Kyoto is incredibly beautiful that I had to make 2 parts to it to accommodate the photos. Day 1 was a mix of Nara (only Todaiji Temple) and Kyoto Prefectures while Day 2 was dedicated to the rest of wonderful Kyoto.
| Date | Place | Preview |
|---|---|---|
| April 29 | Airport Tour = Missed flight! |  |
| April 30 | Tokyo Tour Tokyo Prefecture |  |
| May 1 | Nikko Tour Tochigi Prefecture |  |
| May 2 | Mount Fuji Tour Shizuoka and Kanagawa Prefecture |  |
| May 3 | Osaka Tour Osaka Prefecture |  |
| May 4 AM | Todaiji Temple in Nara Nara Prefecture |  |
| May 4 PM | Kyoto Tour I Kyoto Prefecture |  |
| May 5 | Kyoto Tour II Kyoto Prefecture |  |
| May 6 AM | Himeji Tour Hyogo Prefecture |  |
| May 6 PM | Kobe Tour Hyogo Prefecture |  |
| May 7 | Hiroshima Tour Hiroshima Prefecture |  |
Places Visited
May 5, 2016
Tips and Notes
May 5, 2016
Daigoji Temple
- Admission Fee: 600 JPY (~6 USD)
As our first stop for our Kyoto Day 2 tour, Daigoji complex was almost an hour and a half away from Osaka by train and bus. We had been traveling from prefecture to prefecture since day 1. Yes, we were exhausted but Japan gave us all the reasons NOT to feel tired, at least in our minds though the legs and feet were screaming.
We went to the first reception we saw when we arrived at the Daigoji entrance by 10:30 AM. We learned that there were 3 areas to visit in this huge complex and we can choose to visit 1 or all 3. We decided to see just the main compound, Shimo Daigo area, where the main attraction is, anyway.
The best thing about Japan in general is that the castles and temples are always surrounded by landscapes and a moat or maybe there’s a pond nearby. Daigoji is not an exception. Tall green trees welcomed us as they created a canopy for us against the sun. We felt like king and queens walking in the midst of lined up soldiers with their swords raised pointing upwards creating a protection for us. Amazing!
To the side of the road were likewise towering bamboo trees that created perfect lines that lead to the skies. There’s the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove that we visited later in the day and Daigoji gave us a glimpse of it. Exciting!
The first and biggest hall we saw was the Kondo hall or the Central hall and it is a national treasure since it houses the Buddha. We were following a printed map provided by the staff so that we know where to go. And like all the other great castles and temples, the famous temple in Daigoji is deep in the complex. In fact, the last one to see.
The second one was the five-story pagoda. We have seen several of these pagodas in our entire Japan trip. This type of pagoda seems to be a very common temple in Buddhism and most are wooden.
After passing by a few more structures, there it was, the primary attraction in front of us. Imagine different shades of green everywhere with a couple of burning red elements right in the middle of it all. Then add their pretty reflections in the lower frame. Ahh, so picturesque. That is the Bentendo Hall.
I read that the Bentendo hall is not the last structure in the complex. That there is an hour-long, steep trail to the summit of the mountain, where the original temple grounds are. But of course, we did not go.
It was a good morning walk around the Daigoji complex. Almost all places we have been that involved castles and temples, were like having parks around the structures that you won’t really feel the vastness of the areas by simply walking and appreciating the beautiful landscapes.
