#Fushimi definitely opts out of this one

[alexyssc13]

May 20 - International Manga Museum | Fushimi-Inari Shrine

I had no idea what was happening today. After the XG concert yesterday while being sick, I was so tired. I was also late to class this morning because I didn’t even know where we were meeting, and when I saw where it was on Google Maps, I knew I wasn’t arriving on time if it’s about a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

Thankfully, the first place for the day was pretty close. We went to the International Manga Museum before it opened, so Dr. Smith let us roam around for a bit. I got two thick pieces of French toast from this fancy place, and then I got this yummy Starbucks drink. However, Skylar, Sadia, and I were kind of late when the class was regrouping because the Starbucks wasn’t exactly the closest to the museum. When we entered, I got stamps first and then hung out with Sadia who was waiting in line at the portrait corner. It’s basically where you can get drawn in anime style, which was very convincing, but it took a while per person or pair so I opted out in the end. Instead, I looked at the manga on the shelves nearby, which were in different languages, like English, Spanish, Korean, etc. I also checked out the gift shop where I found Oshi no Ko manga in English, but instead I just got a cool shirt instead. I wish I saw more of the museum, but we had to watch the kamishibai, which ended up being really funny. Afterwards, we broke for lunch, but my friends and I just went to the café attached to the museum. It was pretty cool inside because there were lots of illustrations drawn by manga artists all over the walls.

After lunch, we took the train to the next place, which was the Fushimi-Inari Shrine. There were so many tourists in this area. We had to walk a bit before actually reaching the shrine area. Once we checked out this area, we walked further up until we reached the thousand torii gates. I remember seeing these on Instagram, but it’s definitely cooler in person. However, the hike up was horrible, especially with the heat and my sickness. At one point, we stopped to try lifting these rocks, and supposedly your wish will come true if you believe the rock will be lighter than what you expected. When I lifted one of the rocks, it was pretty heavy, so my wish didn’t come true. Then, we continued up and passed various shops, a river with large fish and a turtle, and obviously more torii gates. We finally stopped at this nice viewing area that was near the peak and took a class photo. After that, class was over for the day, so after much needed rest, my friends and I went all the way back down and then back home.

[ridiasfangirlings]

Scepter 4 doing one of those old YouTube challenges , spicy noddles challenge . This doesn’t even have to be an AU , it can perfectly work in a canon scenario with half the squad choking in the background

New bonding experience? New bonding experience. Maybe Munakata got the recipe from one of those challenge videos and didn't realize it was supposed to be a challenge (or did he). Wait maybe this is like a 'hoist from your own petard' sort of thing, like say members D-H are watching a bunch of spicy noodle challenge videos one day on their PDA and laughing at all the people who can't handle it. Doumyouji thinks it looks like fun, like what if we put spicy noodles in Fushimi-san's lunch and filmed it and the other members are like maybe if you want to die. As they're talking about the videos Munakata walks over all intrigued, wondering what the fuss is about. The squad are quickly like oh you know it's nothing just some stupid videos on the internet. Munakata notes that Doumyouji-kun was laughing quite hard and Doumyouji hesitantly asks if Captain wants to see the video, he can send Munakata a link. Munakata says that would be excellent, the rest of the squad are like who knew Captain might be into this sort of thing.

A few days later Munakata invites everyone into the Scepter 4 dining hall, he's made dinner for them to share. The squad think this is pretty nice, like look Captain even made...noodles. The D-H members exchange worried glances and Hidaka finally manages to stutter out 'Captain...this isn't from that video right...'. Munakata grins proudly, sparkling with amusement as he says the videos were very amusing, he thought that trying the challenge together would be a good way to bond. Munakata sits down at the table and tells everyone to help themselves, serving himself a nice big plate of noodles. He takes a bite and everyone waits with baited breath, Munakata is pleased with how well he brought out the flavor. The squad are like 'well...he didn't react so maybe he didn't make them spicy enough...'. Doumyouji figures they must be safe right and takes a big bite. There's a long pause as everyone stares and suddenly tears start forming in Doumyouji's eyes and his face is getting redder and redder, Hidaka runs to get him some water. Munakata invites everyone else to have a bite and the squad just exchange miserable glances. Akiyama doesn't get why everyone's hesitating, surely Captain's cooking can't be that bad. Before the others can tell him what the issue is he's taken a bite. Akiyama swallows, sits for a moment and then he's like 'excuse me' before just sprinting back into the kitchen ad gulping down an entire water bottle.

The rest of the squad finally sit, resigned to their fate and hoping that maybe it's just that Akiyama and Doumyouji are weak to spices. Hidaka likes a little spice so he thinks it can't be too bad, until he takes a bite and now his mouth is burning and he almost chokes. I imagine Kamo probably holds out pretty well, as a chef he's used to even super spicy food but even so he is almost defeated by Captain's extra spicy noodles. The only other member who manages to hold their own is Gotou, who is sitting across from Munakata eating calmly as if nothing's wrong while around him the rest of the squad are choking and begging for water (and then there's Fushimi, who doesn't like any spices whatsoever and has refused to eat a bite, and who is probably calmly taping everyone to upload this to the internet later at Captain's order, they needed something to liven up Scepter 4's official social media account).

[ignis-scientia-estrogen-brigade]

~ISEB in Japan: A Photo Journal~

If you’ve been following me on Twitter lately, you’ll know that I’ve been traveling through parts of Japan the last couple of weeks with my Ignis Play Arts Kai figure in tow. I posted a few pictures over there during the duration of my trip, but those barely scratched the surface of everything I got to do while in Japan. So I thought I’d put together a blog post of my journey while it was still fresh in my mind, featuring everyone’s favorite strategist in what I’ve been dubbing my Great Final Fantasy XV Adventure of 2019!

