Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine

 

Orange you glad.

Certain places you just have to see to understand. I remember when Mike and I were planning our trip to Japan. We were discussing what we knew off the top of our heads about Kyoto. I said, “Everyone seems to go to those orange gates, but I don’t really get why.” Ok, I totally get why now.

 

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The Fushimi Inari Shrine is an important Shinto shrine dedicated to the gods of rice. In total, there are five shrines on the site. However, it’s the thousands of orange gates (torii) that get all the attention. The gates line 4 kilometers of pathway that wind up and down Inari Mountain. Visitors can travel along as much of the path as they like, depending on how strenuous of a hike they are seeking. The impressive gates, the beautiful greenery, and the peaceful atmostphere made it pretty clear why Fushimi Inari Shrine is one of the top sites in Kyoto.

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We arrived in the morning and it was much busier than these photos would have you believe. We timed our photographs to hit the gaps in the long train of people coming up and down the path. We also got good at adjusting our bodies to block other tourists in the background. I think we did a pretty good job of it.

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I love the subtle ombre in these leaves. 

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Yet another example of why reading a guidebook can be a valuable experience. On the other hand, it’s sometimes nice to have zero expectations. You have the opportunity to be genuinely stunned.

Kyoto: Kiyomizu-dera

To think we almost missed it.

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From Osaka, we headed to Kyoto. After arriving at our guesthouse and dropping off our bags, we headed out to find something to eat. On the way, we noticed a pretty pagoda at the end of a long and narrow street. Feeling curious, we decided to check it out. Turns out, the pagoda led us to another pathway that went up a hill to a popular tourist spot. There were souvenir shops, ice cream stands, and lots and lots of Boy Scouts. (The World Scout Jamboree was held in Japan this year).

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Then, we arrived at a beautiful gate, climbed the steps, and started a debate. Should we pay the relatively inexpensive entrance fee or just keep looking for lunch? How silly we would later feel. Thankfully, we decided to just go for it and check it out. It didn’t take long to realize we had wandered up to Kiyomizu-dera… one of Kyoto’s top sites.

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One of the most impressive features at Kiyomizu-dera is the veranda on the main building. It stretches out away from the hillside and is supported by numerous wooden pillars. When you view the veranda from other areas on the grounds, it’s a bit like looking at a giant treehouse. The greenery of the trees nearly swallows up the building.

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Water from the Otowa Waterfall is considered sacred and visitors line up to to drink it. The water is said to bring health, longevity, and wisdom, depending on which stream you sample. I didn’t notice any labels though so I have no clue which gift Mike or I will receive.

Near the end of our trip when Mike and I were reflecting on our favorite sights, we both picked Kiyomuzo-dera. We laughed at ourselves trying to decide if it would be worth the entrance fee. I know some people are pretty anti-guidebook when they travel. I’m not one of them but I am sometimes lazy. This is a perfect example of when guidebooks are helpful. If I had picked up our guidebook and taken a closer look at the map, there would have been no debate on the steps of Kiyomuzo-dera.

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A bit later in the afternoon we wandered down through Gion to Shimbashi, the “prettiest street.” Based on these photos, you might not believe me, but it actually was beautiful. My iPhone and the overcast sky  did their best to work against it. I would love to see it on a spring evening with the cherry blossoms in bloom.

More from Kyoto to come. (Eventually!)

Arriving in Japan

Osaka, to start.

Mike and I began our trip to Japan in Osaka. In the days before our arrival I was obsessively following a typhoon that was headed right for the Kansai Region. Thankfully, the storm wasn’t nearly as strong as anticipated. By the time we landed, there weren’t any signs of severe weather.

To be honest, my memories of Osaka are a bit colored with uneasiness. It was there that I discovered that my debit card would not work. According to my bank, the PIN was incorrect. According to me, my bank was to blame. I had somewhat recently used my card in Korea, so I knew the PIN was fine. Then I systematically tried every single PIN number it could possibly be, just in case I was mistaken. Well, nothing worked. Thankfully, I have a very generous travel partner who gladly pre-approved me for a large travel loan.

Memories of Osaka that don’t involve running around to various ATMs include visiting Osaka Castle and the Dontonbori district.
Osaka, Japan

Osaka, Japan

Osaka, Japan

In my opinion, Osaka Castle is best enjoyed from the outside. The inside is a small museum but unless you can understand Japanese you’ll miss out on a lot of the good information. The view from the top was nice but not spectacular. I think I enjoyed gazing at the castle while eating a shaved ice much more. However, it was a pretty hot day so that may have been a factor.

Osaka, JapanThe famous “Running Man.” 

Osaka, Japan

Takoyaki on the right.

Osaka, JapanIn Dontonbori, we walked along the canal and through the crowds. The neon lights and over the top signage lured tourists to try some new culinary experiences.  Mike opted for the famous takoyaki octopus balls. He described them as “molten” in the middle and couldn’t finish the batch. Just another moment I was happy to be a vegetarian.  Although I got off to a rocky start in Osaka, I really enjoyed our guesthouse and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet and peaceful place to stay. 

