The Backpack Adventures

Day 9   December 27, 2014 A Day in Kyoto City I had an awesome solo backpacking tour of Wakayama Prefecture yesterday. This time, I'll be going on a temple tour in Kyoto Prefecture. However, instead of going on another solo trip, I will be accompanied by my wife, daughter, and my Japanese family. Yay Kyoto! First stop:  Fushimi Inari Taisha Although traffic jams are nearly non-existent in the area of Osaka Prefecture that we stay in, we still left early in hopes of avoiding an influx of local and foreign tourists that might flock to Kyoto Prefecture today. (It's a Saturday today that's why). I finally saw the famous torii gates of Fushimi Inari We arrived at Fushimi-Inari Taisha at around 9AM. It was one of Mr. Toshi's hand-picked destinations in Kyoto Prefecture. The place is well known for the hundreds of torii gates that were donated by businessmen. You would also notice the importance of foxes to the shrine as depicted by the numerous statues and imag

Located in 1201 Kimiidera, Wakayama City in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan , Kimiidera ( 紀三井寺 )  is a mountaintop temple which is part (#2) of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage of Western Japan. Kimiidera Kimiidera Details Also known as  Gokukuin , Kimiidera was believed to have been established in 770AD by a Chinese Buddhist monk named Weiguang . Kimiidera - Wakayama City It was believed that monk Weiguang carved the statues of Kannon Bodhisattra which was placed in the original prayer hall. The   Sakura-mon  (gate) found at the bottom of the hill  The Sakura-mon (gate) up close Small figurines found around the vicinity The Shinbutsuden houses one of the largest images of Buddha The statue of Buddha inside the temple ( Senju Kannon ) Throw a coin and be lucky. The bell outside the first temple Kimiidera became prominent during the rule of Japanese Emperor Shirakawa. He proclaimed the temple as an imperial temple. Kimiidera (Temple) once belonged to the

Located in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture in Japan , Wakayama Castle ( 和歌山城   Wakayama-jō )   is the symbol of the city and its people. Wakayama Castle Wakayama Castle History Wakayama Castle 's history started when Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered his younger brother Hidenaga to build a castle on Mt. Okayama (now known as Mt. Torafuso) in 1585. When the castle was finished, Hidenaga stationed Kuwayama Shigeharu to the castle.  In 1619, Tokugawa Ieyasu's 10th child Yorinobu became lord of the castle. From that point on, the castle was ruled by other Tokugawa lords until the Meiji Restoration.  Wakayama Castle - Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture Wakayama Castle ground map The Backpack Adventures visits Wakayama Castle Wakayama Castle consists of a series of interconnected buildings surrounding a central courtyard. The main, three-tiered castle tower is connected to an interconnecting corridor, the Tenshunino-man (Camphor Wood Gate), the cookery, a small tower, and a