[Image-heavy content + commentary under the cut]

A brief backstory: I’ve wanted to go to Japan my entire adult life. For years, I’ve watched friends make the trek while I’ve been stuck at home with a severe case of FOMO. The only thing that ever stopped me from going was money (or a lack thereof), so I made the decision last summer to buckle down and sock away every dime I made to make it happen. My only concern before hopping on the plane was that I had missed the wave of FFXV popularity by about a year, but I would quickly learn that—other than not getting to eat any of Ignis’ recipes at the Square Enix Cafe—I had little to worry about.

Literally the only reason I brought my Play Arts Kai figure was so I could take this picture of Ignis at the Citadel (a.k.a. the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building), which was the very first place I stopped at on my first full day in Tokyo. The building + the surrounding plaza, while not 100% accurate, is a fairly impressive facsimile of the one in the game. It’s located in Shinjuku, which also boasts a lot of similarities to Insomnia. Having finished Episode Ardyn mere hours before jetting off on my trip, it felt like I had stepped off the plane and right into the game!

There just so happened to be an Animate right near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, so I popped in to get a feel for what kind of FFXV merch I’d be able to find two years after the game’s release and a year after its height of popularity. Turns out, there was quite a lot of swag to be found! Truth be told, I’ve never been one to chase down official merchandise (unfortunately my job doesn’t really afford that luxury), but I gave myself special permission while on vacation to buy anything I wanted. So I did! Including everything you see above. ^^;;

The next thing I did was take the train to Ginza to meet Lyle/@landscape-gonna  (@landscape_gonna on Twitter), and I simply cannot say enough nice things about her. If you don’t know who she is, there’s a 99.9% chance you’ve seen at least one of her Ignis costumes, and they are A. M. A. Z. I. N. G. We had chatted a bit previously on Twitter before I went full-on stan mode, asking her if she'd be willing to meet up with me (a total stranger) to have lunch and talk Ignis and Final Fantasy. Not only did she say yes, but she gifted me with copies of her incredible cosplay zines and was not the least embarrassed when I busted out my Play Kai Arts figure in the middle of a busy Japanese dessert restaurant haha.

See? Zero embarrassment here.

We even did Noct’s ultimate pose! In public!

I can’t begin to articulate how special meeting Lyle was for me—being brought together from opposite sides of the world to share in our love for Ignis/FFXV is a memory I will cherish my entire life. So Lyle, if you are reading this: どうもありがとうございます ! ٩( ᐛ )( ᐖ )۶

Lyle wasn't the only friend I had in Japan. Another friend of mine, Asuka (who happens to be well-versed in anime/video game culture), volunteered to be my guide through Ikebukuro/Otome Road the next day. Quick otaku lesson: Kbooks is a chain of stores that specializes in the resale of licensed merchandise. For example, if you missed out on some of the limited availability items from the Movic and the Square Enix Cafe collaborations, you might be able to find them at a Kbooks. Otome Road in particular has something like seven different Kbook shops in a 3-block radius, each one specializing in different products (sports anime, idols, cosplay, etc). I, of course, beelined for the video game shop...

...which is where I found this fucking thing:

I’m not gonna lie, I almost bought it. I just didn’t know what I would do with it besides scare the living daylights out of people when they least expected it lol.

Yoooo Adam I found ya boi in Ikebukuro

We popped into the cosplay Kbooks shop since it was right across the street and I found an Ignis costume for sale! Please enjoy this picture of me pretending to come up with a new recipeh (since this is likely the closest I’ll ever come to cosplaying as Ignis).

One of the things Asuka introduced me to was Hanami (picnic under the cherry blossoms, basically). I had timed my trip to coincide with the blooming of the sakura, and the experience of being in Japan during that time was indescribable. I took a bajillion pictures of the sakura while I was there and unfortunately none of my photos ever quite captured the beauty and magic of them in person, but here’s a lil’ pic of a tree in bloom at Yoyogi Park (with the Movic Ignis charm I bought at Kbooks earlier that day).

Another item on my Japan checklist was to stay at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Hakone, a town famous for its onsen/hot springs. Nothing in Hakone is cheap (at least, not during peak sakura season), and I had spent an absurd amount of money on a night at one particular ryokan with a private bath (shy husband haha). The private bath could only be reserved in 30-minute increments, and by the time we finally rolled into Hakone the bath we wanted only had one slot available for the rest of the night. So what did I do?

If you said, “Waste the first 15 minutes of your 30-minute, super-expensive onsen experience taking the perfect Ignis-in-a-hot-springs photo” then you would be absolutely correct lol.

I actually wasn’t planning on taking a bunch of photos of my Ignis figure on this trip, but after my husband tucked Ignis into my futon while I was in the bathroom, documenting my trip vicariously through Ignis ended up taking on a life of its own. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I popped back over to Tokyo after my stay in Hakone, which is when I finally got to make the Great Nerd Pilgrimage™ to the Square Enix Cafe! Had the FFXV collab been going on while I was there, I might’ve forked over the cash to eat at the cafe, but I opted to skip out on lunch so I could spend more money in their shop. They still had a small collection of FFXV merch...

...including this acrylic Ignis stand that I wanted but thought I would never own after failing to find it at Kbooks earlier in the week. Huzzah!

Also, I just feel the need to let everyone know that this is what the outside of the Square Enix Cafe in Tokyo looks like lmao.

Our next stop was Kyoto, which we arrived in on Gladio’s birthday (April 2nd). Unfortunately I didn’t have time to draw anything for his b-day, but we did stop for a Nissin Cup Noodle in honor of Gladio!

One of the most memorable moments of my trip was when this boating incident happened, and it requires a little bit of backstory. On my first full day in Kyoto, I attempted to field two of the most popular tourist destinations in Kyoto: the bamboo forest in Arashiyama, and the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Both places have their beauty and historical significance, and I suspect during the off-season are inspiring sites to behold. In my case, both places were absolutely swarming with tourists, which really put a damper on my enjoyment of them. Defeated, I followed a local canal back toward my hotel, which is where I spotted a miniature boat enthusiast controlling a boat that looked eerily similar to the Royal Vessel. I pulled my Ignis figure out with the intention of simply taking a photo of the boat in the background; when the man saw me holding my figure and fumbling with my phone, he flagged me over and gestured for me to put Ignis in the boat. I wish I had documented how it all went down a little better, but as I was literally wheezing with laughter, the above was the best I could capture.

