Kyoto Trip (2014)

Ang chaka ng title. Wala na kasi ako maisip. Anyways, finally after 5 years of staying here in Japan nakapunta na rin ako sa Kyoto! Salamat kay Ate Joy na walang kahirap-hirap akong naaya sa trip na ito. Impluwensiya niya rin kung bakit nasa Australia na naman ako nung Summer Vacation namin dito sa Japan (that would be my next post after this! sana mag-materialize jarjar!).

PLANNING THE TRIP

TIP No. 1 Avail a Shinkansen (Bullet Train) plus Accommodation Package (via Japanican.com). Pasok na pasok sa banga ng katipiran ang package na itwu. Nalaman ko ito from a colleague na nagpunta rin ng Kyoto noong unang panahon. We availed the 3 days 2 nights Tokyo-Kyoto Package for 33,000 yen per person. Actually meron pa nga akong nakita na mas mura which is 26,500 per person. Kaso pagcheck ko kinabukasan di na available. Imagine yung price pa lang ng Shinkansen Tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto (round trip) is nagkakahalaga na ng almost 28,000 yen. Parang pinamimigay na lang yung Hotel Accommodation (exag na kung exag). We think we got a good deal.

Almost 2 months before the trip nagbook na kami. July 19-21. Long weekend so expect na namin madaling mapupuno ang mga slots.

Ang hindi ko lang nagustuhan sa pagbu-book namin e ide-deliver nila yung tickets at least 1 day before the departure date. In our case it was 2 days. Nakakangarag kasi na anlapit na nung alis niyo tapos wala pa yung tickets.

Last time kong nakasakay ng bullet train was 6 or 7 years ago na yata. Pinadala ako ni former company sa Gifu Japan for a training tapos sumide-trip ako sa Tokyo for a job interview. E sagot naman nung nag-interview yung pamasahe ko sa shinkansen kaya go go go lang! Hindi ko man nakuha yung work masaya naman ako kasi nakapunta ako ng Tokyo ng libre. Apir!

Sana ganito ang legroom sa mga economy flights.... ~_~

ACCOMMODATION

TIP No. 2 For the accommodation: the nearer to the train station, the betterererer! Blessing na rin na hindi namin nakuha yung una naming nakitang package. We stayed at New Miyako Hotel which is located 2-5 minutes away from Kyoto Station. Very convenient!

-malapit sa train and bus station

-maraming shops and restaurants na makakainan.

-kapag pagod na kami sa kakagala we can return anytime to our hotel to rest. tapos gala ulit.

-literally meron siyang katabing mall (Aeon Mall)

And what I love about New Miyako Hotel is its staff. Very very very very friendly and accommodating! A perfect 100 rating! Walang halong exaggeration at kaeklavoohan. Kahit sinong lapitan mo he/she will respond nicely and in English. Actually nagkaroon ng konting-konting aberya sa room na binigay samin. I booked for a twin bedroom pero double bedroom yung binigay samin. So I called the person in the reception and told about the mistake in the room. Walang patumpik-tumpik nilipat kami sa twin bedroom (no extra charge). Plus points pa na yung room is malapit sa lift (the first one was located sa dulo ng walang hanggan) and sa vending machine with water and ice dispenser.

The room is spacious enough. Hindi naman ako maselan when it comes to hotel rooms. May 32in LCD TV and free wifi reception (na hindi ko nasubukan kasi meron kaming pocket wifi). Isa pang ikinatuwa ko sa hotel na itey ay ang complete bathroom amenities. Panalong-panalo rin ang shampoo, conditioner and facial wash. Nakaka-tempt itanong kung ano yung brand. Ang chaka lang hehe.

Kinda Japanese style yung room meaning mejo maliit yung bathroom and kinda matigas yung bed. And again wala rin namang problem sakin dahil I'm used to this kind of style. Hindi ko lang feel mashado yung hallway and carpeting. Feeling nasa horror movie akesh.

ITINERARY

Day 1

From Tokyo we boarded a Hikari Shinkansen bound for Kyoto. Around 2 hours ang byahe.

We arrived at Kyoto at around 10AM and we immediately proceeded to New Miyako Hotel. Since 2PM pa ang check-in time we had our things deposited in the hotel's storage area (for free) para masimulan na ang paggala.

