We took a bus then ferry to go to the island then another bus to reach the main area of Nokonoshima. Note that the ferry runs every 30 minutes only.
MARCH 15, 2020
Every breakfast in our Airbnb felt like a feast… and as someone who does not eat breakfast, I always end up feeling super full after eating our breakfast.
Before leaving the house, Hisako-obaasan gave me a plastic mat and snacks for our Nokonoshima trip. Such a super sweet person as well as her husband! They made us feel like we were their grandkids.
We took a bus then ferry to go to the island then another bus to reach the main area of NOKONOSHIMA. Note that the ferry runs every 30 minutes only so better get the schedule first from any tourist info center to be able to plan this trip properly.
We paid for ¥1,200 entrance fee per person to get inside the park. And while there were no sakura trees blooming yet, there were a lot of flower types already in full bloom.
After a long walk, we finally reached the area which I only saw in pictures before.
The rapeseed flowers were in full bloom and there was a pathway you can enter to be closer to the flowers.
Once satisfied with the pictures, we set the plastic mat and munched on the snacks provided by Hisako-obaasan. What a wonderful picnic especially with good weather that day!
We had lunch already in Hakata station where we tried HAKATA ISSOU. C still prefers Shin Shin because she found Hakata Issou’s broth to be nice at the beginning but too salty towards the end.
We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping for clothes and souvenirs then went back to our Airbnb to rest.
We availed the “Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi Tour” from Viator, which costs around €80+ per person. Our first destination was Sorrento, which is the home of limoncello.
APRIL 15, 2019
We availed the “Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi Tour” from Viator, which costs around €80+ per person. Our first destination was Sorrento, which is the home of limoncello. We first visited SORRENTAGRI which sold limoncello in various alcohol volume %. I was not a fan of both 20% and 32% but then again I don’t drink alcohol.
After buying small bottles of limoncello and cooking aids, we headed to the city center of SORRENTO and we were given free time to explore the city on our own.
My sister and I went to the famous DAVIDE IL GELATO and I got a 2-flavor cup: limone (lemon) and nocciola (hazelnut). Good thing I got the nocciola to neutralize the sourness from the limone.
We walked around some more before going back to the parking lot to reconvene with the rest of the group…
Second stop was POSITANO where we had a great view of the ocean and houses built in the cliffside village.
We had our lunch at RISTORANTE LA CALAJANARA where we had a simple 3-course lunch, part of the tour package. My sister and I were seated with a fellow tourist from Sweden, and we exchanged lots of stories about traveling and our home countries.
Last stop of the tour will be continued in the next post. 😊
At the Summit Park Station of Mount Gozaisho, a big map of the hiking trail and places to visit helped in guiding me where to locate the sightseeing lift.
When I got there, I got really scared of riding the lift. I already knew that there was no belt because I saw the picture in their official website but I was not prepared that it was a steep downhill ride, at least from my POV.
NOVEMBER 26, 2018
At the SUMMIT
PARK STATION of Mount Gozaisho, a big map of the hiking trail and places to
visit helped in guiding me where to locate the sightseeing lift.
When I got there, I got really scared of
riding the lift. I already knew that there was no belt because I saw the
picture in their official website but I was not prepared that it was a steep
downhill ride, at least from my POV.
Then again, I was already there so why not
ride it then see what will happen. I bought a roundtrip ticket for ¥600 then
saw a group of obaasan and ojiisan (grandma & grandpa) in front of me, waiting
for their turn to ride the lift. While waiting for my turn, one of the ojiisan
turned around and told me “Kowai!!! Kowai!” while laughing. Thank you to all
the anime I have watched because I understood what he said – it was scary. I
laughed then replied to him in Japanese that I was also scared. When it was his
turn to ride, I told him “Ganbatte!” (good luck) and he smiled at me.
Now, it was my turn and when the lift was
about to follow the downhill trail, I held on tightly to the single bar at my
left side and braced myself… only to feel nothing. There was no sinking feeling
from my stomach! It was just slow and steady which made me understand why even
kids are allowed to ride this.
It was a chill ride and I eventually found myself taking pictures without holding the bar.
