Spring Trip 2006 - Day 6 - Shirahama

Spring Trip 2006 - Day 5 - Kii Katsuura

Kii Katsuura


Departing Kyoto early in the morning for a three and a half hours train for Kii Katsuura. It's my first encounter with Wakayama prefecture. The main objective of the day was staying in a popular hot spring hotel there - Hotel Urashima. It's time to take a short break from the sea of bloosms for the sea shore and regain energy from the hot spring bath.

The first two hours of the journey is not very exciting, but as the train approaching the resort spots along the route, you will be rewarded with the view of the rocky coastline.

To be continued (not in the mood of writing these days, please look at the photos and short film first.)

Dolphins Performance at Kii Katsuura


A few more shots here.

Tuna for Lunch at Takehara

Spring Trip 2006 - Day 4

Kitanotenmangu

The Kitano Tenmangu is also located within walking distance of the hotel I stayed in. The Shrine is devoted for Michizane Sugawara to whom worshipped as the patron of learning. Notice the photo above capturing wishes made by people? Most of them were praying for passing of examinations or qualification attainment. Oh, and you've got to use a writing brush to make your wish!
Kitano Tenmangu is also very famous of its Plum trees. One happy surprise at the Shrine was that I could still appreciate the beauty of blooming Plum trees though the flowering season was supposed to be ending!

More photos of the Kitanotenmangu

The rain suddenly came just when I was wondering whether it should be the time to leave. Without my umbrella (got blown away by the wind while I tried taking photos using the save-timer), I'd taken the risk and heading toward the Keifuku Electric Rail station for my next destination...

Arashiyama


Good decision, right?
A few more shots

Didn't really spent much time at the Arashiyama, as I need to find the Hankyu Railway station to get to the main focus of the day:

Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Museum


I first visited the Oyamazaki Museum in September 2005. Among the museum's collection are works by Claude Monet(including some paintings from the Water Lilies series) and some other Impressionist paintings, Japanese ceramics art of Kawai Kanjiro's and others, and a collection of Japanese prints on Orchids. Even the museum building itself calls for one's attention: the old wing was formerly a villa built during 1910-20s whereas its new wing, which houses the Impressionist works, is a design by Ando Tadao. The garden is lovely, and it even has a pond for water lilies. Should visit it again in Summer. Probably one of the best kept secret in Kyoto.

Spring Trip 2006 - Day 3

Uji River


The banks of Uji River is another nice location for the search of Cherry Blossoms. There're two linked small islands on the river, and I've had a nice walk on them. The Cherry trees on the island were all blooming, and the green hills beyond the river bank and the blue sky formed a perfect backdrop.

Byodoin


After visiting Byodoin, I think it is a "must-see" in Uji. The Pheonix Hall is an architecture of over a thousand year's history, with detailed cravings and statues decorating the hall. Though time might have weared out most of the glamour, the elegance remains.

More photos on Uji and Byodoin

Lunch at Magozaemon

Desert at Kagizenyoshifusa

Spring Trip 2006 - Day 2

Kyoto Imperial Palace

To visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace, you usually need to make application first. But the Palace will be open for public visit twice a year without prior approval: once in Spring and the other in Autumn.

It's been nice to visit the Palace in such a fine weather. The Open Day attracted many visitors and I was glad that the hotel I stayed in is located within walking distance to the Imperial Palace. It's a bright sunny day yet still windy at times. The cherry trees, even the Plum blossoms, inside the Palace and the Palace Garden were awesome. Visitors had to follow a set route inside the Palace. Though I have bought a pamphlet at the counter, there's not a chance to check the pamphlet. The scenery, the lovely blossoms, the garden ... too busy appreciating the sights and taking photos!

More photos taken at the Palace

the Incline

The Incline actually was part of the Lake Biwa Canal system. The tracks on the slope once had been busily handling carts lifting boats between one end of the canal to another waterway down the slope. The slope has planted with many Cherry trees dashing out blazing white that day.

More photos taken at the Incline

Daigoji

The hunting for floral images continued into late afternoon. Daigoji is another popular location during the Cherry Blossoming season. Didn't paid the entrance fee to get into the temple but the cherry trees outside the walls were just as pretty.

Onono Plum Garden, Zuishinin

Cherry blossoms were great, but I decided to make an escape from the crowd and enjoy a quite moment inside the Onono Plum Garden. It was a pleasant encounter with the plum trees.

A few more photos of Daigoji and Onono Plum Garden

Dinner at the Sanjaku Sanzun Bashi

Spring Trip 2006 - Day 1 - Kyoto

Visiting my favorite destination - Kyoto again in April 2006.

It was a chilly and windy day when I arrived Kansai Airport. Forgotten to reserve for the MK Taxi which one have to share the cab with others but do offer a transfer to the hotel doorsteps. So I end up taking the Express Train to Kyoto JR station and quickly hop on to a taxi. (It was very windy indeed!)

I've booked a four-nights accommodation at the Petit Hotel Kyoto. The hotel has only 28 rooms, the staff are all very nice and friendly.

They also run a cafe so even if you're not a guest you can also make reservation for dining in.

These photos are taken during dinner on my first day of arrival.

Note: Date shown on my trip journal denotes the actual date of visit.

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