Tuesday 19 April 2016

Kyoto Temple Cycling Tour

Kyoto Tower
Kyoto is a great city to cycle; it is relatively flat with a lot of dedicated cycle paths. You can see so much more as you explore the backstreets on your way to various spots on your trip plan. At the same time you can escape the traffic jams that are so common. This trip is temple-centric because there are so many astounding temples in Kyoto. But the real enjoyment of cycling is just seeing the scenery at your own pace. There are 15 stops on this tour which is probably too much for one day. You can copy the trip and edit as you like. I included a nice cafe for refuelling and also a good ramen shop at the end of the day. Enjoy!

Kyoto Tower

Kyoto Tower is Kyoto’s tallest building and a rare modern iconic landmark in the city.
721-1 Higashishiokoji Kyoto-shi
Nearest station kyouto 82m
 +81-75-361-3215  Website

Sanjusangendo Temple

Sanjusangendo Temple
Sanjusangendo is the popular name for Rengeo-in, a temple in eastern Kyoto which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after the original structure had been destroyed in a fire.
Sanjusangendo Mawari-cho 657 Kyoto-shi
Nearest station shichijou 366m

The statues are amazing! Since part of this is indoors, it can be a good choice if you want to see a temple on a rainy day. — Abby Denson
 +81-75-561-0467   Website

Kyoto National Museum

Higashiyamaku Chayachou 527 Kyoto-shi
Nearest station shichijou 440m
+81 75-525-2473   Website

Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Kiyomizu-dera is a temple built in 778, and it is famous for the view from the Kiyomizu Stage. The opening hours are rather irregular, so it’s best to check their website before you visit.
1-294 Shimizu Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi  
Nearest station Gion Shijo 1.54km

Every year in spring, from the end of March to the first week of April, Kiyomizu-dera becomes the perfect place for appreciating the beautiful cherry blossoms of Kyoto. I especially recommend the spot near the gates to the temple area.

Kiyomizu-dera is so famous among Japanese that they even have a saying that includes this majestic piece of Kyoto history: Literaly “Jumping off the stage of Kiyomizu-dera (Kiyomizu no Butai kara Tobioriru)”, it figuratively translates to “taking the plunge” and is similar to the idiom “crossing the Rubicon”. — Takamasa Kawasaki

Arabica

Coffee shop hear Higashiyama area. Open daily.
87-5 Hoshinocho Hoshinocho Higashiyama-Ku, Kyoto Kyoto Kyoto-shi
Nearest station Gion Shijo 804m

Great coffee shop just down the slope from Yasaka pagoda. This spot has made it to the list of many travel and foodie bloggers who love coffee. Considered one of the best in Kyoto. Lovely spot and great baristas. — Nathan Hosken
+81-75-746-3669Website

Hokan-ji Temple Yasaka Pagoda

Yasaka Pagoda is a five-storey tower located in Hokan-ji Temple.
388 Yasaka-Kamimachi Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi
Nearest station Gion Shijo 875m
+81-75-551-2417  Website

Kodai-ji Temple

Kodaiji Temple
Kodaiji Temple is set amidst beautiful landscaped gardens, with tea houses and a museum.
526 Shimokawara-cho Kyoto-shi
Nearest station Higashiyama 967m

Kodaiji Temple was founded in memory of one shogun and financed by another, meaning that no expense was spared on either the buildings or the extensive garden. The temple possesses many outstanding examples of the ““Kodaiji Makie”” lacquer named after it, while the beautifully landscaped gardens are said to have been laid out by a famous designer.

The temple is relatively uncrowded given its significance. Take time to stroll through the temple buildings and admire the gardens from different angles, before setting off along the winding path up the hillside to another temple building and a couple of thatched tea houses. On the way down again, through the tunnel created by tall bamboo, you get a great view of the city.

If you are in Kyoto in spring (roughly March to April), check the dates of the special late night opening period. During this time, you can get a completely different view of the temple grounds, as well as seeing some spectacular projection mapping in the gravel garden!