One of the more off-the-cuff decision I made was to dress in kimono for a day while in Gion (Kyoto). As the cherry blossoms were at their height during my stay there, you couldn’t sneeze without hitting someone who was dressed traditionally for the numerous festivals that were taking place throughout the city. As a white foreigner, I initially had reservations about wearing a kimono (for fear of cultural appropriation), but I did everything I could to be as respectful and reverent whilst wearing the garb (and the rental shop was certainly happy for the patronage). It was an amazing experience and I would definitely do it again!

Speaking of being respectful, I made it a point not to take pictures of Ignis while visiting any shrines (because nothing screams ‘douchey American’ quite like whipping out an action figure on sacred grounds), hence why I don’t have pictures of any of the major shrines we visited in this post. I did, however, spot this miniature shrine arch in an alleyway, and thought it would be okay for my equally miniature strategist to pay his respects.

Literally, a tiny shrine in an alleyway. I suppose even alleys have their deities!

Osaka is about 20 minutes away from Kyoto by train, and since I had already traveled all the way out to Kyoto, I went the extra few miles to stop by the Square Enix Cafe in Osaka. They actually had a smaller selection of FFXV merch than the one in Tokyo and I didn’t end up buying anything, but I would’ve never stopped wondering if I had missed out on something if I hadn’t gone and seen it for myself!

My last day in Kyoto was a week into my trip, and I still had five days left to go. After walking ~10 miles every day (no joke, I have the GPS screenshots to prove it!), I was really starting to feel the grind. I’m sure Ignis was also desperate for an Ebony after being lugged around in the bottom of my purse for a week lol.

Back on the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo!

Weeeeeee (ﾉ^ヮ^)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

Said hi to Fuji-san!

Stopped for a delicious matcha parfait! (Shout-out to my husband who never once got annoyed with me whenever I busted out my figure in public spaces lol)

This was without a doubt the craziest and most unexpected find of any of my merch runs. I had gone to the video game Kbooks in Ikebukuro earlier in the week and had sifted through all their Ignis merch with a fine-toothed comb. This particular Movic charm was one I had been on the lookout for, but it was a rare pull even when they were readily available a year ago, and the only Ignis charm I came across in my first trip to Kbooks was the normal Ignis one (see my Hanami pic). I had no real reason to return to Ikebukuro after I got back from Kyoto, but on a whim I went one last time and BAM—this guy was hanging out there in his lil’ baggie, just waiting for me to get my grubby little hands on him. Jackpot!

All in all, I spent way too much money and I couldn’t be happier for it. The only thing I couldn’t find for the life of me was the Ignis cologne by Movic, but after searching through several Animates and Kbooks, I began to suspect it might be an online-exclusive item that wasn’t available in stores. (Which was probably a good thing for me cause I was already stretching my budget to the limit by this point haha.)

On my last night in Japan, I went back to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building—only this time I went at night when it was all lit up! I also went up to the observation deck on the 45th floor (something I didn’t know you could do the first time I was there) and enjoyed a fantastic view of nighttime Insomnia Tokyo. It was the perfect bookend to a perfect trip, and my heart is absolutely overflowing right now with love for both Japan and Final Fantasy XV!

[asterinjapan]

And then the sun sets

It’s Sunday evening as I write this, being grumpy because tomorrow I’ll have to get up at 6 to catch the train to Nippori. To catch the train to Narita. To… yeah, you get it, I need to go home tomorrow already, wehhh. Time has really flown, gosh.

Anyway, today is December 23, which is a national holiday in Japan. (Or rather – it is, but because it’s a Sunday, tomorrow is a bank holiday as well.) That’s because it’s the current Emperor’s birthday. He won’t be the current Emperor much longer, though, as I’m sure you’ve heard the news that next year, Emperor Akihito of Japan is abdicating. It’s the first time in like 2 centuries an Emperor of Japan abdicates, so it’s also the first time that we know for sure that this is the last time he’ll celebrate his birthday as the Emperor.

Why am I typing this all out, you ask? Well, because every year on his birthday, the Emperor and his family come out on the veranda of the Imperial Palace to greet the people. Normally, the Imperial Palace is off-bounds for the public, except on December 23 and January 2, the day of the Emperor’s New Year Greetings. The Emperor comes out three times in the morning of the 23rd, so when I realized this right before my trip, I immediately planned to try my luck and attend.

I got up early and made my way to Otemachi station (nearest to the palace) a little before 9, before the gates would open at 9:30. Right on time, right? Yeah, uh – no. I had to walk an entire block to find the end of the line, and it took so long to move forward that I was honestly starting to worry if I could even see the Emperor at all today, since the last appearance was at 11:40. Yeah, I know. As it turns out, this was the busiest birthday during Emperor Akihito’s reign: about 57,000 people were here, which is almost twice as many as people living in my home town, whoa. There were several security checks in place for all the obvious reasons, which while fast, still stopped the lines quite a bit. In the mean while, we were handed small Japanese flags to greet the Emperor with later.

Too bad that it started to drizzle, because the walk was actually very nice, even though incredibly slow. After all, these grounds are inaccessible the rest of the year, and there are some nice sights to be seen. The Nijubashi bridge leads to the usually forbidden Nijubashi Gate, past the Fushimi Yagura guardhouse. This guardhouse is one of the few original buildings that survived the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and the Second World War, and it’s actually originally from Kyoto. That’s right, it used to be part of Fushimi Castle, which I visited this summer (the reconstruction of it, anyway). We’re all coming full circle! The castle was dismantled in the 17th century and parts were sent out to other places, including Tokyo.

Next was the inner gate, leading to the Chowaden Reception Hall, the largest building of the actual palace. It was here that the crowd gathered, and with a minute or ten to spare, I had made it in time for the 11:40 speech. Yikes. That really was testing my luck, and I wonder how many of the thousands of people behind me eventually made it here in time too.

