Spring Lantern Festival

Good morning/afternoon/evening my great Kyo Sensational followers!

I hope you are having a good week and your trip plans to visit here are organised well.

Today you will be inspired sensationally with the Spring Lantern Festival. Unfortunately it has ended for 2017, but you can set a goal making a way to Kyoto in March 2018.

During the festival, traditional temples, shrines and buildings in the east suburb of Higashiyama have been lit up with lanterns placed on the pavements. These lights created romantic, historical and traditional atmosphere.

One night I have started seeing at the south end of the venue, called Gojo Zaka that is the steep leading up to Kiyomizu Temple, one of famous and popular tourist attractions.

Lighting up on the Gojo Zaka

Walking up the steppy street, I got to the temple. It was lit up brightly and traditional Japanese music was played at the base. A performer wore traditional Japanese clothes that were similar to kimono.

Kiyomizu Temple

Small streets towards other temples in the south east suburb were decorated well with traditional Japanese lanterns and you will see Kyoto cuisine restaurants established in traditional Kyoto machiya houses.

Traditional Kyoto Machiya Houses

Going through another popular temple called Kodai-ji, the Lantern streets led to Maruyama Park adjoining Yasaka Shrine located the east of Gion where you might see Geishas.

At the park, crafts made by citizens and university students were exhibited with lighten up under the competition. These crafts were so beautiful.

Traditional Japanese cafe near Maruyama Park

Exhibited Flower Craft

Bamboo Lights

At the Park, patrons had opportunities to write their wishes and messages in star shaped pieces of papers. It is our custom when we visit a shrine to pray for their wishes. And then these wishes could be put on lanterns around the tent where they wrote their wishes.

Patrons Wishes on Lanterns

Also winter lantern festival is held annually in December at Arashiyama, so don't miss out!

I hope you enjoy the traditional night seeing beautiful foot lanterns on your visit to Kyoto.

Snowy Golden Pavillion

Hi there guys,

At first I apologise for not updating my blog for ages. And welcome back my loyal readers! I hope your love affair with Kyoto stay strong.

It is spring here and getting warmer. So today's topic is old to talk and you have to wait other nine to ten months to see with your eyes. Sorry!

Anyway the Golden Pavilion covered with snow attracts many tourists from all over the world including those from other parts of Japan. You will be lucky if you are able to see because it snows only occasionally here in Kyoto.

Therefore, buses are packed and travel slowly as the roads are congested, especially at the weekends. And indeed you will face the long queue to get inside.

The author has made a way to visit the snowy Golden Pavilion on Sunday afternoon. I got on a Route 12 bus near Nijo Castle and bus had already been packed! So I was directed to the front door to board, while we are supposed to take back door to board. Then the relay competition was held and heavy traffic with cars to the temple caused travel chaos. I didn't hesitate to get off the bus at the previous stop and then walk.

After the bus trip, a long queue awaited us. It took 40 minutes to get to the ticket office for the administration ticket (400 yen per adult).

No complaint was made as I was excited to see the very occadional scenery. Once I got inside the temple, the combination of the white snow and gold roofs was so stunning and matching. And surrounding trees assisted to create such beautiful scenery.

The Author at the Golden Pavilion

Loads of tourists taking photos 

As a person from the city who has too much snow and Vern fed up with too much snow, it seems not my stuff. But it's actually beautiful and very unique. The temple seems to have been established to welcome snow to create such stunning scenery.

Kyoto creates unique atmosphere with the mixture of traditional buildings and modern technologies. The Golden Pavilion is an old temple, but adopts mixture to the occasional scene.

Visiting the Kinkaku-ji on a snowy day is so worth and your great life experience. I hope you can see one day. Meanwhile enjoy planning to visit the world's unique city!