Documenting Lovely Moments
Flashback To Old Times In Historic Higashiyama District
Visiting the preserved Higashiyama district in Kyoto felt like taking a trip back to the good old days. The narrow alleys, sloped streets, as well as wooden homes, souvenir shops and cafes, painted a picture of classic Kyoto. We walked the streets of Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka, which led to the beautiful Kiyomizu-dera Temple, one of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Shinkansen Bullet Train from Osaka to Kyoto
After spending a wonderful few days of Culinary Adventure in Osaka, we were ready to move to Kyoto. We used our JR Pass to take the 15-minute ride on the Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto Station, and our kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. As soon as we arrived in Kyoto, we checked into Hotel New Hankyu Kyoto, which was only a walking distance from the train station. We dropped off the luggage in our room, walked back to Kyoto station to eat ramen, and then we were ready to explore Kyoto. Our first stop was the Higashiyama District, a preserved historical neighborhood in Kyoto.
Narrow Alleys in Higashiyama District
Our favorite path when we walked around the neighborhood was Nene no Michi (the path of Nene). It was neat to walk in narrow alleys that were surrounded by wooden homes, ryokans, and restaurants. It felt like walking the path in ancient times or old Japanese movies.
Kodai-ji Temple
Soon after, we arrived at the iconic Kodaiji Temple. We decided to take a short break and got ourselves a Nene soft cream treat, which was basically matcha (green tea) soft ice cream, azuka beans, and sticky rice balls served on a waffle cone. Yum!
Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka Streets
Before we knew it, we found ourselves walking on Kyoto’s historic and preserved Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka streets. Along these stone-paved streets, we found many cafes, and shops selling crafts, souvenirs, and local snacks.
Because we got there in the early afternoon, the area was already packed with visitors. Although we were still able to enjoy the traditional Old Kyoto vibe, we wished that we had arrived earlier in the day for a more peaceful walk. Some visitors were dressed in traditional kimonos, which were so beautiful. I imagined one day we could come back to Kyoto in the Spring, rent some kimonos, and walk around in them during the cherry blossoms season.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Sanjunoto Pagoda
The path took us to the stunning red Sanjunoto Pagoda, located on the ground of Kiyumizu-dera Temple. Unfortunately during our visit, the famous deck at the temple was under construction for maintenance. Otherwise, we would have loved to check out the Kiyomizu Stage, the temple’s four-story balcony that hangs over a cliff, which was impressively built without a single nail. This would be another one in our to-do list when we come back to Kyoto someday.
Back to Kyoto Station
It was in mid afternoon when we left Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the place was getting more and more crowded. It was a beautiful view walking down the slope on the way back.
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I'm a happily-married mom of two. Our family enjoys an active lifestyle and spending quality time together. We love creating memories through travel, learning about different cultures around the world.