After a short delay, the Emperor and his family appeared, greeted by the crowd with the many, many flags. He gave a short speech and all in all, I think it was over in like, fifteen minutes. But I did see the Emperor in real life, even though it was from a distance, and I have the (blurry) pictures to prove it, haha.

Anyway, Emperor Akihito’s reign started in 1989, making him the only Emperor of Japan I’ve ever known. So it still feels pretty special to have been here, the last time of his celebrating his birthday while being the Emperor, the end of an era in sight. Literally, by the way: the Japanese calendar is currently in the 30th year of the Heisei era, and they’re frantically coming up with a new era name before the abdication in April.

 With all that said and done, the way out also took a while. We passed the Fujimi Yagura, another guard tower (Fujimi, not Fushimi – small difference) and also an original building. Fujimi means Fuji-viewing, although the current skyline of Tokyo definitely obscures the view of Fuji even if the weather had been nice today, haha.

The way out led past the Imperial Gardens, but I opted out as it was starting to rain harder and I was getting pretty hungry. I made my way into the station, but couldn’t really find what I was looking for. I refused to hang around in Tokyo station grumpily on my last day here, so instead, I took the Yamanote line to Akihabara.

I had lunch there and then sought out the nearest Big Echo karaoke building, haha. There are probably cheaper options, but I like this chain because it’s always clean and bright and they have a good song selection, which is very important.

I booked a room for myself for an hour and was very surprised when I was given a kind of performance room, with a mic stand on a stage and a big bench. Obviously I tossed all my things on the bench and rushed to the stage to belt my heart out, haha. That was a ton of fun! I actually wanted to do more than an hour, but I still wanted to go into Akihabara itself too, so an hour it was. I still got to sing my favourite songs, so all was well.

As said, I went into Akihabara next, spending a bit too much money on Christmas presents for myself since this trip is pure self-indulgence anyway. I’ve come to like Akihabara a lot more than in previous years, actually. Maybe it helps that I found stores that cater to women more than men (I guess you can tell what kind of stuff some of those stores sell, huh). Anyway, I had fun and found a taiyaki shaped like the Pokémon Magikarp, so obviously I had to try one. Mine came with chocolate filling and it was SO FULL, geesh, I almost forgot I still had to eat dinner at some point.

After all that, I went back to my hotel and arrived around 8:30. Time for the fun part: cram everything into the suitcase and see if it fits!

It takes some sitting on my trolley, but I made it fit, haha. My scale unfortunately gave out, but said it was 17 kilos before it died – which is weird, I arrived with 14. But I asked downstairs and their scale also said 17-18, so I guess that’s correct after all? Leaves me with a 5 kilo margin, so that’s fine. (I guess most of the heavier books are in my carry on, so that should help. Not with my back, but it should help with the weight at least, haha.)

 So now I’m here, updating my blog from Tokyo for what I assume is the last time this year, haha. It sure was a surprise trip, but I had a lot of fun and got to do many things, despite not feeling as well as I wanted (last summer was worse, so there’s still progress). I want to pretend it’s not over yet, so I’ll save my parting words for the update after I’m home, since I’ll be home for Christmas and all. Jetlag for Christmas! Yay. Luckily the Netherlands has two Christmas days.

 So, that’s it for now. Happy birthday to the Emperor, and good night to you all as my alarm is unforgiving, haha. Here’s fingers crossed I won’t turn it off in my sleep again, which I managed to do yesterday… Oops.

Good night and see you!

[itsjanetimbengan]

JAPAN 2018: Day 3 – Torii Gates, Bamboo Groves, and Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto

After at least an hour ride going to Fushimi-Inari station, we were greeted by dozens of people, both Japanese and foreigners, heading in the same direction to one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Kyoto.

Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine, an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto, is known for its mesmerizing thousands of unending pathway of torii gates up to the mountain. It was first built as early as the 8th century by the Hata family to worship the gods of rice and sake. Along the pathway through the gates, you will also see plenty of stone foxes, usually come in pairs, which is considered to be the messenger of Inari – the god of rice and business.

A row of souvenir shops and Japanese street food stalls lined up before reaching the main tower of the shrine. The smell and the way the vendors cook the food were inviting but, we opted to go straight ahead the shrine, passing through the Romon Gate at the entrance.

There was a sudden explosion of color orange everywhere and small worship places around the area however, my eyes wandered to where the torii gates are. We passed by the main shrine and walked towards Senbon Torii which literally means “thousands of torii gates.” Tourists flock here and there which makes it difficult to have your picture taken without anyone else photobombing your photo. But, worry no more, because as soon as you climb further the inner part of the orange maze, there were secluded areas with fewer tourists to the point that you can have your own photoshoot with the torii gates.

There was a time when we wasted at least 30 minutes because we’re waiting for the coast to clear so we can achieve an Instagram-worthy photo not knowing that torii gates were really endless and you can take pictures as much as you want until the end of the trail.

We walked through the entire tunnel which comprises of slopes and staircases leading up to Mount Inari. (Tip: Wear your MOST comfortable shoes.) Along the way, you will see multiple small shrines and altars and some actually lit candles and burn incense. There are numbers of stores, vending machines, and restaurants around where you can buy food and water if you found yourself needing a rest.

After an hour of trekking, there is the Yotsutsuji Intersection where you can have a good view of the city.

We’ve taken a break more than a few times and asked myself “di pa ba matatapos ‘to?” because really, it’s a loooong walk going up. My feet and entire legs were screaming as if they want to collapse any minute. It will take at least 2 hours, depending on your pace, to reach the top of the mountain, which is 233m high.

On our way back to the station to head to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, we feed ourselves with some takoyaki for 500 yen.

Kyoto is not as small as Nara where attractions need only a small amount of walking. All the major tourist spots are spread out in different directions so we had to take another one-hour train ride to go to Arashiyama to visit one of the absolute highlights of Kyoto.