Me during the first 10 seconds of the ride 😐
Me after the first 10 seconds, finally enjoying 😀
At the first sightseeing lift stop, you can choose to go down there or just pass by. I was already set that I would just pass by here so I waved to the ojiisans staff and greeted them with “Ohayouuu!”
Upon reaching the last stop, I walked briskly to the summit marker (1,282 MASL) that I saw online. I asked a local hiker, who just finished smoking his cigarette, to take a picture of me.
Conquered another mountain but without much effort, lol
I was reviewing the pictures he took when
he told me (in English) that there was another marker. He pointed to the trail
near us and told me that that was where I should go to reach it. I said my
thanks then he offered to accompany me. I accepted because I wanted to talk to
locals, anyway.
While walking, he asked where I was from so
I said PH then asked if it was my first time in Japan. I told him it was my 3rd
visit but I have visited a lot of places already. I enumerated all the cities
and towns I have been to, including the ones in this autumn trip. He said that he
was amazed and called me a “Japan master”. LOL.
When we reached the place (Boukodai Lookout), he pointed to spots where it was best to take pictures of me. It was a bit of a challenge because there were parts where I had to use my hands to climb. I had to make sure that I wouldn’t slip since the cliff was just around the corner. Anyway – he took good pictures of me!!! T_T
He then pointed to a direction where he
said that we could have seen Lake Biwa if it wasn’t for the cloudy weather. He
pointed to a mountain range but I forgot the name he mentioned – all I could
remember was he said that it was a well-known area.
When we were about to go back to the main
area, he asked if it was okay to take a picture. I said okay and I asked if we
could do the same using my phone. It felt weird though because we did not know
each other’s names so I asked him.
His name is Sato and he told me that it was
a common name in Japan. I told him that he has the same name as this Japanese
actor that I liked: Sato Takeru. He was impressed that I know someone from the
entertainment industry. I told him about the first J-drama where I saw Sato
Takeru up to him being the main lead in Rurouni Kenshin live action films.
While we were walking, he showed me pictures from his phone – trees and other areas in Mount Gozaisho fully covered in snow. He told me that it was taken just a week ago when he hiked with his friends. I showed him the snow pictures I took earlier, and I told him that I thought it was just starting to form. It turned out to be remnants of the winter moment that happened recently.
Remnants of snow + Sightseeing lift without any belt
When we returned to the main area, we bowed
to each other and said our goodbyes. He told me that going up the summit takes
2-3 hours, depending on your pace, and that was also the same amount of time
needed to go down. I wished him luck for his hike going back to the base.
I continued my exploration but I kinda felt lost. All signs and arrows were in kanji so I already knew that I had to rely on my instinct when it comes to directions.
I picked a trail based on my gut feel and I
eventually arrived at Suzuka National
Park Monument. Near the marker, there was a small wooden bench for resting.
From afar, I could already see the Ontake
Daigongen Shrine – the one which looks like a house – so I knew that my
adventure was far from over. An ojiisan passed by and I was amazed how he could
jog around the area, especially with the uneven trail and steps.
On the other hand, I was cautious with
every step because if I stumble and roll down the steps, no one would save me
and take care of my wounds. Haha! After following the next trail, I reached a
rest area with a stone monument. It was inscribed with haiku but I only found
out about it after the trip.
I walked some more and spotted a silver
torii with a trail leading downhill. I followed it then saw a small pool of
water so I knew that I was in Chouja
Pond. There was no one else in the area so it was very quiet a bit eerie
with all the trees.
The story related to Chouja Pond dates back
to the Meiji Era when a man named Jintarou Yada became famous and rich for his
touch which could completely cure any sick person.
I continued my adventure and there were a lot of uphill trails. Some of them looked straight from a fairy tale story, with a creepy forest in the plot.
From Chouja Pond
Going back to main area
Then after about 10 minutes of walking, I finally
reached Ontake Daigongen Shrine (dedicated
to the same deity as the one in Kiso-Ontake Shrine). I paid respect to the
shrine then as I was about to leave, a family reached the place so finally, I
was not alone. But only for a few seconds.
I was on a bit of tight schedule so when I
saw that it was 10:40, I started to make my way back to the main area. The
problem though was that I did not know how and I could already see fork roads
ahead of me…
No choice but to trust my instincts which
path to take for every fork road. I chose trails that seem to be nearer to the
main area.
