|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Chapter 1
Section 1 Preface |
|
I came up to 77 years old this May. This age is celebrated as the Joyful
Age (喜寿, Kiju) in Japan, since "77" in kanji letter is similar
to "喜" (joy).
Due to the age or not, I feel reluctant to make a trip itself nowadays,
not to mention traveling abroad.
In this circumstance, several places I have still missed the chance to
visit come out to my mind. The most regret is Kyoto City.
It might have been the destination on an excursion of the junior high school
in my hometown, and later I might have stood on the stage of Kiyomizu-dera
Temple's Main Hall when encountered with its classmates ten-odd years ago.
Unreliable memory.
In any case, Kyoto is a dignified ancient city with the undeniable history
since Heian period (794-1185) and a core of the traditional culture still
alive on the elegant side of the modern life style.
I am now, with a certain consciousness, going to experience the ancient
capital full of such culture. I would like not only to visit the famous
temples and shrines but also to see the state of the traditional Japan
covered by the Imperial Family and the samurai society in the background.
Why is it I haven't felt like visiting this place until now? ...... Stop
such a detailed examination, shall we? No doubt Kyoto is my treasure remaining
long for now.
Thinking that way, I traveled to Kyoto for 3 days 3 months ago late March in an attempt to take a rough look with shame and great expectation.
I was right! I got an impression of a peculiar atmosphere there where I
could enjoy both the ancient capital and the modern society at the same
time, as well as the highlight spots.
When I told a friend about the outline of my above recent trip, he recommended
the following low-price tour of JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) a couple of days
later, saying "Why don't you make use of this all-free tour next time?"
Free Relaxed Plan of One Week in Kyoto
Round-trip by Shinkansen "Nozomi"
and Stay in Kyoto Royal Hotel
I have no memory of the domestic travel spending more than a week except
for "The Utmost Capes and Railway Stations for 11 Days, May 2011".
Moreover, my present mind is rather passive, so I wonder if this trip will
give me a valuable experience.
Contrary to Emiko's unusually ready consent, I applied for it half in uneasiness.
However this time is for us the second trip to the ancient capital under
a deep impression 3 months ago even only for 3-day stay.
The total pictures during the two trips there will amount to a lot and
surely be precious evidences, though their arrangement would be a hard
work.
- - - - -
The round trip is by the quickest Shinkansen "Nozomi". We are
lucky.
Besides, this all-free tour sponsored by JTB gives us a whole-week stay
at Kyoto Royal Hotel in the center of Kyoto City and, during the days through
all time is free on our own expense.
Our most travels until now were by joining in sightseeing tours leaving
everything to travel agencies.
So this time, worried about doing nothing and waisting time, I made several
reservations for the local bus tour beforehand, and decided to follow the
guidebook for the other days.
Nowadays in the rainy season, the weather was expected to be unstable,
but actually it rained hard only on the 6th day, June 30, and even in a
short time. We were lucky!
The following table is the outline of the 7-day trip.
|
|
|
One Week in Ancient Kyoto, 2017
(June 25-July 1)
June 25
Sunday |
Lv. Tokyo Station 12:00 (Nozomi 227)
Ar. Kyoto Station 14:17
Stay: Kyoto Royal Hotel (through July 1) |
June 26
Monday |
Bus Tour:
"Morning Tour around Kyoto"
Lv. 9:50, 3 hours
Sanjusangen-do Temple, Fushimi-Inari Shrine
"Afternoon Tour around Kyoto"
Lv. 13:30, 3 hours
Ryoanji Temple, Nijo Castle |
June 27
Tuesday |
Bus Tour:
"Fucha Dish at Manpukuji Temple, Byodoin Temple and Daigoji Temple"
Lv. 9:40, 7 hours
Mimurotoji Temple, Manpukuji Temple, Byodoin Temple, Daigoji Temple, Kajuji
Temple |
June 28
Wednesday |
Free Plan:
Yasaka Shrine, Kodaiji Temple, Chionin Temple |
June 29
Thursday |
Bus Tour:
"One day around Kyoto"
Lv. 10:00, 7 hours
Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Walking around Arashiyama Area, Tenryuji Temple,
Kinkakuji Temple, To-ji Temple |
June 30
Friday |
Free Plan:
Ginkakuji Temple, Honenin Temple, Heian Shrine |
July 1
Saturday |
Free Plan:
in the morning: Honnoji Temple, Rokkaku-do Temple
in the afternoon: Nish-Honganji Temple, Higashi-Honganji Temple
Lv. Kyoto Station 15:26 (Nozomi 234)
Ar. Tokyo Station 17:43 |
|
|
|
Section 2 First Day (Sunday, June 25)
We left home at 10:00 am. It was hot and humid, and slightly cloudy here
in Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture. So for myself, wearing a short sleeve
shirt and short pants, with a pouch and a rucksack, pulling a carry bag.
Emiko with only a rucksack.
The Shinkansen "Nozomi 227" started from Tokyo Station at noon
and arrived at Kyoto Station at 14:17 as scheduled. We had already taken
a box lunch in the train bought at Daimaru Department Store at Tokyo Station.
Under the direction of the pamphlet of the travel agency JTB, we took a
subway from Kyoto Station, changed to another at Karasuma-Oike and got
off at Kyoto City Hall. No trouble at all.
Kyoto Royal Hotel is located in Nakagyo Ward of Kyoto City, 5-minute walk from the A-1 exit. Honnoji Temple is across the street and Kamogawa River is near.
The hotel's official name is "Kyoto Royal Hotel & Spa". So taking it literally, we expected a large hot spring bath there, but not. Spa meant "beauty salon treatment". Actually no large public bath, not to mention no hot spring. We had to take a shower set up in the room all through until the last day.
We decided to walk around and then to have dinner out, so left the hotel
a little after 17:00.
I knew Shin-Kyogoku, a bustling district, was near, but we took another
busy road for a while toward Kamogawa River.
The dinner was at a Japanese-style bar "Uotami", a chain familiar
to me.
I had a banshaku with fresh seafood cuisine as a side dish, while Emiko
had a usual dinner of gohan and miso soup with seafood.
When we got back to the room, I was already drunk. Not watching TV, I went
to bed right away and fell into sleep listening to a recorded radio program.
Woke up for toilet and saw Emiko was still enjoying TV.
Trying to look good saying "Why don't you quit TV because tomorrow
is an early start," I fell into a deep sleep this time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