From the station, we crossed Nakanoshima Park and Togetsu-kyo Bridge where cherry blossoms are abundant. I let my eyes drift for a while and let my heart fall in love with the place – it is very dreamy and enchanting. The scenery is like a postcard turn into reality. A view waiting to be captured and be a wallpaper. A painting that comes to life.

We took our time getting to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, meandering down the bridge, passing through number of tourists walking and riding Jinrikisha, a man-pulled rickshaw (it’s like a “kalesa” in the Philippines).

A vast number of bamboo stalks greeted us and I watched as people stream in and out of the forest. Walking between the bamboos felt fascinating and peaceful. I felt as though I have walked into some other world, somewhat magical. The breeze is atmospheric, caressing our skin and making these tall bamboo groves sway to its rhythm. Amazing how light penetrates through the canopy and how these bamboo stalks seem to continue to grow endlessly up towards the heaven.

The entire path is 500 meters long and you can walk through it in 15 minutes, depending on your pace and on how long you take your Instagram pictures. It can get crowded especially at noon but, there were secluded areas where you can take your photos.

Leaving the bamboo grove, we walked back and stopped by an ice cream store. We devoured a mixed matcha and cherry blossom flavored soft ice cream for 300 yen, not minding the fact that the weather is at 16 degree Celsius *cue music: “the cold never bothered me anyway”*, and rest our feet for a while.

Going back, we dropped by at Tenryuji Temple, the largest temple in Arshiyama district and continued towards the quiet neighborhood full of traditional Japanese houses and more temples. This part of Arashiyama is less touristy and more rural.

By 4 PM, we decided to go back to Nakanoshima Park and soaked in the picturesque view of cherry blossoms along Katsura River and Togetsu-kyo Bridge, also called the “Moon Crossing Bridge” and the most iconic landmark in Arashiyama district. We strolled in silence and settled ourselves in one of the benches in the park, admiring the beauty of nature while watching the boats float in the river.

I took a deep breath of the fresh, crisp air, enjoying the scenic view of the river and the postcard-perfect look of cherry blossoms. Spring in Arashiyama is color pink with dozens of cherry blossoms adjacent to the bridge, clear blue skies, and perfect cold weather. It is great sunsets with colorful mountainside in the background.

We couldn’t get enough of the beautiful view of the flowers but, we have to go back to Osaka before the night gets too late. We run down the street going back to Hankyu Arashiyama Station. A warm-colored lantern-shaped lighting surrounds the station and gives me the atmosphere of an ancient capital – it’s lovely and romantic! This is definitely the most alluring station I’ve seen around Japan.

How to go to Kyoto from Osaka:

Go to the nearest station from your hotel. From Hotel Zipang, the nearest is Dobutsuen-Mae Station.

Ride Tanimachi Line going to Temmabashi Station.

From the station, transfer to Keihan Main Line going to Fushimi-Inari Station.

From there, you can walk going to Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine.

How to go to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest from Fushimi-Inari Station:

From Fushimi-Inari Station, ride the train going to Gion-Shijo Station.

Transfer to Hankyu Kyoto Line going to Arashiyama Station.

From there, walk through Nakanoshima Park and Togetsu-kyo Bridge going to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.

[emilysn2019-blog]

Kiyomizudera is one of the most popular temples in Japan. Also known as the “Pure Water Temple,” it’s a Kyoto highlight, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and unequivocal must-do. This post features my photos from the temple, plus tips for avoiding crowds, and other assorted info about it. (Last updated July 27, 2019.)

Perched in a beautiful location between one of Kyoto’s most beautiful historic districts and the Higashiyama foothills, Kiyomizudera Temple ranks on our Top 100 Temples & Shrines in Kyoto, Japan. In fact, aside from Fushimi Inari Shrine ( it’s the spot we visit most in Kyoto. Since originally writing this post a few years ago, we’ve returned to Kiyomizudera over a dozen times and experienced it in every season.

The two most notable and unique experiences are during autumn foliage and spring cherry blossom seasons. I wrote about the latter in our Visiting Kiyomizudera Temple for Night Illuminations During Sakura Season post and the former in our Kiyomizudera Fall Colors Evening Lighting post. Kiyomizudera is always not to be missed, but during those special events, you will want to visit twice. Additionally, just about all of our 1-Day to 1-Week Itineraries for Kyoto, Japan include a stop at Kiyomizudera…

Before we get into tips for experiencing this temple, let’s start with a bit of background. Kiyomizudera was built in 780 on the site of the Otowa Waterfall and the literal translation of the temple’s name to “Pure Water Temple.”

Since its original founding, most of Kiyomizudera’s buildings have been destroyed numerous times due to fire, and have been rebuilt again and again. Most of the present buildings were reconstructed in 16. Kiyomizudera Temple was registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto in 1944.

Variety is probably the best way to describe why Kiyomizudera Temple is such a strong attraction in Kyoto. It has a large main hall, pagoda, a shrine, the waterfall, great views into downtown Kyoto, views into the cherry and maple trees, and views into the mountains. It has cultural significance and is visually stunning in a number of ways, making it an easy pick for a must-do in Kyoto.

Also in terms of “variety,” one of the things I like best about Kiyomizudera Temple is actually the walk there. Kyoto is renowned for Philosopher’s Path, the walkway on which Nishida Kitaro (don’t feel bad, I didn’t know who this was either), a Japanese philosopher, used to mediate. The path is a beautiful, intimate stroll that is scattered with temples and other sites, which is why it remains popular today.

Well, as beautiful as that walk is, I think the “path” we make after ending Philosopher’s Path at Nanzenji (where Philosopher’s Path ends) is also very good. I’m going to call it Philosopherz Path 2: Tha Remix, and hope schoolchildren once learn about the contemplative crazy philosopher photographer Tom Bricker and this path someday.

Kidding, of course, as this path is already known, it’s just not promoted as a top “walk” in Kyoto. This is probably because the first section of the path that connects Nanzen-ji Temple to Maruyama Park is just through a plain section of Downtown Kyoto, but everything after that through the park and Higashiyama District is excellent. Some of the prettiest machiya townhouses in Kyoto can be found along these narrow paths.