Cannot understand anything but this was the sign near the uphill trail going back to the main area
Gotta pat myself on the back because I was able to successfully reach my destination! Had I followed the paths I ignored, I would have taken the long trail going back to the Summit Park Station… which would take 30-45 minutes of walking. I took a last round of taking in the sights at the summit before heading back to the sightseeing lift station.
At the Summit Park Station, I went for a
quick lunch before heading back to the base. I ordered curry udon as
recommended in Restaurant Nature.
The free ocha was the perfect pair for the curry udon’s rich flavor.
When I reached the cable car station, it
was a surprise because the staff put 3 different groups in one cable car. I
wish I could speak in somehow fluent Japanese so that I can converse with the
obaasans and ojiisans in the cable car. ☹
Here are some more views from the cable car
to wrap up this post:
Quite an early start for my Day 6 in Japan to be able to explore Mount Gozaisho in the morning. I was so excited to reach the summit but at the same time, a bit scared on how cold that morning will be. Problems of a tropical country citizen. Haha!
Quite an early start for my Day 6 in Japan
to be able to explore MOUNT GOZAISHO
in the morning. I was so excited to reach the summit but at the same time, a
bit scared on how cold that morning will be. Problems of a tropical country
citizen. Haha!
NOVEMBER 26, 2018
From Kintetsu-Nagoya Station, I rode a
train to Kintetsu-Yokkaichi Station then from there, transferred to a train
that would take me to Yunoyama-Onsen Station. If I had more time during this
autumn trip, I would have stayed overnight in the place to try the onsen in the
area. Anyway, as soon as I got off the train, I already felt that the
temperature was colder than in the city. When the bus going to GOZAISHO ROPEWAY STATION arrived, I
noticed two other old women who were in their hiking gear. I wondered if they
were going to climb Mount Gozaisho without the help of a cable car…
When we reached the ropeway station, I
immediately took a picture of the bus schedule going back to the train station
so that I can time my activities in the mountain area. Near the ticket area,
there was a board showing the temperature at the base vs the summit – it was
12C at the base then 4C at the summit. I was praying that I could endure the
cold up there.
The cable car ride to the summit did not bore me because of the autumn scenery surrounding the mountains.
I was so excited with the scenery that I even walked from one side of the cable car to the other to take in all the sights that Gozaisho has to offer.
The whole ride to the summit lasted 15 minutes and it was good that they did not force people to group together when ascending the mountain. Leaving these few more pictures from the cable car ride. Next post will be about the experience at Mount Gozaisho. 😉
I was so happy that I got to do the ama hut experience, especially with Ise ebi (Ise lobster) in season. The highlights of this experience were getting to eat seafood that were freshly caught by ama and conversing with ama divers, with the help of an interpreter.
I was undecided which tour company to pick between Osatsu-kamado and Hachiman. But the deciding factor was the free direct shuttle bus offered by Hachiman.
I found out about ama (海女, literally “woman
of the sea”) in 2017 while looking for what to do in Ise-shima. I was unable to
squeeze in a visit though because of the tight schedule of our 2017 trip but
this time, I got the opportunity to meet them.
NOVEMBER 25, 2018
Some of the things I learned about ama
during the visit:
Most ama are women and it is
said that this is because males can hardly endure the cold water during diving.
Ama freedive for about 10m in
the Pacific Ocean, with earplugs to protect their ears from water pressure.
They are mostly known for pearl
cultivation but they also get seafood – octopus is their biggest enemy so they
usually “fish” them; but they also get awabi (abalone), Ise ebi (Ise lobster),
and sea cucumber among others.
There are about 120 ama divers
in the area of Toba I visited, with the eldest being 85 y/o and the youngest
being 24 y/o.
Ama usually work for about 2-4
hours and then take a rest in their huts…
I was so happy that I got to do the ama hut
experience, especially with Ise ebi (Ise lobster) in season. The highlights of
this experience were getting to eat seafood that were freshly caught by ama and
conversing with ama divers, with the help of an interpreter.
I was undecided which tour company to pick between Osatsu-kamado and Hachiman. But the deciding factor was the free direct shuttle bus offered by Hachiman.
