Japan Diaries 4: Day 436

Japan Diaries 4: Day 436

Day 436: January 11, 2023

Wednesday – Kyoto x Nara

Before anything else, we had our breakfast at Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium
Before anything else, we had our breakfast at Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium

Itadakemasu!
Itadakemasu!

We began our day like we had done the day before, with breakfast at Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium. We opted to continue our Kyoto x Nara plan today because the weather forecast said it wouldn’t rain like yesterday.

Kyoto Station
Kyoto Station

First destination - Uji City
First destination - Uji City

We didn't forget the Uji Station stamp for our collection
We didn't forget the Uji Station stamp for our collection

With Oujichama at Uji Station
With Oujichama at Uji Station 

We walked across the overpass from our hotel to the Horikawa Gojo bus stationWe 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).

The Sako-gata (茶壷型ポスト) Post outside Uji Station
The Sako-gata (茶壷型ポスト) Post outside Uji Station

Uji Tourist Information Center
Uji Tourist Information Center

Gyoza vending machine
Check out this gyoza vending machine

Uji City manhole cover
Uji City manhole cover

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.

Uji Bridge
Uji Bridge

Statue of Murasaki Shikubu
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.

Byodoin Odomotesando's torii
Byodoin Odomotesando's torii

There are plenty of stores in Byodoin Omotesando
There are plenty of stores in Byodoin Omotesando

Byodoin Omotesando
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.

It costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children to enter Byodoin grounds
It costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children to enter Byodoin grounds

Team Nicerio visits Byodoin
Team Nicerio visits Byodoin

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.

I got Byodoin's goshuin for my collection
I got Byodoin's goshuin for my collection

Byodoin is the temple in the 10 yen coin
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.

Byodoin Museum Hoshokan
Byodoin Museum Hoshokan

Enjoy the view from the museum's rest area
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.

Starbucks Byodoin Omotesando
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.

Uji Station
Uji Station

Waiting for the train at Uji Station
Waiting for the train at Uji Station

Going to our next city for the day - Nara City
Going to our next city for the day - Nara City

Arrived at Nara Station
Arrived at Nara Station

A photo with Nara City's mascot - Sento-kun
A photo with Nara City's mascot - Sento-kun

We also got the eki stamp of Nara Station
We also got the eki stamp of Nara Station

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.

Nara Tourist Information Center
Nara Tourist Information Center

Shikamaro-kun - the official mascot of Nara City Tourism Association
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.

Nara City manhole cover
Nara City manhole cover

Team Nicerio revisits Nara Park
Team Nicerio revisits Nara Park

Nara Park

We bought some "shika-senbei" to feed the deer
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.

Todaiji Chumon
Todaiji Chumon

Todaiji
Todaiji

Todaiji's Great Daibutsu
Todaiji's Great Daibutsu

Check out the size of the Daibutsu
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.


We saw more deer on the way to Kasuga Taisha
We saw more deer on the way to our next stop

Thee road to Kasuga Taisha
Thee road to Kasuga Taisha

Kasuga Taisha Nammon
Kasuga Taisha Nammon

Inside Fujinami-no-ya
Inside Fujinami-no-ya

Kasuga Taisha
Kasuga Taisha

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.

The postal box outside Nara Station
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.

Filling up the Lost Property Receipt
Filling up the "Lost Property Receipt"

Ella reunited with her pink water bottle
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.

We had dinner at the Yoshinoya near the Hachijo Entrance of the station
We had dinner at the Yoshinoya near the Hachijo Entrance of Kyoto Station

Itadakemasu!
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.

Movie night: Feng Sui 2
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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