Oh, hello…

On life support.

An afternoon walk to the “Field of Joy” in our town. 

Every so often I think to myself, “I should really pay more attention to my blog.” And then at other times, I think “My blog’s pretty much dead. Maybe I should just let it die.” Yet, neither of those scenarios seem right. I definitely pulled back from blogging when I moved to Morocco. I can’t believe that was over two years ago! At that time, I was just so busy and so emotionally drained that blogging didn’t hold much of an appeal.

Unfortunately, even though my life now is much less stressful, the appeal of blogging never really returned. I’m not in love with my site layout and I’ve never enjoyed posting via WordPress. I read other blogs less frequently than before and roll my eyes at some of the travel writing that’s being published lately.

However, I do still view my blog as a place to set aside travel photos and memories for safe-keeping. My goal is to every so often catalogue a new trip or experience. Hopefully, I’ll feel motivated enough in the next few weeks to post more about my life here in Korea as well as a trip to Japan I took this past July.

So if you’ve wondered at all if this little blog is dead, the answer is “sorta kinda.”

xo, jill

Nami Island or Falling in Love with a Korean Drama

Summer Sonata.

Nami Island, KoreaNami Island, Korea

Last month, Mike and I were trying to take advantage of the sunny days before rainy season hit. We did our best to get out on the weekends and enjoy the sunny weather. Turns out, the rainy season didn’t really come this year. There were a few wet ones, but not the nonstop rain for days on end that usually occurs.

Nami Island, KoreaOne Saturday, our destination was Nami Island. It was an easy two hour bus ride to from Suwon to Gapyeong and then a 5 minute ferry to the island. We had the good fortune of getting tickets on the 7am(!) bus so we had a few hours on the island before the crowds arrived. If you are headed to Nami Island in the summer, I highly recommend arriving early. Nami Island, Korea

Nami Island, KoreaThe island is basically a picturesque park filled with an assortment of especially scenic spots and pathways. There are river views, a lush lotus pond, ostriches, and pathways lined by cherry, sequoia, maple, and gingko trees. Pretty much everywhere you look there’s another photo opportunity. In addition to the natural sights, there are also cafes, museums, art galleries, gift shops, and libraries. In fact, just about everywhere on the island is a library. There are little bookshelves strategically located so you can enjoy a leisurely read no matter where you are (including the bathroom stalls). Nami Island, Korea

Nami Island, KoreaNami Island, Korea

Nami Island, KoreaNami Island, Korea

Nami Island, KoreaWe spent the day strolling through the trees, riding the Sky Bike, and paddling out in a swan boat. The main thoroughfare can get pretty crowded (near the shops/cafes), but there is plenty of space on the island to spread out and find your own little patch of nature. I definitely appreciated being surrounded by trees instead of tall buildings. Nami Island, Korea From the Sky Bike! 

Nami Island, Korea

More Sky Bike scenes. 

Nami Island, Korea

Nami Island, KoreaNami Island, Korea

Nami Island, KoreaIn addition to being a beautiful and peaceful location, Nami Island is also famous for its brief appearance in a Korean drama. All over the island there are little signposts to point out the location of certain scenes in Winter Sonata. This drama is the one of that helped spread Korean dramas throughout the region and the world back in the early 2000s. Of course, when we got home we had to check it out. Mike only lasted one episode but I quickly became addicted. Eventually, I had to take a break halfway through the series. I just couldn’t get anything done while being glued to the subtitles. However, if you have some time on your hands (like 20 hours), I highly recommend Winter Sonata. It’s all on youtube! Nami Island, Korea

It was a memorable summer Saturday.

xo, jill

Beachside in Busan

Beach break.

The weather over here is starting to heat up. Naturally, the warmer weather put me in the mood for some beach time. A few weeks ago Mike and I traveled down to Busan to enjoy Korea’s most famous beach, Haeundae. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great our first afternoon there. It was windy and rainy. Not at all ideal for a beach getaway. Thankfully, the weather cleared up in the evening so we were able to enjoy a walk along the water.

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

The next day we relaxed on the beach under our 5,000 won umbrella and mat rental. It was definitely a worthy indulgence. I just wish we didn’t our own beach mat all the way from Suwon! I wasn’t anticipating the beach experience to be so convenient. In fact, the beach experience is so convenient that chicken and beer vendors stroll up and down the beach. Thirsty and hungry beach goers only need to wait about five minutes for the next vendor to pass by. Cold beer and warm chicken, right at your sandy fingertips.

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

Eventually, Mike declared relaxation time over. It was time to hike and explore. We headed down a popular path that ran along the rocky coastline. It was easy to forget we were in Korea’s second largest city.

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

Busan, South Korea

I suspect there will be a few more trips to Busan during the coming months.

xo, jill

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