I found HACHIMAN KAMADO’s website to be outdated so I was hesitant to book but I read positive reviews online so I booked a reservation. I got an email within 24 hours that the 12:30 schedule I wanted was already fully booked so I asked if I could still avail the lunch set even if the schedule would be at 13:00. I got a reply that this was okay so I sent a new reservation form.
I got the Deluxe Seafood Set (¥7,560) which
includes grilled shellfishes, sashimi, seaweed, soup, rice, pickles, and an
option to choose either awabi or Ise ebi. I was excited for the lobster so the
obvious choice for me was Ise ebi, and besides, I was able to try awabi last
year.
From Ujiyamada Station (after Ise Jingu visit), we took a train going to Toba.
The shuttle was scheduled to leave at 13:00
and apparently there was no other visitor for the 13:00 schedule who availed
this. When we reached the Ama Hut Hachiman area, there were 2 or 3 other groups
in the room but they all had private cars for transportation.
Junko-san, the interpreter, greeted us and she pointed to the basket with the deluxe seafood set.
Look at those Ise ebi — still alive!
Junko showed each group to the assigned then
one of the ama served us this kai (sea bream) sashimi. It was so fresh that I
liked it even without dipping in the shoyu.
While busy with the appetizer, some of the ama started grilling the different kinds of shellfish.
Everything was so good, except for the
weird kind that tasted as salty as the sea. The rice was served afterwards and
that helped in neutralizing the saltiness. Ise ebi, the highlight of the lunch,
was cooked lastly.
(I was so excited when I saw the ama with cooked Ise ebi approaching our table but then she just left after placing it on the table. I was confused how to remove the shell but another ama saw me – she wore her gloves then methodically removed the shell. Yay!
(
Ise ebi is not as big as the usual lobster but it is way bigger than shrimps. One bite and I could jump from joy because it tasted really good. There was a hint of sweetness and I savoured every bite of it!
One of the ama saw the sea bream we finished and she asked if we wanted it grilled so we said yes. It was so yummy but a bit difficult to get fish meat since there was only a little left.
After that heavy lunch, one of the ama went to the center of the room and started speaking in Japanese. Junko interpreted the ama’s story on their work, how they get seafood, and other interesting facts on the remarkable work they do.
Next, a few of the ama showed one of their
traditional dances while music was being played on the background.
Before our visit was officially ended,
Junko introduced us to Reiko-san, the oldest ama in the area. She is 80+ years
old and considered the leader in the group but has retired from diving duties a
few years ago.
We still had around 30 minutes before the bus leaves for Toba Station (15:10) so I took the opportunity to go near the water and walk along the shore. It was a bright day and I thought to myself that the view there would be even better during sunset.
When we returned to the ama huts, the ama
were busy cleaning up. There were no visitors left and I could hear them
chatting lively. Near the entrance, there were two ama talking to Junko. They
saw us approaching and they asked us where we were from. When we said
Philippines, they brought out PH flags so I asked the shuttle driver to take a
photo of us.
They went back to talking afterwards and I was so bummed out that I forgot to buy dried mangoes for them because I wanted to give them a little token from PH. I remembered though that I had a small pack of peanuts so I shared it with them. When it was near 15:00, I said goodbye to them then Junko gave me a piece of chocolate. The ama also told me and Junko that I was “kawaii”. So sweet!
Retro style bus at Toba Station
What a way to end my Ise-Shima adventure.
Some may find this tour to be too expensive but the interaction with the ama
was priceless for me. I wouldn’t mind doing this again when I get to revisit
Toba in the future.
Despite the tiring walks from the previous days, I was still excited for this day trip because I would be going back to Ise Jingu.
During my previous visit, there were few people around because it was a weekday and we reached the place at around 8AM (read it here). But this time, it was a Sunday and already 10AM so there was a huge crowd of locals already.
Despite the tiring walks from the previous days, I was still
excited for this day trip because I would be going back to Ise Jingu.
NOVEMBER 25, 2018
From Kintetsu Nagoya Station, it was about an hour and a
half trip to Ujiyamada Station. And then from Ujiyamada, I rode a bus going to
Ise Jingu (Geku) for less than 10 minutes.
