I had been to Kansai, Japan on 3-10 November 2011.
I spent 3 nights in Osaka, 2 nights in Kyoto, and back in Osaka for another 2 nights.
Day 1:
The usefulness of Osaka 1 day unlimited pass which I utilized to enter Umeda Sky Park, Osaka Castle, and Tsutenkaku Tower, is really handy for a budget traveler like me.
I did not buy 2D Osaka Pass as I had to travel to Kyoto. It allows unlimited local train rides (non JR lines)
Umeda Sky Park is a place where you could have a bird eye view of the city. On that day they had not completely installed the giant Christmas tree display. Tried to sit on the sofa which connected to floor's light display which was quite an amusement to me. Other than that, it is Japanese tradition to buy lock for romantic relationship which I don't have any interest except took a few photos outside.
Before reached the castle, I passed by NHK Building and the Lutheran Church cum hotel which I found it is interesting!!!
The huge compound of Osaka Castle made me feel as if I was on the endless journey.
The flowers were beautifully cultivated there. There were many dog lovers in the evening there.
The museum diplays mostly the shogun Toyotomi Hidetoshi's story from his rise to his fall being attacked by Tokugawa (read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyotomi_Hideyoshi)
The rooftop decorations are the golden carps which is very different from other castles.
It was beautiful at night. Eventhough it was a modern rebuilt, I could imagine how great was the original castle must be.
I was not bitten by the charm of Biliken though. Unfortunately Biliken reminded me of "tuyul" in Indonesia.
Had dinner at number 1 kushikatsu restaurant in Tennoji which none of the staff could speak English and we had to resort of pointing at the menu. Along that stretch there are a few shops selling Shiseido and other brands at lower prices than huge shopping centre besides Japanese restaurants.
Initially wanted to have dinner in another crowded restaurant
Day 2:
The Umeda station is huge! it is an interchange of JR and Midosuji Line.
Nearby there are stations for Hankyu and Hanshin.
Isetan Dept store is just on the top of it and Grandvia Osaka 5-stars hotel which owned by JR.
The Universal Studio Japan which is bigger than USS; however, disapoointed with the lack of English direction there. Enchanted with the Snoopy shop and cafe there as well as the parades.
Outside USJ there is a takoyaki museum, which is actually a few takoyaki stalls, not exacly a museum!
Day 3:
The wonderfulness of east-meet-west or the old world-meet-the new world is Kobe with its awesome pastries!
When i was at Kitano-cho, i felt was transformed to the 18th century.
Drenched in the heavy rain and cold weather, I walked up and down the slopes taking photos of those centuries old houses.
Walked very far to the waterfront area as the tourist bus ride JPY 650 had closed the route by 5pm.
seen the old boat replica and the facades of Maritime Museum.
Had a 20-minute shopping at Santica basement for pastries and had dinner at popular restaurant there before heading back to Osaka.
Day 4:
Went to Kyoto by JR and arrived in OSAKA Station.
Went to Fukakusa, South Kyoto, where I booked a room in Urban Kyoto Hotel.
Took a cab ride and boarded train to Ishiyama station by JR. Waited for a Teisan bus No 150 from Ishiyama to Shiga which scheduled on 10.10AM.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7027.html
http://miho.jp/english/inform/inform.htm
It was a 50 minutes ride by bus passing by the rural area (houses, farm lands) and it did not come cheap though JPY 800 1-way.
The 50 minutes bus ride was quite breathtaking with KOYO sceneries where I could see the yellowish mapple leaves and bamboos.
Amused by the artefacts in Miho Museum, Shiga.
First went to Egyptian ancient artefacts on 2nd floor then moved on the 1st floor where visitors could watch interactive videos on the museum's building process.
I managed to view the Japanese Buddhism treasures on the special exhibit and the most famous the Gandhara Buddha statue from Afghanistan which is RARE particularly since Afghanistan was seized by USSR and then under Taleban which famously destroyed the largest Buddha statues on the ancient Silk Road.
http://miho.jp/english/collect/collect.htm
The museum is designed by I.M. Pei. It is a piece of art crafted on the mountain slope.
Took few photos in the tunnel which links the musuem entrance and its museum.
Could choose to ride the electric cart shuttle or brisk walking
Admission fee: JPY 1,000
There is only one cafe operated which served tea and cakes. Quite delicious! Good service!