Don’t forget to visit the small but beautifully presented Kodaiji-sho Museum on the way out, on the second floor of the building on the opposite side of the alley - it’s included in your ticket.

Opening hours are from 9:00 - 17:00 however, there is an evening late opening period in the spring. This year, it runs from 6 March to 6 May. Ticket cost is ¥600 jointly with Kodaiji-sho Museum, ¥900 with Entoku-in as well. — Emma Parker    Website

Maruyama Park

Maruyama Park
A park and pond that is especially popular during cherry blossom season- it is also a designated place of scenic beauty.
Higashiyamaku Maruyamachou Kyoto-shi
Nearest station Higashiyama 609m

Chion-in Temple

Chion-in is a Buddhist temple located in Kyoto. There are also gardens within the grounds and some art inside the temple itself.
3-400 Rinka-cho Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi
Nearest station Higashiyama 473m

As the head temple of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism, the buildings of Chion-in are large and impressive, and the climb up to them gives you a good view back over the city. The main hall is currently being repaired, so visitors cannot enter it, although simply viewing it from outside gives you an idea of how much work it takes to renovate a temple…

Chion-in also contains some interesting art, such as a cat who looks at you wherever you stand, rather like the Mona Lisa! However, my favourite part is the two gardens. Although you have to pay to enter these while the temple is free, I recommend doing so. The combined ticket is the best value, but if you only have time for one, I suggest Hojo, which is behind the temple. When I visited, towards the end of the day, there were few other visitors. The garden is traditional in style, with moss, rocks, gravel, and water, but its orientation around the temple buildings provides a set of different views. The grouping of azalea bushes and rocks is based on a scroll held by the temple depicting Boddhisattvas descending from heaven: the rocks represent the Boddhisattvas and the bushes the clouds on which they ride.

Yuzen-en, at the bottom of the steps, is also pretty, with flowering trees and a large pond. Climb the winding path by the side to find a tea house.

Opening hours are from 9:00 - 16:00. There’s no fee for the temple, however it is 500 yen for entry to both gardens (there are also separate tickets, but the combined one is the best value). — Emma Parker
+81-75-531-2111   Website

10 Shoren-in Temple

Shoren-in Temple
Located at the base of Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountains, Shoren-in is a temple of the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism.
69-1 Sanjobo-cho Awataguchi Kyoto-shi
Nearest station Higashiyama 353m   Website

11 Kyoto Gyoen

Kamigyouku Kyoutogyoen 3 Kyoto-shi
Nearest station Maruta-machi 824m

12 Kyoto Imperial Palace

The Kyoto Imperial Palace is located within Kyoto Imperial Park in the centre of the city. To gain access you need to have booked a tour with an official tour guide.
3 Kyoutogyoen, Kamigyo Kyoto-shi
Nearest station Imadegawa 717m
+81-75-211-1215   Website

13 Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle in Kyoto was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994 and is divided into three areas that are surrounded by stone walls and moats.
541 Nijojomachi Kyoto-shi
Nearest station nijoujoumae 349m
+81-75-841-0096       Website

14 Kinkaku-ji Temple

Kinkaku-ji Temple
Kinkaku-ji is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto where the top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf.
1 Kinkakuji-machi Kita-ku Kyoto-shi
Nearest station kitanohakubaichou 1.32km

I recently visited Kinkaku-ji (November 2015) If i could sum up this place in one word, it would be magical. Try and get here at sunset and you will be met with a beautiful scene that you will not forget. Behind the temple a lovely moss stricken path way leads to the souvenir shop. — Lewis Hood
Opening hours +81-75-461-0013    Website


15 Kyoto Ramen Koji

Kyoto Ramen Koji offers has eight regional styles of ramen restaurants under one roof. It’s Kyoto Station’s ramen Mecca.
901 Higashi Shiokoji-cho, Shimogyo Kyoto-shi
Nearest station kyouto 34m

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