During my previous visit, there were few people around because it was a weekday and we reached the place at around 8AM (read it here). But this time, it was a Sunday and already 10AM so there was a huge crowd of locals already.
GEKU (Outer Shrine) of Ise Jingu was my first stop and this shrine is dedicated to Toyouke Omikami, deity of three essentials of human life: cloth, food and shelter.
After visiting the small shrine at the top of the small hill in Geku, I went back to the bus stop to go to Naiku.
Weekend bus time table from Geku-mae
Weekend bus time table from Naiku-mae
NAIKU (Inner Shrine)
was even more crowded than Geku. I wasn’t able to take a picture of Ujibashi Bridge but good thing I
already have one from the previous trip.
Wooden stands at one side of Ujibashi Bridge will be used in 2033 when Shikinen Sengu will be celebrated – a ceremony wherein all shrine buildings and main bridges in Ise Jingu are rebuilt every 20 years. Interestingly, the wood they use are sourced from trees grown within the shrine grounds. Shikinen Sengu happens every 20 years and the last time it has been held was in 2013. Through rebuilding, it is said that the power of the deity (Amaterasu-Omikami) is renewed.
Remember to walk along the side of the road because the center aisle is believed to be for deities only. Notice how most locals stay on the side.
When entering shrines and temples in Japan, temizu should be done to cleanse the mind and body as their gods are believed to hate impurity. In Naiku, aside from the common method of using a small wooden dipper, one option is to go to Isuzugawa (Isuzu River) to wash hands and rinse your mouth.
Seeing Naiku in autumn season was another treat – Isuzugawa was a nice spot to see trees in autumn colors.
The most crowded area in Naiku was Shogu, which is the main palace dedicated to Amaterasu-Omikami, Shinto’s most venerated deity. It is believed that her sacred mirror is enshrined inside the palace. Most people are not allowed to enter the inside of the palace but certain powerful people are given special exemptions.
Tall cedar tree with its base being touched by people for prayers
After going around a bit more, we decided to leave the
temple just in time for the bus going back to Ujiyamada Station.
A glimpse of Ujibashi Bridge
Ise Jingu will always one of my favorite places in Japan. I like the crunch sound whenever the sole of my shoes press on the pebbles, the bright rays of sunshine that are able to pass through spaces in between trees, and that unexplainable feeling of tranquillity in this place. I will definitely return there whenever possible during my future Japan trips!
Last stop for Day 3 was Korankei, which is considered as one of the best autumn spots in Chubu region. The place is very famous for momiji matsuri (autumn leaves viewing), and it is estimated to have about 4,000 maple trees of 11 types. Also, autumn night illumination is held every year from 5PM to 9PM wherein performances are held and lots of food stalls are set up.
Last stop for Day 3 was KORANKEI,
which is considered as one of the best autumn spots in Chubu region. The place
is very famous for momiji matsuri
(autumn leaves viewing), and it is estimated to have about 4,000 maple trees of
11 types. Also, autumn night illumination is held every year from 5PM to 9PM
wherein performances are held and lots of food stalls are set up.
NOVEMBER 23, 2018
The ride from Obara Fureai Park to Korankei took almost an
hour. We took a different route (but only realized this when I left Korankei) –
our van was the only vehicle on the road and we passed by mountains and lots of
tall trees… to the point that I felt like we were going to a high place similar
to Baguio or Sagada. LOL.
We arrived at Korankei at almost 5PM but the sun was almost
gone by then! These were the only shots I got from Tomoebashi Bridge, which captured the scenery with the little bit
of natural light left:
I walked along the pathway near Tomoe River then saw an uphill road to my left. A lot of locals were going up so I decided to follow… another mini hike for this day! It was quite a struggle for me because of my loafers’ slippery sole but I managed to reach the top.
There wasn’t much of a view because most of the surroundings were too dark to see already. The spotlights helped though in seeing the varying colors of the trees around us.
Overexposed – probably the worst picture I have in this trip haha!
After going back to the main road of Korankei, I noticed
hundreds of lit candles along Tomoe River. I wanted to go there but there was a
sign that only people who bought wishing candles can do so… what else to do but
buy one, right?
