A day trip to Nara (奈良)

On the day fourth, we made a day trip to Nara which is the other ancient capital of Japan. Nara (including　Asuka area) is the first capital (592-793). Between 594 and 694, the capital was placed in the area called “Asuka”, therefore it is named as “Asuka Era(飛鳥時代)”. The most distinctive figure in this period is “Shoutoku Taishi” who assisted an empress to govern the country. He sent a missionary to China to learn techniques, religions etc and established a central government and constitution. In order to introduce Buddhism to the country, he ordered to construct the temple called “Horyu-ji(法隆寺)”.
This temple is considered as the oldest wooden architecture which remains at present time. We visited this temple.




The other place that we visited is “Todai-ji(東大寺)” From 710 to 694, the capital was placed in Nara. This temple is the most famous temple of this era. A huge Buddha sits inside the main hall.




You may need to spend two days at least to see major historical buildings and tourist attraction. However, if you have a limited time to stay in Japan, it is better to spend more days in Kyoto. If you stay in Nara, you may not be fascinated by food and atmosphere of restaurants as much as you may be in Kyoto. I took my friend, Nuno to eat out for lunch and dinner for three days but it was not enough to let him taste major traditional dishes in Kyoto.

We met lovely animals in front of Todai-ji Temple



"It is lovely, isn't it."

"But it can do these four skills of wrestling: bite, kick, butt and knock you down! ""

Place to eat in Kyoto

The area Recommended
"Gion(祇園)"
The best place to eat should be "Gion(祇園)". Many of the restaurants I have shown in this blog in Guion. There are authentic Japanese restaurants.
Sushi: 寿司- "Emon えもん"
Tempura: てんぷら- "Tenshu 天周"
Eel: うなぎ - "Uokeyaう桶や"
Some other places which I considered to go are:
Yakitori: 焼き鳥　- Korekido 古暦堂
Hachidaime Gihei 米料亭　八代目儀兵衛 - the Japanese footballer Nakata visited.
Next time when I go there, I will explore more.

The Japanese food and drink that Nuno and I had this time:
Sushi (寿司), Tempura (てんぷら), Grilled Eel (鰻の蒲焼), Yakitori (焼き鳥), Shoba (蕎麦), Sake (酒), Sashimi (刺身)

Food he missed
Nabe (鍋), Shabushabu (しゃぶしゃぶ), Kaiseki Ryori (懐石料理), Fugu chiri　(河豚ちり鍋), Japanese Traditional Sweets (京菓子), Koube Beef steak (神戸牛), Shukiyaki (すき焼き)

There are many way to cook Nabe. Kaiseiki Ryori is one of the thing that you must taste once in your life time. Please bring more formal or modest clothes next time, Nuno. I have just found a reasonable but excellent place. There are still a lot to see and experience in Kyoto and around the city. I assure you and all my friends that other is no other place which can satisfy tourists in terms of history, culture, food and shopping as much as Kyoto. Kyoto is like Paris where many people want to visit over and over again. Because you won't see it enough in a short time.

Place to stay in Kyoto

Once I was trapped in a "Guest House" which was recommended by "Lonely Planet". It was not properly equipped for accommodation. For budget foreign travellers, my suggestion is to stay at "Utano Youth Hostel" where non members can also stay. Newly renovated and equipped for all you need to stay. If you are in a group of more than two, you do not necessarily stay in a domitory. You can have your own room. Of course, you need to use a common washing basin and a common shower for everyone else.
There is a kitchen to make own breakfast. For those from Italy, Spain or Portugal, I strongly recommend you should bring a cafetera for coffee. Otherwise, you have to find "Starbucks" shops. In Japan, they serve coffee with too much water. Do not trust an expresso or a cappucino from Japanese coffee shops. They are not good.

Name: Utano Youth Hostel (宇多野ユースホステル)
Address: 〒6168191京都市右京区太秦中山町29
Phone: 075-462-2288
http://yh-kyoto.or.jp/utano/ryokin.html　
総客室数 41室　定員170名
charge : domitory 3,300 yen, twin 4,000yen



For those who come here for honeymoon or expect something romanic, my advice is to stay in Miyako Hotel.
Look for a package deal of "Hotel and flight" to get a cheaper rate.
http://www.westinmiyako-kyoto.com/

Kyoto "Cultural Center" 2: Kyo-Yuzen (京友禅)

Kyo-Yuzen (京友禅) is a traditional dyed fabric which is made in Kyoto. “Indigo Blue” the translation of “Ai Iro (藍色) is a natural color extracted from a plant and the techniques were thought to be developed in Korea and Japan for hundreds years ago.
Nishimura-ya is one of a workshop where you can experience to learn a little bit of techniques and make your own handkerchief or T-shirt for souvenir.
We just dropped by to buy it for souvenir.




Further Information:
Name :有限会社　丸益西村屋
Access:〒604-8276　京都府京都市中京区小川通り御池南入る
TEL ：075-211-3273　FAX:075-221-1967
Site ：http://www.kyo-komachi.com/
http://www.kyo-komachi.com/koubou/english.html

Kyoto"Cultural Center"1: Tea Ceremony (茶会)

You can also say that Kyoto is Japan's cultural center. You can watch the Japanese traditiona theatre, such as "Kabuki (歌舞伎), Nou (能)and Geisha performance (芸者). In addition to it, there are a number of famouos handcrafts such as traditional clothing techniques, "Kyo Orimono (京織物), Kyo Yuzen (京友禅・染物）" and ceramics ( 陶磁器) etc. There is many places you can enjoy the Japanese Tea Ceremony(茶会).
For more than 1000 years, Uji tea producers (near Kyoto city) have provided exclusively tea to the capital. We went to one of prestageous Tea retailing shop to experience tea celemony. It is very interesting to learn a little bit of techniques to make "Maccha (抹茶)".







