Here comes our first ride on the bullet train (Shinkansen)! We're travelling to Kyoto from Tokyo by Shinkansen. Tokyo and Kyoto are connected with each other by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen. Nozomi trains require about 140 minutes to reach Kyoto from Tokyo, Hikari trains about 160 minutes and Kodama trains about four hours. The regular one way fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is 12,710 Yen (RM472) by non-reserved seat on any train, around 13,200 Yen (RM490) by reserved seat on Hikari or Kodama trains and around 13,500 Yen (RM501) by reserved seat on a Nozomi train.
FY managed to find this "
Kyoto 2-Day Train & Hotel Package by Hikari Shinkansen" whereby it's a cheap deal which includes travelling to Kyoto includes Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets and accommodations. The price varies as it depends on the hotel that you chose but the cheapest price starts from 19,400 Yen per person which is RM720. You may check it out more
here. Our selection was the cheapest package deal where the hotel was Karasuma Kyoto Hotel.
Below are the itinerary of us which is exactly the same as the one from the site I provided earlier.
Before Departure
Your tickets and final itinerary will be delivered at least one day before departure to the address you provide for this purpose when booking.
Day 1
Proceed to Tokyo Station on your own.
*You can also ride the Shinkansen from Shinagawa or Shin-Yokohama Station (please indicate when booking).
6:20 - 7:20 a.m.
Board the Hikari Shinkansen for Kyoto as indicated on your ticket.
*Please note that we cannot accept advance requests for specific departure times or seat assignments. Your ticket will be issued for a departure time within the above time frame with a reserved seat.
9:10 - 9:55 a.m.
Arrive at Kyoto Station.
After arrival, you are free to explore Kyoto on your own. Please go to and check in at your hotel on your own.
*Please note that sightseeing is not included in this package. Please plan activities and pay any additional transportation or entry fees yourself.
Day 2
Check out of your hotel. Enjoy Kyoto before returning to Tokyo. Proceed to Kyoto Station on your own to ride the train indicated on your ticket.
11:50 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Board the Hikari Shinkansen for Tokyo as indicated on your ticket.
*Please note that we cannot accept advance requests for specific departure times or seat assignments. Your ticket will be issued for a departure time within the above time frame with a reserved seat.
2:30 - 4:50 p.m.
Arrive at Tokyo Station. Package ends on arrival.
*You can also get off the Shinkansen at Shinagawa or Shin-Yokohama Station (please indicate when booking).
@ Tokyo Station
Shinkansen Departures Time
Shinkansen
Cleaners waiting to clear up rubbish for the next Shinkansen trip
Inside Shinkansen
Have reached Kyoto Station
After 2 hours + of bullet train ride and without meal provided, we're all so hungry. Hurry let's go find a place for our lunchie!
Lunch in one of the mall @ Kyoto
Karasuma Kyoto Hotel
Such a tiny bath tub!
Shiseido Bath Gel and Shampoo
After settling down in the hotel, we're now off to the Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺) temple. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. There is not a single nail used in this entire structure. Its name derived from the waterfall within which runs off nearby the hills. Kiyomizu means clear or pure water.
A
niōmon (
deva gate) (
仁王門) - the Japanese name of a Buddhist temple gate guarded by two wooden warriors called Niō (lit. Two Kings). The gate is called Heng Ha Er Jiang (哼哈二将) in China and Geumgangmun (金剛門) in Korea.
Three Storey Pagoda
Side of the veranda of Kiyomizu-dera
View of the veranda of Kiyomizu-dera
Torii of Jishu-jinja, a matchmaking shrine
One of the 2 love stones
Entrance ticket to the womb of Zuigu-Bosatsu
It is completely dark inside. You can see nothing even if you are opening your eyes big enough. You can just hold your hands on to the beads railing inside and feel the feeling of being inside the womb.
Street selling souveniers
Day 4 - Kyoto (京都) - Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺 Temple of the Golden Pavilion)
Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺) is Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto. The Golden Pavilion (金閣 kinkaku?) is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex. The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf. The pavilion functions as a shariden, housing relics of the Buddha (Buddha's Ashes). The building was an important model for Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion Temple), and Shōkoku-ji, which are also located in Kyoto.