There was a sign in kanji but I somehow understood that there was a photo contest for the wishing candles bought that was why the locals were busy finding the best angle. Some were trying to form a word or shape as a form of creativity.
View of Taigetsukyo Bridge from the riverside
I went around the area and once done with exploring, it was back to the main road of maple trees.
Too crowded, yikes!
I wasn’t able to visit anymore other famous spots in
Korankei such as Kojakuji Temple and the Koranbashi Suspension Bridge. ☹
It was already dark and the crowd was nauseating for me. I managed to find a
big area with lots of food stalls but all of them had long lines and all dining
tables were full. I decided to just go back to Taigetsukyo Bridge and cross it.
There were food stalls as well in this other side of Korankei and I fell in line in one shop because of the momiji-shaped food they were selling. I got the custard filled one because that one sounded delicious… true enough, it was good! I liked the sprinkled salt on top which contrasted the sweetness.
I walked while eating the momiji sweet – tabearuki (食べ歩き, eating while walking) is an acceptable behavior during festivals like this. I eventually found myself in another area with lots of food stalls. I saw takoyaki, yakisoba, candied fruits, okonomiyaki, omurice, and so much more food! How I wish that I could eat so much food during this time but my stomach wasn’t feeling well so I was only able to eat a set of 6-piece takoyaki. 😦
Interesting how they put the mayo inside each takoyaki
Almost done cooking!
After dinner, I went to the bus stop for Toyotashi Station
as the destination. It was only during this ride when I was able to confirm
that we took a different route earlier that day. The bus arrived late at the
train station because of the heavy traffic in Korankei.
Even if it was a very, very tiring third day, no regrets because the sceneries I saw were mesmerizing. Autumn in Japan is definitely a must!
While planning the Kansai Region trip last year, I read that this temple is at its best during spring and autumn so my expectations were high… and it did not disappoint! Even at the parking area, people were already having their pictures taken.
I bought the ticket for both main hall and garden (¥800) entrance passes, with the temple being my first order of business. No shoes allowed, by the way!
The last stop in my revisit to Arashiyama
was TENRYU-JI (UNESCO Heritage Site).
NOVEMBER 22, 2018
While planning the Kansai Region trip last year, I read that this temple is at its best during spring and autumn so my expectations were high… and it did not disappoint! Even at the parking area, people were already having their pictures taken.
I bought the ticket for both main hall and
garden (¥800) entrance passes, with the temple being my first order of business.
No shoes allowed, by the way!
I liked the area where they have a large
sitting hall and you can just admire the view of the pond and autumn trees. It
was just so beautiful plus having that sense of inner peace while looking at
the surroundings. I guess no surprise why Tenryu-ji is regarded as one of the
best Zen temples in Kyoto.
I spent some time there before exploring the rest of temple buildings.
Once finished, I returned to the ticket booth to wear my shoes and then headed to the next area. Tenryuji’s garden was created by Muso Soseki, a famous Zen Buddhist Monk who was also the first head priest of this temple.
During my 2017 visit, I thought that I already saw the whole garden so I was shocked to learn that there was a huge area that I didn’t get to see last time. I also didn’t know that there was an exit from there that would lead straight into the bamboo grove… So how did I not know these things? I remembered that at that time, we were in a hurry to catch the Sagano Torokko Train so our visit was cut short.
Anyway, pardon for having lots of photos after this because I just found everything really beautiful, especially because I was surrounded by a mix of colors (red, orange, and yellow). It was just so surreal!
I hope you enjoyed a bit of a tour in Tenryu-ji’s famous garden during the peak of autumn. ❤
Not sure if my face says it but I am one very happy kid!
Good thing the rain stopped after finishing breakfast so I got to enjoy the view at Togetsukyo Bridge.
While it was a gloomy weather, that didn’t stop me from feeling happy because of the autumn colors. During my 2017 visit, the trees were either green or bare since it was still early spring.
NOVEMBER 22, 2018
After exploring Sagano Bamboo Grove, I wanted to eat breakfast and I remembered that there was a Lawson near the intersection to Togetsukyo Bridge… and my memory didn’t fail me, yay!
