Kyoto Temples: Kyomizu-Dera Temple, Kinkaku-Ji Temple

Kyomizu-Dera Temple 31 Aug 2017

How to get to Kyomizu-dera from Kyoto station:

Take bus number 100, 110 or 206 from D1 or D2 bay of the Kyoto Bus Terminal.  Inner-city bus fare is fixed at 230 yen per trip.

Alight at Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka and you'll see the temple after a 5-min walk. You'll pass the Sannei-zaka (Sannen-zaka), the stone-paved slope lined with shops and cafes.  Kyomizu-zaka, the slope leading to the temple, is also lined with cafes offering traditional snacks and shops selling souvenirs.

No entrance fees to visit the grounds of Kyomizu-dera, but entrance charges may apply for entry into specific Halls.


Niomon Gate
 also called 'Akamon' (Red Gate) is the main gate to Kyomizu-Dera

Looking down from where we walked up...

3-Storey Pagoda

A wishing site for easy childbirth

As the southeasterly direction is said to be prone to fire, a tile in the form of a dragon,

which is believed to be the god of water, is placed at the southeast corner of the roof as protection.

 

    Zuigudo Hall (Jishin-In)

OTOWA Cafe - One of the many cafes lining the approach to Kyomizu-dera

Sannei-zaka

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Kinkaku-Ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) 1 Sep 2017

This Kinkaku-Ji visit was made on our trip back from Arashiyama.  As it was still early (around 3pm) when we reached Umahori station, we decided to take the JR train to En-machi station and hopped onto a taxi to Kinkaku-Ji. Taxi fare was 1,100 yen, worth it for 4 of us.

Access from Kyoto station via the city buses (101 or 205) will take about 40 min. Fare is 230 yen per person.

Admission Fee to Kinkaku-Ji : 400 yen (9am to 5pm)
Length of Visit : 1 hour

Once you enter the temple compound, you'll see the iconic Shari-den (Kinkaku) which comprise 3 storeys, the 2nd & 3rd levels which are covered in gold leaf - 200,000 pieces - and which was last replaced in 1987.

A close-up view of the beautiful Shari-den as you walk further from the entrance.  Follow the pathway to see the Kinkaku from various angles.

View of the Golden Pavilion from the top of a hill

Rikushu-no-Matsu : this 600-year old pine tree is said to be one of Kyoto's three greatest pines. The name literally means 'Sailboat Pine' because of its expanding branches which resemble the shape of a sailboat.  The branches have been trimmed to face west, signifying the sailing towards west to the lands of Buddha.