night: Feng Sui 2 |
Before ending the day, we watched the 2014 Filipino horror flick "Feng Shui 2". It was our first time seeing it, and it did give us a few scares, but because we were watching it on YouTube, there were a lot of adverts, which periodically ruined the film's pace. Regardless, we had a good time.Read more:
Japan Diaries 4: Week 63
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