What else to buy for breakfast but this pair – tuna mayo onigiri and hot tea. This is my go-to breakfast in Japan, to the point that some friends find it weird that I can eat tuna mayo onigiri everyday.
I wanted to eat by the Katsura River but it was drizzling. Good thing the rain stopped after finishing breakfast so walking to TOGETSUKYO BRIDGE was not a challenge…
Close up shot of trees in autumn colors
The weather was still gloomy but that didn’t stop me from feeling happy because of the autumn colors I could see. During my 2017 visit, the trees were either green or bare since it was still early spring (read it here).
Here is Togetsukyo bridge with the view
from the opposite side (without the nice landscape scenery):
Back to the nicer view in this area:
I read before that there are river/boat
tour being offered here. I wanted to try it but the thought of being splashed
by water – even if just a tiny bit – on a very cold day already made me shiver.
Haha!
Just on my second day in Japan but autumn already captured my heart. It made me understand why a lot of people love this season. ❤
I wanted to visit Arashiyama again without a crowd so we got the earliest Shinkansen from Nagoya i.e., the Nozomi line at 06:20.
It was good that it wasn’t too crowded yet so there was still some semblance of tranquility despite tourists talking to each other. There was some drizzle but not enough to get us soaked.
Second day for this autumn trip was dedicated to Kyoto. I wanted to visit Arashiyama again without a crowd (read my 2017 visit here) so we got the earliest Shinkansen from Nagoya i.e., the Nozomi line at 06:20.
NOVEMBER 22, 2018
I was running at just 3 hours of sleep and the day didn’t start well because when we were already at Fushimi Station (nearest station to the hotel), I realized I forgot my mirrorless camera. Train bound to Nagoya Station leaves at 06:04 and it was 05:53. I had 11 minutes to run back to the hotel and then back to the station… and so I did with a bit of beating the red light at pedestrian stoplights. ☹ I was able to return to Fushimi Station at 06:02 then continued running up to the ticket gate. But, instead of swiping my ICOCA card, I swiped my BEEP card instead (for Metro Manila trains). WTF. I had to exit the gate and swipe the correct card instead. We reached the platform at 06:03 and I was so relieved because if we didn’t catch the 06:04 train, the next one was at 06:16 and we wouldn’t be able to ride the Nozomi train… which we already paid for. I didn’t mind the muscle ache I got after because that was nothing compared to shelling out ¥12,000 for two new tickets.
We were able to make it to our Shinkansen ride with still plenty of time before it left for Nagoya Station. It was my first time to ride a bullet train, by the way! The ride to Kyoto Station only took almost 40 minutes whereas non-Shinkansen would take about 2 hours. From Kyoto Station, we transferred to JR Sagano Line to reach Saga-Arashiyama Station and from there, there are two options to reach the entrance to ARASHIYAMA BAMBOO GROVE: take a cab or walk.
I initially wanted to take a cab because that was how we did it in 2017 but the cab driver probably thought I was asking for directions when I showed him the picture of the place. He told me, “2 minutes only”. Haha, I was too embarrassed so I ended up walking for less than 10 minutes.
You’ll know you are at the start of the trail when you see food stalls selling oden, ramen, mochi, daifuku among a variety of Japanese food. Picture below was at past 10AM when the shops were already open.
Not sure if it was due to autumn being a peak season in Arashiyama but I was shocked to see plenty of tourists at 07:40. During my visit back in 2017, there was only a couple aside from our trio at that time in the morning.
It was good that it wasn’t too crowded yet so there was still some semblance of tranquility despite tourists talking to each other. There was some drizzle also but not enough to get me soaked.
Always in awe of this place and how I can feel small with all these towering bamboo around me. Glad to be back here and still find peace here.
Interesting to see the difference of 10-15 minutes in this place. Pictures below show the increase in number of visitors.
Upon reaching the end of the trail and retracing our steps back to the entrance, I walked more slowly and this time, without so much distraction from my camera – taking in the sight of this majestic bamboo grove that seemingly sheltered me from the noise and chaos of the world.
I wouldn’t get tired of going back here again and again, even if I have to wake up really early just to enjoy its quietness. I highly recommend visiting this early in the morning to avoid the crowd. ❤
Anne Goes to Places 