Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Kyoto, Japan: Gion and Yasaka Shrine


I have recently watched Makanai on Netflix and that makes me want to visit Aomori and revisit Gion.  But for now, let's visit places we missed last on our 2012 trip and places where we can find Kiyo, the character in Makanai.

To reach Gion, we crossed Shijo-ohashi Bridge. Here you can spend an afternoon, having snacks, people watching and looking at Kamo River. [Makanai: It was actually the other bridge, Sanjō Ōhashi Bridge, that they crossed.]

We continued to Yamato-Bashi bridge and walked along Shirakawa Lane. 



It is the Gion Tatsumi bridge, very small, short and gets crowded as tourists flock to wait for an authentic one. [Makanai: Episode 1 and 5] But please be reminded that we should respect the privacy of this place, just pass-by and do not stalk.  


Walking along Shinbashi-dori, it's good to see the street during the daytime if you prefer to visit cafes.  [Makanai: Episode 5, read more


Make sure to enjoy food along the way, we found a good karaage stall just in front of Higashioji-dori.

We normally skip night viewing due to lesser public transportation at night, but we simply wanted to see these lamps lit at night.  Plus, the area has free entrance. 




Luckily, we also had a chance to buy some snacks from the autumn festival.  We enjoyed tofu, fish cakes, etc. 



I do not recommend eating candied fruits, which I still buy.  But this is the cheapest muscat we can find at that time.  Well you can also find cake slices with muscat in cafes. 


Leaving the place will give you a scene of the lights and crowd view of Shijo-dori, the Gion Shopping street. 




Want to know more about this trip? 

Read on Japan: Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka - 9 days Itinerary and Expenses

Day

Places to See

Food and Restaurants

Accommodation

Others

1

Nagoya Noritake Garden
Aeon Mall
Tsutaya Bookstore
Illuminations near Nagoya Station
Nana Chan mannequin doll

Ichiran Nagoya Station store
Starbucks Coffee - 13F JR Central Towers

Sotetsu Fresa Inn  Sakuradoriguchi

 

2

Ghibli Park
Mononoke Village
Ghibli Grand Warehouse

Excelsior Caffe
Mo's Burger
Milk Stand Siberian, Ghibli
Yomenya Goemon

same

Hill of Youth
Dondoko Forest

3

ShinPuhKan
Gion and Yasaka Shrine

Yoshinoya
Stumptown Coffee
Café Bibliotic Hello

Hotel M's Est Shijo Karasuma

Jingo-ji
Starbucks - Sanjo-ohashi Bridge
Potoncho

4

Kurama-dera and Kibune
Kyoto Station roof deck

Doutor Coffee Shop
Sagenta
Nishiki Market

same

 

5

Arashiyama
Nison-in Temple
Gioji Temple
Eikan-dō Night Illumination

% Arabica
exCafe
Sen-Oh
Sukiya

same

Jōjakkōji Temple

6

Byodo-in Temple
Uji River
Catholic Uji Church

Starbucks Coffee Uji
Ramen Tanakakyu Shoten
Tsuen Main Branch

same

Nakamura Tokichi Byodo-in

7

Osaka Castle
Catholic Tamatsukuri Church
teamLab Botanical Garden
Glico Man, Dotonbori
Mido-suji Festival of Lights

Dean and Deluca
Blue Bottle Coffee - Kyoto Rokkaku Café

coffeeshop WARARA
OSA Coffee
Curry House Coco Ichibanya

Hotel New Hankyu Osaka Annex

 

8

Katsuo-ji / Daruma dolls
Hirakata T-SITE
Don Quijote Umeda

Senri Chuo station area
Kitchen&bar AURA
Hankyu Basement Food Hall

same

 

9

Nakanoshima Park and Rose Garden
Toyo Tires event in Nakanoshima-dori

North Shore Kitahama

n/a

Takamura Wine & Coffee Roasters


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