Each floor of the Kinkaku uses a different architectural style. The first floor, called The Chamber of Dharma Waters, is rendered in shinden-zukuri style, reminiscent of the residential style of the 11th century Heian imperial aristocracy. The second floor, called The Tower of Sound Waves, is built in the style of warrior aristocrats, or buke-zukuri. The third floor is built in traditional Chinese cha'an style, also known as zenshu-butsuden-zukuri. The building is topped with a bronze phoenix ornament.
The Golden Pavilion is set in a magnificent Japanese strolling garden (回遊式庭園 kaiyuushiki teien). The pavilion extends over a pond, called Kyōko-chi (鏡湖池 Mirror Pond), that reflects the building. A small fishing deck (釣殿 tsuridono) is attached to the rear of the pavilion building, allowing a small boat to be moored under it. The kinkaku-ji grounds were built according to descriptions of the Western Paradise of the Buddha Amida, intending to illustrate a harmony between heaven and earth. The largest islet in the pond represents the Japanese islands. The four stones forming a straight line in the pond near the pavilion are intended to represent sailboats anchored at night, bound for the Isle of Eternal Life in Chinese mythology.
Green Tea with gold flakes
Lunch @ Kyoto
Bacon Potato Pie - Yummy
As we only have 2 days 1 night in Kyoto, we only managed to go to 2 temples in Kyoto. After visiting Kinkaku-ji, it's time to rush to Kyoto Station to board the bullet train back to Tokyo. After arriving in Tokyo, we put our luggage in hotel and then to Roppongi and also to Tokyo Tower.
Night view of Tokyo Tower
Day 5 - Tsujiki Market, Harajuku, Ginza
Went to Tsujiki early morning and there are still lotsa people around the market. All sorts can be found there and it's very very fresh. Almost all the items for sale there are in huge size. After having breakfast and shopping at the market...ya, right, you read it correctly...shopping..my mum loves it to the max..Keep on bargaining and even help people to promote their stuffs. Sorry, where were we....?? Oh ya, after the market, we off to Harajuku for shopping and that place was SO SO SO crowded!! And even saw the real cosplay by those Japanese. Hehe...kinda fun and a little scary to see them. After shopping, we went to Ginza for dinner.
Tsujiki Market
Found this @ the Metro Station
Harajuku (原宿)
Harajuku is an area between Shinjuku and Shibuya and is also a fashion capital of the world, renowned for its unique street fashion. It is also a large shopping district that includes international brands, its own brands, and shops selling clothes young people can afford.
Cute golf ball + grass sandals for men
Weirdo Grandpa
Night View @ Ginza
Wanted to try out this piggy restaurant at Ginza but it's so packed. It's a DIY teppanyaki restaurant. So, we settled off with a simple Japanese meal instead. :(
Large Muji store @ Ginza
Authentic Japanese restaurants
See the table?? They used the beers erm..what do you call that? Beer cartons? Beer Box?
Came twice (different nights) still unable to try it out. So packed!
Day 6 - Kamakura (
鎌倉市)
Today Rocky brought us to Kamakura and places nearby. We took a train to Kamakura and it took us about 50 minutes travelling time from Tokyo and it costs 890 Yen per person (JR Yokosuka line).
Kamakura has many historically significant Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, some of them, like Sugimoto-dera, over 1,200 years old. Kōtoku-in (
高徳院), with its monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha, is the most famous. A 15th century tsunami destroyed the temple that once housed the Great Buddha (大仏), but the statue survived and has remained outdoors ever since.
Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū (鶴岡八幡宮) is the most important Shinto shrine in the city of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Originally built in Zaimokuza in 1063 by Minamoto no Yoriyoshi, it was moved to its present location by the founder of the Kamakura shogunate Minamoto no Yoritomo. A Shinto shrine now, Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū was also a Buddhist temple for most of its history. The shrine is at the geographical and cultural center of the city of Kamakura, which has largely grown around it and its 1.8 km approach. It is the venue of many of its most important festivals, and hosts two museums. At the left of its stairway stood a 1000-year old ginkgo tree, which was uprooted by a storm in the early hours of March 10, 2010. The shrine is an Important Cultural Property.
From Hase to Kamakura
After a half a day of travelling to Kamakura and Hase, it's time to go home for a hot shower and some rest! As for dinner, we're heading to Ginza again! Haha...can'e get enough of Ginza. Just had the best dinner in Japan so far! Thanks to Rocky for introducing this restaurant to us.
Though I'm unable to have dinner @ the piggy restaurant but I get their paper fan!! Haha
