Land of the Rising Sun

Nagoya, Kyota
27 August - 3 September 2014

Our first trip to Japan. Booked through AirAsia Go a 7 nights promo flight inclusive of stay at MyStays Hotel, Sakae, Nagoya, Japan. Luckily, we added an overnight trip (1n 2d) to the heritage city of Kyoto. Eventually in my research of Japan, I realised many netizens have commented you haven't visited Japan if you have not visited Kyoto. 



The trip to Kyoto was arranged through Japan Travel Bureau (JTB) office in Amoda Building, Jln Imbi. It includes a return Kodomo bullet train ride with reserved seats plus one night hotel stity at Karasuma Kyoto Hotel which is strategically located in downtown Kyoto. Booked a half day morning tour from the same company online that includes Nijo-jo castle, Kinkakuji Temple and Imperial Palace.

Together with us on the trip were Alex and Lily. This was also their first sojourn to Japan.

Places of interest covered for the duration of the holiday were:

Nagoya
1. Nagoya TV Tower/Oasis 21
2. Departmental Stores in Sakae
3. Nagoya Castle
4. Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology
5. Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
6. Nagoya Marine Museum
8. Fuji Antartic Museum
9. Osu Kannon Temple
10. Atsuta Shrine
11. Nagoya City Science Museum
12. Nagoya City Art Museum

Kyoto
1. Nishiki Market
2. Kiyomizu-dera Temple
3. Ichibe Alley
4. Yasaka Temple
5. Yasaka Pagoda
6. Nijo-jo Castle
7. Kinkakuji Temple
8. Imperial Palace

Oasis 21 with the 'Spaceship' glass observation deck and Nagoya TV Tower at the background

Sunshine Sakae Arcade with a gigantic operating ferris wheel

 

Nagoya Castle

A re-constructed room with real gold leaves paper sliding walls

 

Red Building - Toyota Commenmorative Museum of Industry & Technology

Visited Port of Nagoya over the weekend as many musuems are closed on Mondays

 

 

 

 

The Dolphin Show was one of the best I have seen thus far. The addition of a live big screen gives another perspective underwater.

 

Nagoya Marine Museum

View from the Observatory

Fuji Antartic Museum

Captain at the helm

Osu Kannon Temple

The shopping arcade nearby

 

Yanagibashi Central Wholesale Market, open hours 4 am to 10 am

 Early breakfast before visitng the market

 The local butcher

View from JR Central Towers. Note the numerous railway lines on the right



 The Atsuta Shrine is home to the 'Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (a sword) which is one of the Three Sacred Imperial Treasures. 

 

You can find vending machines literally at every street corner

A Manga outlet

Parking meter for bicycles

Nagoya Science Museum. Unfortunately it was closed for renovation.

 

Kyoto

 

The 'Kodomo' bullet train. 50 mins journey from Nagoya to Kyoto.

Nishiki Market



 

 

 

Tourist shops lining both sides of the road leading to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

Entrance of the temple with a view of Kyoto below

 

Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The crowds a testimony of its popularity.

 

 

 

Ichibe Alley.

Yasaka Shrine

We managed to 'hijack' two geisha girls

Pray offerings...

Yasaka Pagoda

 

Nijo-jo Castle

Ninomaru palace. One of the most striking features of the palace is the nightingale floors. To protect the occupants from intruders, the builders constructed the floors in the corridors in such a way it squeaks like birds when anyone walks on them.

Kyoto Imperial Palace. Only tour groups are permiited into the palace grounds.

Visitors are not permitted beyond the gates. The Imperial Palace official will accompany the tour group to ensure everyone stays within the permitted route.

 

Oikeniwa Garden is a strolling garden.

The golden Kinkakuji Temple