Day 3 - Osaka to Kyoto

It was a struggle to get up this morning after two very full days. After breakfast, we packed up and headed out after 8 am. We took a walk to Hozen-ji Temple and then around Dotomobori and up Shinsaibashi in a basic big square, as nothing was open at this time.

We collected our bags and headed for Kyoto, catching a 10am train on the Keihan line. Our walk to our hotel was about 1km. Then we dropped our bags as check-in was not until 3 pm. We walked up to Kiyomizu-dera and around the very packed streets surrounding it. We then entered Ryozen Kannon Temple and had a look there. Next to it was Kodaiji Temple, but we decided to wait until night to see this Temple under illuminations.

Even though we had a few street foods, we had an early dinner at a one man place called White Lover, where I had omurice, and Jason had some prawn cutlets. Then we headed to our nearby hotel to check in. The room was big with comfy beds and kitchen. We chilled for 2 hours, then headed out for the illuminations at Kodaiji Temple.

We arrived at the temple at 5:30pm and were met by a long line. Luckily, it moved quickly, and we were in the grounds. The fall colours looked spectacular all lit up. In the Zen garden off the main hall, they had a lovely projection display on loop. The pond was gorgeous with the reflections of lit up trees. The bamboo forest also has lights in it. It was well worth the 600yen entrance fee. Then we strolled back through the now much less crowded streets of Higashiyama. Ending our day getting some food from the supermarket and 7-11.Read more