TIP No. 3 Avail the 1-day City Bus Pass. As long as pasok sa city bus route ang pupuntahan mo unlimited ang bus ride for that day (for 500yen). Meron din yatang 2 or 3 days and meron ding kasama ang train fare. A very cheap and convenient way of touring around Kyoto.

-Kinkaku-ji Shrine

​We thought of visiting another temple before heading back to our hotel but it was just soooooo hot that day and feeling namin malapit na kami mag-evaporate or mag-turn into ashes.

-Return to Kyoto Station to have lunch at a Korean Restaurant located at Porta (underneath Kyoto Station). My first time to eat a bibimbap and I liked it beriberiberiberimachi!!!

-Check-in at hotel. Rest then change costume. Si Ate Joy nag-power nap ng 20minutes. Ako 2 hours! ganun ako mag-power nap haha

-Kiyomizu-dera

-Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka. We saw this Pagoda structure but we we're too pagoda (I know ang korni!) to go near it so picture-picture na lang sa malayo.

-Gion district and Yasaka Jinja

​Dapat sa Gion district kami magdi-dinner kaso hindi namin feel. (Aaminin ko na. Ang mahalia! Purita mode on.) But I think if you really want to experience an authentic Japanese cuisine (with matching "ramdam na ramdam ko talaga na nasa Japan ako!"feeling) Gion district is the place.

-Return to Kyoto Station for dinner.

​At dahil malapit ng magsara ang mga shops nauwi kami sa Gindaco. My most ever favorite the best takoyaki shop!

Day 2

-Breakfast at Mister Donut. Mura na mabilis pa kainin (^_^)V

-Uji

​Before going to Byoudoin Temple we were supposed to visit a shrine that is said to be the oldest in Japan. Unfortunately dahil hindi kami nagbaligtad ng damit e napadpad kami sa isang small nameless shrine. At bago pa kami mapunta sa ibang dimensiyon e pinuntahan na namin ang Byoudoin Temple.

The Phoenix Hall inside Byoudoin Temple which can be seen in a 10yen Japanese coin.

-Nara (Todaiji Temple)

​Hindi kumpleto ang pasyal kapag walang maling pagsakay ng bus na naganap. Kaya nadelay ang sched namin by 1hour dahil sa kabilang side papunta yung bus na nasakyan namin. Anyways, habang tirik na tirik si haring araw e nakipag-lamyerda kami sa mga usa! Andaming usa. And they are roaming freely around the area. Sayang nga hindi ako nakakita ng usa na tumatawid sa pedestrian lane.

-Late lunch at KFC (near Nara Station)

​Gutom na kasi kami. Ang taong gutom walang oras sa paghahanap at walang panahon sa pagte-take ng risk kumain sa isang restaurant na walang kasiguraduhan kung mabubusog siya o hindi.

-Fushimi Inari Shrine

​Dapat derecho balik na kami Kyoto Station kasi feeling namin nagka-crackle na yung balat namin sa pagkakatusta ni haring araw. Since madadaanan naman ang Fushimi Inari Shrine (via Nara Line) e dumaan na kami. At dahil hapon na sobrang dami na ng tao.

Balik ulit sa hotel para magpahinga at mag-change costume. Tapos larga ulit.

-Pontocho and Nishiki Market

​Nung nag-courtesy call kami sa Zara nag-full bar ang energy na Madam Joy. Parang naka-turbo mode. Ito yata ang highlight ng pagpunta namin sa lugar na itey. Lels.​

-Okonomiyaki Night at Machiya Restaurant (Porta/Kyoto Station)

​

Day 3

-Breakfast buffet at the hotel. Hello baconssssssss!

-Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

​Totoo ang kasabihang "The early bird catches the worm." And this time our worm is having the place to ourselves. The place was so serene, beautiful and cool.​Sulit na sulit ang pagbangon ng maaga!

-Balik hotel to pack our things and rest before going back to Tokyo.

One of the best vacations that I've ever had. Kung tatanungin niyo ko kung babalik ba ako sa Kyoto para magbakasyon kung may pagkakataon? Oong-oo! Siyempre! Siguradong-sigurado! Apir! V(^_^)V