Halfway through that, there were flocks of museum's members from all over Japan in the museum.
Spent the night in Kawaramachidori - there are many restaurants and pubs from cheap to very expensive one, shops, a big market place. Had a set of gyu kaminabe.
Surprise! Surprise! the Archiodecese of Roman Catholic Church of Kansai is found in that district not far from Pontocho (which is second to Gion)
Day 5:
Visited Fushimi Inari Taisha in the morning. This is Inari sushi's birthplace. And this temple is patronized by merchants and wealthy businessmen. Famous for its torii gates (it was said a thousand pieces, but in factmaybe less than that)
The temple is guarded by two wolves-like creatures.
Explored Arashiyama with its Bamboo Forest, Sagano tram ride, and lost in translation and lost in transition at the end of Sagano tram station. Boarded the bus to the place where people board the river boat. Managed to walk to a JR station nearby there to go back to Kyoto Station.
Visited Kiyomizudera then enchanted by the confectionaries along the way down and the pottery shop, and ended the evening eating at soba restaurant in JR Osaka sattion.
Day 6:
Visited the Imperial palace 10am guided tour. I was not used to the English sopken by the Imperial Household staff. It is free and i had applied more than 1 month in advance. After the tour ended I explore the complex of temples behind the university. Then headed to Ginkakuji by bus. It was crowded. The compound is actually quite small.
From there i took bus ride stopped at Demachinayagi in the hope to visit Mt Eizan utilizing my Kansai Thru Pass. I changed my mind then took bus to Kinkakuji.
It glared with its golden shines around 4pm.
I stopped at Ninanji which is just few stops away from Kinkakuji. At that time it was closed so i spent time looking around at the huge main gates.
I could not find the Toei Studio at Uzumasa. It was very quiet at night and i was stranded there for 1 hour.
Managed to board the bus and train back to Fushimi Station. I went to visit Fushimi Inari at night and there was a performance there. Ate my sweet grilled gyu-don at Rakuman, a tiny restaurant opposite Fushimi Station then back to hotel to pick up my luggage.
Arrived in Kyoto around 9pm. Bought takoyaki balls at the shop opposite the Minamikata station (Hankyu) and boarded taxi as the bottom of luggage was damaged. Sent me to the wrong hotel. Finally arrived there but it was not the hotel i supposed to pay, and it is a sister chain hotel.
Day 7:
The next morning I explored the business district there.
Went to Namba station. It is even bigger than Kyoto station and Umeda station.
I missed the express train to Koyasan which runs on certain hours.
I still took the express train and changed at Hashimoto but then it stopped at Koyashita for about half an hour. It is quite tiny town in the mountain slope. Before reaching Koyashita, I saw lots of persimmon trees grown there.
The unique of temple clusters at Koyasan and its vast graveyards on the way to Okonuin.
Unforgetable time i spent waiting for the next bus in the cold climate of 7 degrees around 5-6pm pn 9 November 2011 while no shop was open at Daimon area! Huge ginko leaves and their yellowish mellow tones.
I will not forget the kindness of a middle aged japanese lady in Koyashita on the slope of Koyasan who gave me 2 huge persimmons grown there while there is no eateries nearby the station, and the group of middle aged ladies from Kuroyama who walked with me from Daimon.
Day 8:
I decided to drp by to Hozanji Temple, Ikoma, just a side trip between Osaka and Nara using Kansai Thru Pass.
There is a small waterfall on the top of Ikoma-san which i did not go.
Most visitors are locals who came to pray. Need not to squeeze with other tourists.
Luckily I found a Japanese gentleman, his wife, and his guests of American couple. We were the only tourists there. He explained to me it used to have an amusement park in Ikoma near the mountain top which then closed down couple years ago. No wonder the trains are kawaii!
It is not huge temple, it comes also with a cemeteries in the slopes which is much smaller than cemeteries near Okunoin Koyasan).
The deers at Nara Deer Park are amusing. One of them nodded at me when I was rushing to enter the magnificent Todaiji. The view from Nigatsudo hall was amazing! The temple itself is lighted up beautifully on the slope.
And also the kindness of the bus driver who did not want to accept JPY 200 for my ride to the Nara Deer Park as i did not aware that Kansai Thru Pass is not valid to use on bus rides there.
I was very excited about the whole trip.
Was doing my reseach for almost 3 months, and my effort was not fruitless!