Basically, once you leave Nanzenji, you head past Shorenin Temple and Chionin Temple before passing through Maruyama Park and entering the Higashiyama District. As you’re walking through this area, you suddenly see Yasaka Pagoda towering above the little shops and houses. Continuing further, you pass Kodaiji Temple before arriving at Kiyomizudera Temple.

It’s a good thing this walk is so lovely, because Kiyomizudera is not all that convenient to any train or subway stations in Kyoto. The nearest option is Kiyomizu-Gojo Station along the Keihan Railway Line, and that’s about a 20 minute walk. Fortunately, most of that walk is through the Higashiyama District, so it’s not too bad. The alternative is taking the bus from Kyoto Station, but that’s a miserably crowded experience, and the lines for the Kiyomizudera buses are often really long.

Even though it’s not part of the temple itself at all, this is a big part of why I think Kiyomizudera Temple is a must-do. That approach is just second to none, and offers a bit of variety and a beautiful historic district, before arriving at the final destination.

Note that once you get up to the steps of Kiyomizudera, you can see a decent area of the temple before entering the paid area that (more or less) begins with the main hall.

Now, we highly recommend paying to enter, but this is worth mentioning because you could return a second time for sunset or sunrise if you’re really into photography and shoot a decent amount without going “inside” the temple.

As for the paid area of Kiyomizudera Temple, there’s a lot to see. From the statue of the eleven faced, thousand armed Kannon in the main hall to Jishu Shrine, a shrine dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking, to Otowa Waterfall to the three-storied Koyasu Pagoda to another pagoda amongst the trees on the far side of the grounds, there’s a lot to see here.

You can read about each of these structures here on the Temple’s official website. I’m more focused on giving tips for visiting as opposed to giving you the full history (which you’ll learn about at the temple, anyway).

Currently, Kiyomizudera Temple is undergoing a substantial refurbishment project that is slated to be completed right before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This is a monumental undertaking that has been taking place in phases over the course of the last several years. The final component of this project is a roof replacement of the main hall.

Unfortunately, this has temporarily transformed the view below into the one above. I won’t sugar-coat the visual impact this has at Kiyomizudera, as the wooden stage jutting out from the main hall with Kyoto in the background is the iconic scene at this temple, and the scaffolding around the main hall is visible from pretty much everywhere in Kiyomizudera. It’s a bummer, but it’s necessary, and we still do not hesitate to recommend a visit. Even during the refurbishment, Kiyomizudera remains one of the top spots in Kyoto.

My big tip for visiting would be to go for sunrise, sunset, or night. Which you choose depends upon the season. The temple opens at 6 am and closes at 6 pm daily, so if sunrise is before 6 am or sunset is after 6 pm, seeing these won’t always be possible.

As for night, it’s only open at night (6:0 pm to 9:0 pm) from mid-March to mid-April for the spring bloom, and mid-November to early-December for the fall colors, and is specially illuminated during these times.

Some days of the year, Kiyomizudera Temple is open for sunset. This is my pick for the best time to go if you want stunning photos, due to the orientation of the Temple’s key structures. The downside to a sunset visit is that it definitely will be more crowded than sunrise or early morning, but most visitors have left by this time of day, so it isn’t nearly as busy as the middle of the day.

If you are more concerned about crowds than photos, you might try visiting Kiyomizudera Temple early in the morning, as it is one of the more popular spots in Kyoto. If you can get here before 8 a.m., you will avoid the worst of the tour groups, as well as the congestion in the Higashiyama District, which gets pretty bad.

Moreover, if you do opt to take the bus to Kizomizudera, those early morning ones are by far the best option. Once the morning rush hits, you’re looking at very cramped buses that are standing room only. Coming from Kyoto Station, the line for these buses is often really long, too. Not a fun way to start your day.

Kiyomizudera features prominently in our 1-Day Eastern Kyoto Itinerary and our 2-Day Kyoto Highlights Itinerary, each of which offer strategy for visiting it for sunrise or sunset. If you’re trying to map out a touring plan that avoids crowds and efficiently visits some of Kyoto’s best spots, consult those.

My other big recommendation is to visit a variety of temples in Kyoto. That’s sort of Kyoto’s “thing” so it’s likely you’ll visit several during your stay, but what I mean by that is that you should visit well-known/popular temples like Kiyomizudera, but also under-the-radar ones.

As cool as Kiyomizudera is, it’s a poor representation of the true spirituality of Kyoto’s temples. It’s crowded, the area around it is heavily commercialized, and not conducive to introspection. Again, unless you arrive before 8 a.m.

I’m not sure if this is a controversial thing to say, but I think regardless of your religious beliefs, at the best temples and shrines in Japan, you can have spiritual experiences. For me, a spiritual experience is different from a religious one in that it is internal to oneself and can mean different things to different people. It’s one of those things you can’t really articulate, but you know it when you feel it.

Overall, Kiyomizudera Temple has so much going on and so much variety as compared to other temples in Kyoto, Japan that it makes my list of highly recommended things to do. I’ve found that many of the other temples in Kyoto can sort of blur together, which is not really a knock on any of them individually as they are all stunning. Kiyomizudera Temple is different from the norm. The approach is a beautiful walk, and the grounds of the temple are filled with things and views you won’t find elsewhere. It does have some weaknesses, but these are far overshadowed by its beauty and unique qualities it brings to the table.

If you’re planning a trip to the Japan that includes Kyoto, we recommend starting by consulting our Ultimate Guide to Kyoto, Japan to plan all aspects of our vacation. You should also check out our other posts about Japan for ideas on other places to visit! 

Your Thoughts

Have you visited Kiyomizudera Temple? Would you recommend it to a first-timer visiting Japan? Any thoughts or tips of your own to add? Does visiting this temple interest you? Share any other questions or thoughts you have in the comments!

The post Kiyomizudera Temple Photos & Tips appeared first on Travel Caffeine.

