We learned from our mistake the previous day. We made sure this time around, we were first in line & rushed to grab seats pagpasok na pagpasok, kahit na hindi kami tabi-tabi, just so we can sit for the almost 1-hour trip to Kyoto. Pakapalan nalang ng mukha hahaha. Success! \m/

Nishiki Market is a narrow, five-block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants.

Nishiki Market has a pleasant but busy atmosphere that is inviting to those who want to explore the variety of culinary delights that Kyoto is famous for. Most specialize in a particular type of food, and almost everything sold at the market is locally produced and procured.

Oh yes, my angelic-looking Nana is not someone you’d like to cross. ;)) Unless you wanna be skewered like this hipon at pugita. HAHAHAHAHA!

Moving on. We found that food in Kyoto costs slightly cheaper than in Osaka.

Like this giant scallop which sells for 500 yen (240 php) can you believe it??? Too bad I had to share it with Kap. ;P

A true haven for voracious travelers, the Nishiki Market offers an extensive range of stalls and stores that strive to cater to your materialistic desires -selling everything from scrumptious food, to all sorts of pasalubong back home you can chose from..

Admission is 400 yen per person. Kinkakuji was built to echo the extravagant Kitayama culture that developed in the wealthy aristocratic circles of Kyoto during Yoshimitsu’s times. Each floor represents a different style of architecture. The first floor is built in the Shinden style used for palace buildings during the Heian Period, and with its natural wood pillars and white plaster walls contrasts yet complements the gilded upper stories of the pavilion. Statues of the Shaka Buddha (historical Buddha) and Yoshimitsu are stored in the first floor.

Kinkakuji is an impressive structure built overlooking a large pond. It’s a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. The second floor is built in the Bukke style used in samurai residences, and has its exterior completely covered in gold leaf. Inside is a seated Kannon Bodhisattva surrounded by statues of the Four Heavenly Kings; however, the statues are not shown to the public. Finally, the third and uppermost floor is built in the style of a Chinese Zen Hall, is gilded inside and out, and is capped with a golden phoenix.

I’m serious when I say it’s a looong climb. Around 30 minutes ascending walk. Ok lang sana kung dahan-dahang akyat coz there are stores around & you can take your time browsing. Ang problema itong mga kasama ko. Marathon yata ang sinalihan nila. I was worried I’d lose sight of them in a sea of people so I struggled to keep up -well as far as my eyes can see them at least.

This is not yet the temple -it’s just the entrance. There’s still more stairs to be climbed, but in fair, the view below is fantastic especially at night. At super lamig -I got sick from the cold. Yup, in spite of my thermals, numerous layering, bonnet, scarf, and heavy jacket. Ewan ko paano kinaya ng mga kasama ko yung lamig. I was coughing excessively & had runny nose the very next day.

Kiyomizudera (清水寺, literally “Pure Water Temple” -the wooden structure behind us) is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. It’s really nothing to look at -plain & simple, but the view fro the top is just incredible. Kiyomizudera was founded in 778AD on the site of the Otowa Waterfall in the wooded hills east of Kyoto, and derives its name from the fall’s pure waters. One distinct feature that stands out in this temple is that there is not a single nail used in the entire structure.

Again, another cleansing ritual on the way down. I was beyond freezing so I skipped this. The water was ice cold, even the kids were shivering after they did the ritual hehe. To top it all, there’s no transportation going down so tiis talaga the biting cold. Had I seen a rock, I would’ve crawled under & hibernated ’til summer!

Located in the centralized commercial district of downtown Kyoto (Shijo Kawaramachi Area), Shinkyogku Shopping arcade lined with restaurants and souvenir shops stretching 500 meters long. Almost all the shops were closed when we got there, good thing Restaurant Star was still open.

Restaurant Star‘s specialty is Omurice. But really what got us drooling is the HUGE-ASS Ice Cream window display. Yaaaas, we are such suckers for soft serve!

The servings were somewhat big so it served the purpose. We were really hungry considering the climb up, then down, plus the almost 0-degree weather which ate up our calories & stored fat supply hehe.

Kap was getting fond of the tender & tasty Japanese meats so he got a steak instead.

And this is the deal-breaker which made us walk all the way back to Shinkyogoku instead of just eating in one of the local eateries around Kiyumizodera (another mistake after yesterday’s mall lunch), or hightailing it straight to the train station. Strawberry soft serve under all that pile of whipped cream, cones, and miscellany! Plus gutom na gutom na talaga kami! 😛

The window display outside Restaurant Star made us miss the 18-scoop Pen Pals in Peninsula Manila. ;P

I gotta admit though, Y3,974 (1,863 php) is a bit steep for just soft serve. Buti nalang Kap had no more energy left to compute-compute hahaha!

Honestly though, and as much as I loved visiting Kyoto, I’m thankful that we don’t have to do another long commute in the following days. I’m liking the subway better & better as we went along. At least ang subway you have a chance to sit upon disembarkation at every stop. Itong train walang patawad eh, dulo-sa-dulo talaga, waah!