More Kyoto - Arashiyama

Togetsukyo ("moon crossing") Bridge

views of Mount Arashiyama

Misterpiggy sorely miscalculated how much there was to see and do in Kyoto.  On this warm day, he returned to Kyoto to see beautiful Arashiyama, which is most popular during the cherry blossom and fall colour seasons .  He took the Nankai Rapid express train that brought him right near the Togetsukyo Bridge, also known as the Moon Crossing bridge. He crossed the Moon crossing bridge and took in the views of Mount Arashiyama, which had distinct patches of green foliage.

For fun, he took a short boat ride up the river and back.  In the shallow parts, the Boatsman used a long pole to push the boat along and but later he grabbed a cable that was in the water and pulled the boat along with his sheer energy.  Other boats would pull up alongside and sell you hot food or drink.  It was all very idyllic.

After the boat ride, one could follow a stone path leading up a hill and after a bit of a hike, eventually this took you to a garden with lots of flowering bushes and trees. He saw a tree that had two different colour blossoms on it!  Upon exiting the gardens, Misterpiggy enjoyed the serenity of a temple and pond.

Back on the path, it lead into the famous bamboo forest.  There were lots of people enjoying the forest, some riding bikes, some in rickshaws and most walking, but Misterpiggy was surprised by taxis driving along the forest path.  The passengers apparently wanted to see the forest but didn't want to take the time to walk it.  With all the crowds it was already very congested and one would think that motor vehicles would be prohibited in the forest!

Misterpiggy had planned to take the train to Sagano, but all the seats were fully booked and the next train wasn't for another hour, so he explored the shops on the main street instead, and gorged himself on green tea and sakura soft ice cream, twice!

By the time he realized it, the day had raced by and it was late afternoon.  Misterpiggy had intended to visit the Golden temple Kinkakuji but he would have to save that for another visit in the future.

Sunny and warm in Kyoto

Sunny and warm, today was a contrast from yesterday's cool weather.  misterpiggy's returned to kyoto today and his first stop this morning included a visit to view the many torii gates at fushimi-inari.  it was hard to take pictures as he almost got trampled many times by the endless wave of tour group after tour group. so loud, inconsiderate  and obnoxious were these tourists that misterpiggy decided to beat a hasty retreat foregoing his desire to do the one hour circuit through the gates.

misterpiggy hopped back on the train and arrived at the kiyomizu station via the keihan mainline. when he got out of the station, there were overhead signs that said kiyomizu temple was 20 mins away.  don't believe the signs because it took closer to an hour for misterpiggy, and it wasn't due to his short little legs either.

tour buses jammed the streets leading into the temple and throngs and throngs of tourists pushed their way up the inclined street towards one of Kyoto's major tourist attractions. misterpiggy couldn't resist all the free samples of green tea and mochis that were proffered by the many merchants. here's what he saw.   he'll let the pics of kiyomizu temple speak for themselves.

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enjoying a popular sakura combination of green tea and strawberry soft ice cream, misterpiggy simply let the hordes of tourists buffet him along down the sloped streets of sannenzaka and ninezaka towards the higashiyama district, like flotsam on a wave.

before he knew it, several hours and temples had passed and the crowds all converged into maruyama park, where hanami, ie cherry blossom viewing, was in full swing.  people were playing games, drinking, and socializing on straw mats and blue tarps under the cherry trees.  once in awhile a gentle breeze would blow through the park and cherry blossom petals drifted down like little pink and white snowflakes. such a nice way to end the day.

Breathtaking Kyoto at Keage Incline

 

At the south end of the Philospoher's Path lies Nanzenji Temple.  There is an aqueduct that looks more at home in Europe than here in Japan.  If you walk along the aqueduct it leads you to the top of the Keage Incline.  

Initially Misterpiggy wasn't going to visit the Incline but after seeing the most spectacular cherry blossoms here, he was glad that he didn't miss this wonderful viewing spot.