[ebanoryokou]

Day 10 京都

After so much walking and sightseeing the day before, I was expecting today’s activities to be challenging--and I was right. 

Today was our trip to 清水寺 (Kiyomizu-Dera), The 月桂冠 (Gekkeikan) sake distillery, and 伏見稲荷神社 (Fushimi Inari shrine). This being a study tour, I feel that over the course of the trip I have learnt many things. One of those things is that no matter how cute your boots are, if you’re planning on walking 25 000 steps in one day, you should wear something else. 

Day 9 had absolutely ruined my feet, so rather than stroll or walk around 清水寺　admiring its beauty, taking in the incredible views, and sipping on the purest water in Japan, I hobbled from one sight to the next, racked with fear that I had dislocated my toe. But having just started to recover from what I believe to be the worst cold I’ve ever had, I was determined to keep up with the rest of the group. 

Something I found very exciting about 清水寺 was that they were several survey boxes dotted around the shrine where one could write what they wanted to be the ‘漢字 (Kanji) of the year.’ Every year people submit thousands of characters at this shrine, and the most popular entrant is written on a large banner by the head priest on the 12th of December. Eager to show off our 漢字 skills and possibly contribute to the final chosen word, many of us made a submission. Among our group, a very popular option was 食 (food). My submission was 増,

in reference to the increase in temperatures globally (Japan faced another heatwave year), and the increase from 8% to 10% in Japan’s GST a few months ago. 

After some free time to walk along the streets fronting the temple, Leigh guided us to nearby 丸山公園 (Maruyama Park), where we had lunch. It was slim pickings here, with most of the group buying hot dogs and chips. I opted for the きつねうどん (Kistune udon). We then walked through 八阪神社 (Yasaka Shrine) in order to take the subway to the 月桂冠 (Gekkeikan) Sake Distillery, where we were given a brief guided tour. 

As it turns out, although I shouldn’t have been surprised, the history of 酒 (sake) runs deep in Japan. We were told about the ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ textures that 酒 could possess. 酒 produced in 京都 is known for having a feminine taste, as the water in the area is smooth. 酒 produced in 神戸 (Kobe) is said to have a masculine taste to the ‘hard’ water in the area. The small well outside the entrance to the distillery served as evidence of this feminine water. Taking a sip of it, it genuinely did feel very smooth. The rest of the guided tour explained the convoluted process by which rice is cultivated, polished, washed, stamped on, and fermented in order to create the final 酒 product we know and love. I expected nothing less of a traditional Japanese production system.

The tour concluded with an opportunity to taste test both 酒 and 梅酒 (plum wine) and do a little gift shopping. The 梅酒 was very popular with some of our group, but to me it tasted like cough medicine. 

Our next and final stop on this fairly long day of walking was 伏見稲荷神社 (Fushimi Inari Shrine). Despite the sun beginning to set, the shrine was still packed with tourists. But on arrival, I understood why. The Golden Hour light reflecting off the red of the 鳥居 (Torii gates) created a beautiful illuminated effect. As well as the hundreds of gates themselves, I was rather taken by the fox statues just outside the entrance to the 鳥居 walkway. Broden, the JET who joined us for the 京都 leg of the tour, told me that the foxes were 稲荷 (Inari) messengers, and so statues were erected in their honour. 

Upon reaching the famed 鳥居 gates, I was shocked once again at the number of tourists still at the site at such a late point in the evening. Not wanted to get stuck in the crowd of photographers and dawdlers, Morgan, Arnold and I snapped a few photos as evidence that we had actually been, then made our way down to the delicious-smelling street stalls. I’d definitely like to come back to this site, not only to make my way through the gates, but also to try some of the stalls out the front. The 焼き鳥 (yakitori) Rui let me try a bit of was so good I almost cried.

Dinner that night was at an 居酒屋 (izakaya), which was very exciting because it felt like a very ‘local’ place to eat. So local, in fact, it didn’t have an English menu (as many places often do), and Oscar’s blue eyes caught the attention of one of the Japanese customers. He was henceforth known to our group as ビューティフル・ボーイ (Beautiful Boy). 

[jonathannunezg-blog]

Cherry bloom guide: Instagram star Jessica Wang Shares The foremost Spots In Japan

Blooming bloom season is an fully bewitched time in Japan and one of the crucial conventional occasions for individuals to talk over with the country. This year cherry blossom season is anticipated to begin aboriginal, as predictions say the center of advance will be back the pink leaves begin shapely. This natural spectacle makes for impressive pictures, so I reached out to influencer Jessica Wang, a.ok.a. NotJessFashion to discover the premier areas to visit in view that final 12 months she traveled all over Japan snapping striking photos for her blog NotJessFashionm.

Examine on to discover the surest areas to journey these captivating blossoms and also where to eat and stay in Japan. NotJessFashion cherry Blossoms Jessica WangNotJessFashion

What do your readers get to look on Notjessfashionm? What's your pleasing assume as a blogger influencer? Jessica Wang: My exciting choose as a blogger influencer is giving my readers a more in-depth look at my culture via editorial content material however additionally communicate. I are attempting to make certain that each weblog put up isn't simplest alarming however empowering and offers my readers functional guidance they can use of their own lives. I are trying to supply a number of content to maintain it sparkling and fascinating. here is continually a mix of enjoyable administration information you would not on the whole see day to day, in-depth go back and forth publications, beauty secrets I swear via and company and blogging suggestions that they could observe to their work. What fabricated you come to a decision to consult with Japan all over blooming blossom division? Japan has at all times had a reputation for accepting the most iconic blooming blossom views, specially when combined with its natural panorama and ancient structure. a quick Google chase offers you a glimpse of simply how bewitched it may also be, so it turned into on my bucket record for a long time. when I at last had some time in my schedule, I just knew I had to go and appointed a flight.

