At new year and visited Yasaka Jinja to get an arrow omamori. On another trip, I visited Higashi Honganji at dawn when the priests start their day and residents come to make offerings.
SAIHOU-JI also known as KOKEDERA is an incredible experience. You need to make a reservation (old-style roundtrip postcard 2-3weeks, or online1 week in advance) for a journey that starts with transcribing some buddhist mantra "shakyo" to purify your mind, then entering the world of moss. The landscape architecture of the place is appealing to all nationalities, and has earned the status of "Steve Job's favorite place in Japan" upon his visit.
I was in Kyoto during Golden Week. To beat the crowds, I have the following recommendations. 1. Go to shrines early - most of them are open by 6am, and you won't have to deal with crowds. At least arrive by 9 - it gets really busy after that. 2. Go outside Kyoto - some really good, and less crowed, spots to visit include Uji - famous for green tea, soba, and Byōdō-in, the temple on the 10 yen coin; and Fushimi, where you can visit the sake museum and taste test some really good sake. Both places are lovely, and each worth a full day visit.
Another spot worth to go is the Fushimi Inari shrine. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and walk up. There is one spot half way up where you can sit, enjoy the view and eat some fushimi inari. The ones served here is SO much tastier than the ones you get at the conbini. The red torii gates here is where the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' was filmed. It's really worth it.
I recommend Kyoto, especially in the autumn or spring (cherry blossom season). I've been to Kyoto botanical garden which was amazing in the spring! And in the autumn, I went to Kyoto Tenmangu jinja. They had a light up of the area at night and it was magical. I am hoping to visit Eikando next autumn. This spring, planning to go to Daigoji which is on the top ten sakura spots in Japan!
At new year and visited Yasaka Jinja to get an arrow omamori. On another trip, I visited Higashi Honganji at dawn when the priests start their day and residents come to make offerings.
Kiyomizudera
SAIHOU-JI also known as KOKEDERA is an incredible experience. You need to make a reservation (old-style roundtrip postcard 2-3weeks, or online1 week in advance) for a journey that starts with transcribing some buddhist mantra "shakyo" to purify your mind, then entering the world of moss. The landscape architecture of the place is appealing to all nationalities, and has earned the status of "Steve Job's favorite place in Japan" upon his visit.
The most recommended and an amazing place in kyoto is Arashiyama.
I was in Kyoto during Golden Week. To beat the crowds, I have the following recommendations. 1. Go to shrines early - most of them are open by 6am, and you won't have to deal with crowds. At least arrive by 9 - it gets really busy after that. 2. Go outside Kyoto - some really good, and less crowed, spots to visit include Uji - famous for green tea, soba, and Byōdō-in, the temple on the 10 yen coin; and Fushimi, where you can visit the sake museum and taste test some really good sake. Both places are lovely, and each worth a full day visit.
Another spot worth to go is the Fushimi Inari shrine. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and walk up. There is one spot half way up where you can sit, enjoy the view and eat some fushimi inari. The ones served here is SO much tastier than the ones you get at the conbini. The red torii gates here is where the movie 'Memoirs of a Geisha' was filmed. It's really worth it.
I recommend Kyoto, especially in the autumn or spring (cherry blossom season). I've been to Kyoto botanical garden which was amazing in the spring! And in the autumn, I went to Kyoto Tenmangu jinja. They had a light up of the area at night and it was magical. I am hoping to visit Eikando next autumn. This spring, planning to go to Daigoji which is on the top ten sakura spots in Japan!