Further information on the shop and tea celemony
Name : Bikoen Tea shop: 宇治茶の美好園（びこうえん）
Address: 京都市下京区油小路通花屋町下る仏具屋町235
Access: not far from Kyoto Station, very close to Nishi Honganji temple
TEL: 075-371-1013
http://www.bikouen.com　

Kyoto "Historical Capital" 4: "Emperial Palace (京都御所)"

Emperial Palace (京都御所と仙洞御所)
Many foreign and Japanese tourists miss an opportunity to visit this magnificent Palace.
The tour takes 1 hour and 15 minutes and it starts certain hours. No Saturdays and Sundays. So, you can not just come and visit any time you want. And you need your passport and have to make an application advance. Therefore, many people miss the chance. However, you make a schedule ahead, no problem.
It really worth to see. The Japanese garden which you see in the Sendo Gosho (仙洞御所) is much larger than ones in any other temples. The palace buildings are magnificent. In addition, it is free. Futhermore, you can have a guide in Enlish. Please check the schedule in advance on the web site. If you visit together with Japanese friends, make sure that the number of Japanese should not be more than foreigners in your party. For example, 3 foreigners and 2 Japanese are acceptable. However, 1 foreigner and 2 Japanese are not acceptable. In this case, one of Japanese should wait outside.
Please check the conditions and schedulhttp://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.htmles on :

http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/index.html

Kyoto Gosho




Sendo Gosho with Japanese garden

Kyoto "Historical Capital" 3: Other Places

Kennin-ji Temple (建仁寺)
Kennin-ji Temple was one of my surprises. The entrance fee is 500 yen, the same price as Ginkaku-ji Temple.
The highlight is two remarkable paintings: One is "Fujin Raijin / The god of wind and the God of thunder"(風神雷神）" painted by a famous artist, Tawaraya Sotatsu in the Edo era. The other is "Dragon" drawn on the ceiling.




The other aspect which was more impressed and can be good value for money is that we can go inside and enjoy watching wonderful Japanese gardens.





Fushimi Inari Jinnja Shrine (伏見稲荷神社)
The Shrine itself is not particularly interesting. But the Torii passage through the hill gives romantic view to couple hikers. It is recommended to go there one hour before the sunset. You can enjoy walking through there in the daylight and after the dark.

Kyoto, Historical Capital 2: World Heritage

Since the emperor "Kamu Tenno" moved the country's capital in 794, Kyoto has been the capital and the emperor's residence for over 1000 years (till 1867). Now, there are a lot of temples and shrines which you can feel the history of this country. Atlthough a number of historical buildings and houses were burn down by a series of battles took place in Kyoto over the centuries, you may find them a lot to see. In 1994, the World Heritage status was granted to seventeen temples and shrines in Kyoto. Those are:

Kinkaku-ji Temple (金閣寺）

"Kinkaku-ji in snow, February 2006"


"With Linda and her husband, Tso Lin"

Built in 1397 by Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu during the "Muromachi Era, the second Samurai government" The temple is historical very important and a good example of Kitayama Culture". Unfortunately, you must watch it from the distance. The entrance of 400 yen is a little expensive.

Ginkaku-ji Temple (銀閣寺)


Built in 1482 by Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimasa and he enjoyed the tea ceremony here. This temple is also important and the symbol of "Higashiyama Culture". For someone who has studied "Japanese history and culture" may be interested. It is also expensive. 500 yen for the entrance fee.


Shimogami Jinja Shrine (下鴨神社)
Free entrance except special exhibition. Very historical wooden buildings. Well I would say it is very good. It worths visiting before going some place where you are charged. If you go to visit more than 10 temples and shrines in six days, you may be bored. (That's what happened to my friend, Nuno.)




Kiyomizu-dera Temple (清水寺)
One of the highly visited spot and it is also nice to walk around this area.


Nishi Honganji Temple (西本願寺)
This is also good place to visit. It is "free". There is also "air-conditioned" lounge with "free tea". It is good place to rest. Moreover, you can go inside the temple.



Toji Temple (東寺)
The Five-story pagoda is the symbol of Kyoto. It is nice but we did not go inside as I knew that we can not go into any building.



"Do not cross! This is what we do all the time, play with rules!"

Kyoto "Historical Capital" 1: "Gion (祇園)"

Before visiting "Kyoto", many foreign tourists imagine the histrical districts which are not "contaminated" with ugly concrete buildings. If you go to Segovia, Avila in Castilla (Spain), Firenze, Bologna (Italy), you may feel as if you were in the medieval time.
Unfortunately, Japanese traditional buildings were built by wood. Therefore, more frequent restoration is required. So, if you come to Kyoto, you may find temples and shrines inside modern cities. I am sorry to disappoint you. However, there are some streets that you could feel as if you were in Kyoto of hundreds years ago, the time when Samurai and Geisha lived.
One of the places is "Gion / Guion in Portuguese / ぎおん（祇園）in Japanese". My recommendation is "Hanami Kouji (花見小路)" street in Gion.