What are one of the vital superior places to adventure the cherry blossoms? 1. route to Yasaka-No-To Pagoda Kyoto The accomplishments of this environment transports you to a distinct time and vicinity. standing in the history is a alpine wooden pagoda that's spell binding among the many blooming blossoms. 2. stroll along Shirakawa River of Gion however Gion is a tourist hot chapter, I wholly loved the views of the old picket buildings and the glorious cherry bloom bushes. The historical atmosphere and architecture provide it a mythical ambiance. 3. Osaka fortress With round 4,000 cherry blossom bushes planted across the citadel, you truly get a dense explosion of blooming blossoms that seem even more magical in grownup. it's an outstanding location for a barbecue however can get definitely active. 4. Chidorigafuchi esplanade Tokyo annihilation beats canoeing during the blooming blossoms in Chidorigafuchi park. it's actual quiet and spell binding, principally back the petals abatement off the trees and into the baptize.

What's whatever thing miraculous about Japan right through blooming bloom season?

Hanami blooming bloom viewing picnics are a fine approach to enjoy the blossoms, and that they’re much more eye-catching at night when the entire lanterns mild up. blooming blossoms blossom for a really brief time and continually only remaining every week. considering the fact that they’re so heavenly and fragile, you’re no longer supposed to touch them.

What are some of your favourite locations to eat in japan?

1. Tsukiji market fish bazaar in Tokyo The premier-hidden gems can also be found on the local fish bazaar. anyway sushi and sashimi, that you could locate lots of road food alternate options and candy. be aware that this bazaar currently moved to Toyusu and is now referred to as Toyosu market. 2. Copy for coffee in Tokyo For a special however tasty coffee event you can get a 3D latte created instantaneous. three. Saryo Tsujiri Daimaru Tokyo – this is one of the most top-rated spots in Tokyo for matcha truffles. It’s effortlessly discovered close the Tokyo station and offers a big range of palatable parfaits. 4. ChaCha no Ma Omotesando an additional ambrosia part for the matcha-bedeviled in Harajuku. here which you could get wonderful matcha truffles like tiramisu, cheesecake, and ganaches. 5. Augury in Kyoto if you love noodles as lots as I do, then omen is a need to-are trying. The noodles are the ultimate bendability and that they include so abounding delightful aspect dishes. 6. Ichiban Yakitori in Kyoto in case you love skewers, again here's the area to get low-priced however crazily decent yakitori. that you may choose from a number of abbreviates and meats in addition to greens.

What abroad is entertaining to experience there? Japan is crammed with rich heritage but additionally has its modern, bustling cities. The lustrous lights of Tokyo and its searching district are in reality anything to adventure, however which you can additionally easily get away the insanity in quieter cities. I cherished actuality in a position to entry abounding zen area, temples, and trails. if you are in Kyoto, definitely take a look at Fushimi Inari Taisha Torii Gates.

How a ways in strengthen may still Americans book? Tickets can get expensive given that blooming bloom season is a popular time for tourists so i'd recommend reserving at least three months in increase in case you can.

Do you've got any hotel thoughts? I feel all of it depends upon what city you might be journeying. but ordinary, I opt to dwell in Airbnbs after I trip because it's an outstanding way to adventure a metropolis like a native.

[ridiasfangirlings]

a strain traps half the squad, along with munakata and fushimi into a dating sim game. the only way to get them out is to finish the game and to go through all their routes and get some secret ending

It's Enomoto's time to shine, he knows all about dating sims XD Oh but imagine the Strain traps them all in game but they're like in the game separately, like one member of the squad is the player character and the rest are love interests, conquering one love interest frees the member who was the player character and whichever love interest they ended up with gets to be player character on the next go round. So Enomoto ends up being the first one to be player character, he's actually pretty into this because finally his specialized skills will come in handy. He's not really sure who to romance, like he's definitely not romancing Fushimi-san (who is the jerk with a secret heart of gold character) or Captain (who is the secretly manipulative shiny glasses character). He probably ends up choosing Fuse since they're friends and roommates and he feels like he knows enough about Fuse to properly follow his route to the end. Upon winning Enomoto is immediately transported out of the game and now Fuse finds himself wondering where the fuck he is and why is the rest of the squad surrounded by roses.

So Fuse has to choose a route and he decides Gotou would probably be the easiest, just pick creepy answers (this does lead to an actually terrifying date at a cursed graveyard and for a minute there Fuse thought he had picked a Bad End). Gotou decides to go for Hidaka, somehow Gotou as player character has a cursed amulet and he can feel it has a sense of camaraderie towards Hidaka which both real and dating sim Hidaka find highly unnerving. Hidaka really wants to go for Fushimi's route but he's worried that it's too high-level for him, like surely Fushimi can only be conquered by the most advanced player and maybe it would be best to leave that route for whenever Munakata takes a turn. Instead Hidaka opts for Akiyama, who on his turn of course picks Benzai. Benzai then chooses Kamo, figuring he'll be easier than Doumyouji, and Kamo takes Doumyouji's route. Poor poor Doumyouji is then left to choose between Munakata and Fushimi and he's probably like can I take a third route is there a third route. He somehow manages to unlock the secret route and saves Awashima from captivity.

Awashima of course dutifully chooses Munakata, whose route is complicated and confusing but she does her best, spurred on by her strong sense of loyalty and duty. When Munakata's route is finally complete he finds himself trapped inside this very fascinating game world where there are a bunch of NPC love interests and Fushimi-kun. Naturally Munakata will not allow Fushimi-kun to remain trapped in here forever but Fushimi's route is perilous even for Munakata to navigate, like any single wrong move could cause relationship points to drop dangerously low. Maybe as they're released from the game the rest of the squad is able to like view what's happening on one of their computers and so they've all been trying to help each other out, it's going to require full teamwork from the entire Special Forces squad to help Captain conquer the unbeatable route of winning Fushimi's heart. (And then once Munakata finally wins it turns out there's another secret route that Fushimi has to complete, featuring all NPCs that look suspiciously similar to the Gakuen K otome game cast, and the squad have to try and get him through it because Fushimi is not a very good dating sim protagonist and keeps refusing even the easiest dialogue choices.)