Family Travelogue: Kyoto day tour from Osaka: Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle / Family Travelogue March 2014

We started the day tour in Arashiyama, located in the western outskirt of Kyoto. We visited a few of the many this small neighborhood has to offer: The Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryuji Temple and the Bamboo groves. There are many small shops and restaurants nearby.

Arashiyama is one the most important sightseeing district in Kyoto. It is a mountain with an altitude of 375 meters, filled with temples and shrines. It is full of cherry blossoms in spring, covered by red leaves in autumn and cupped with snow in winter

Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama, Kyoto,, Japan

Katsura River

Togetsukyo is a bridge over the Katsura River flowing in Arashiyama, a scenic plain in Kyoto. It measures 155 meters and was rebuilt in 1934.
Togetsu means Moon Crossing. During the Kamakura period (1185 to 1333), Emperor Kameyana was boating on the Katsura river under a full moon. He thought he saw the moon looked like crossing the bridge.

Katsura River

Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama, Kyoto,, Japan

small shops at Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

Tenryu-ji Temple is a Zen temple located in Arashiyama with spectacular views of the mountain and beautiful garden and pond.

Chokushi gate

The Teaching Hall

Ohojo

Sogen Pond

Taho-den

Tenryu-ji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the five major temples in Kyoto (Kyoto gozan)

Opening hours: from 8:30 am ~ 5:30pm
Admission: 500 yen (additional 300 yen for entrance into the temple buildings)

Exit by the North Gate led us to the famous Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama.

Bamboo Groves, Arshiyama, Kyoto, Japan

After lunch, we took a cab to Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the (Golden Pavillon).

Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavillon), Kyoto, Japan

Kyoko-chi pond (Mirror pond)

Kinkaku ji (Temple of the Golden Pavillon), Kyoto, Japan

Kinkaku-ji or the Temple of the Golden Pavillon is covered in gold leaf and situated in front of the Kyoko-chi pond (Mirror pond). The current building was rebuilt in 1955. It was burnt to the ground by a mad monk in 1950. Latter was narrated in the Yukio Mishima 1956 novel, The Temple of the Golden Pavillon. A few doubts if an extensive gold-leaf was used on the original structure.

The site was founded by Muso Soseki in the Muromachi Period (1275~1371) originally belongs to the Shoku-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. A villa was built in the site in 1397 for the court noble Kintsune Sainji. It was then purchased and improved by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who made it as his retirement home away from troubles and the state. Yoshimitsu son, Yoshimochi, converted the villa into a Zen temple (then called Rokuon-ji), according to his father's will. The temple has been destroyed by fire several times during the Onin War (1467~1477).

The Gold added to the pavillon was to mitigate and purify any polluted or negative thoughts and feelings towards death. Further, the gold leaf material stands out because of the sunlight and creates great reflection effect on the pond.

Opening hours: 9am ~ 5pm

Admission: 400 yen for adults, 300 yen from high school and younger.

Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan

From Kinkaku-ji, we took bus 101 to Nijo Castle.

Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the residence in Kyoto of the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603~1867), Tokugawa Leyasu. Latter's shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace and later opened to the public as historic site Huge stone walls, wide moats and heavy gates exhibits the power of the Shoguns (military warlords) wielded over Japan during the feudal era. The castle is a UNESCO world heritage site since 1994.

Opening hours: 8:45am ~ 5pm, last entry 4pm

Admission: Adults 600yen, high school students 350 yen, elementary 200 yen

Karamon gate, Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan

Ninomaru Palace, Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan

Stone walls and moats at Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan

Beautiful pond at Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan

Nijo castle, Kyoto, Japan

Getting there:

From Osaka to Arashiyama

We had stayed at Frasers Residence Osaka which was opposite the Namba station. We went inside the Namba station and from there we walked about half kilometer to the Midosuji line. We took the train bound to Senrichuo and alighted at Umeda station after 4 stops. At Umeda station, we walked to the Hankyu-Kyoto Line, 3 minutes on foot. We boarded the train bound to Kawaramachi and alighted at Katsura station after 6 stops. We then waited at the Hankyu-Arashiyama line for the train bound to Arashiyama.

Namba station- Midosuji line bound to Senrichuo alight at Umeda station (4 stops) 9 min

Umeda station- Hankyu-Kyoto line bound to Kawaramachi alight at Katsura station (6 stops) 37mins

Katsura Station- Hankyu-Arashiyama line bound to Arashiyama (3 stops) 7mins

Going back to Osska from Nijo Castles:
We took the train from the nearest station, Nijojomae. .

You could check the google map and/or Hyperdia for the best route on your preferred time.