Travel Log: Legends of the Fall (Day 7)

Previous Day: A Long Walk in Eastern Kyoto

Destination: Japan

Duration: 8 Days 8 Nights (Nov 27~Dec 05, 2017)

Day 7: A Lazy Day at Arashiyama & Doing Nothing in Kyoto

We’d decided to change today’s itinerary after yesterday as we realised our pace simply could not keep up with a full day itinerary (link). At the end, we didn’t even made the half day itinerary (link). *facepalm*

Walking to Kyoto Station

We took the JR train from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama Station using our Kansai-Hiroshima pass. Once we arrived we quickly saw the sign to Torokko Saga Station - the train station of the Sagano sightseeing train. We went into the station and bought ticket for the 2pm train as earlier train was full. 

Kyoto Tower in Reflection

At Torokko Saga Station

Queuing for ticket...

Finally got our tickets

We walked to Steak Otsuka – a famous restaurant at Arashiyama but the queue was really long even though it just opened at 11am and we arrived at 11.05am!!! We ended up giving up as we did not want to waste our time waiting there.

OMG! The restaurant just opened and the waiting list is SO LONG?!

Menu

I think we will pass!

We continued on to Bamboo Groves and there were lots of tourists before entering Tenryuji. However, Tenryuji seemed to pale in comparison after the ‘wow’ factor of Eikando Zenrinji & Kiyomozu-dera yesterday. We did not even covered all the area before walking out from another gate.

Bamboo & Autumn Leaves

Sammy & the Bamboo

Red & Green

Sammy is really photogenic....

Walking pass railroad...

Getting near to Tenryuji...

Garden at Tenryuji

More red leaves...

The Temple...

Leaves on the Roof...

By the Lake...

Almost near the gate...

Yet another Temple near the gate...

Since we were starving, we walked to this Sushi Naritaya at a small alley beside the main street. We ordered 2 sets of sushi with the highly recommended fat tuna. The sushi was indeed fresh and delightful.

Let's have some Sushi!!!

Maybe orange juice 1st....

Tea Machine...

Soy Sauce in fish pocket! 

Sushi is here!!!

Slurp...

Look at that!!! *yum yum*

Some ikura...

After lunch, we walked to Togetsukyo Bridge to have a look and took some pictures before turning back to Torokko Saga Station for our 2pm train. We were sitting at the right side of the train and missed out the view at the left side of the train at the beginning. Thank goodness the 2^nd half of the journey had more scenery at the right side. The train was open-air and it was really freezing with wind flowing right at our face.

Sammy on the Togetsukyo Bridge

The Bridge from afar...

It's time for more train...

Totally open-air..

Hozugawa River 

It's the old style boat...

Looking at the front of the train turning....

Turning Turning...

With the Risk of phone dropping into the river... *sweat*

More Bridge

Almost the end of the line...

Sammy is hiding all the way...

We arrived at Torokko Kameoka Station and bought a cute train set before walking to Umahori Station. The station was really quiet and we quickly got on the JR train. We were contemplating on whether to disembark at Saga-Arashiyama Station but ended up stayed on as hubby seemed to lose interest in Arashiyama. =P

The Cute lil train set...

Some Tunnel to Umahori Station

Nice View on the way...

Sammy was there...

Time to go..

We disembarked at Nijo Station instead but it was drizzling with strong wind thus we made a stop at MOS burger before walking to Nijo Castle. However, it was closed for visitors by the time we arrived as the last admission was at 4pm. There were people queuing there under the rain for some function in the castle but we ended up walking back to the Nijo Station to get back to Kyoto Station.

Lil's one children set at MOS burger

Lots of people queuing for some function at Nijo Castle

The only thing we saw at Nijo Castle - the gate!!! LOL!!!

And a picture from outside.. =P

The weather was really wet and cold thus it kind of dampened our mood. We went into Isetan in Kyoto Station to have a look at the Blue Label but they did not have the wristlet that I was aiming for. Then we walked to Pound – a Yakiniku restaurant near Kyoto Station for some Japanese Barbeque. The barbeque was a DIY thing whereby you got to barbeque your own meat. Frankly speaking we actually preferred the professional to do it for us since we were basically dummy in barbequing the Kobe beef. The beef was okay – not as nice as the wagyu beef we had last night which we suspected was due to our barbeque skill which spoilt it. We actually preferred the rice dishes we ordered. *facepalm* 

Sky is dark so early here....

Ended up hiding in restaurant...

Beer & Sangria...

Itadakimasu!

Lean Beef Slices

Short Rib

Stewed Beef tendon...

Special Beef Rice

Doing some BBQ...

Stone Grill Curry

Still BBQing..

I kind of think we spoilt the beef... LOL

We have our own 'prison'

Since the weather was still grim, we walked into Kyoto Yodobashi department store for some shopping since it was our last night in Japan. We went back to the guesthouse quite early since we were too lazy to move anymore. I think this was the day where we took the least pictures since we were kind of doing ‘nothing’. LOL…

Next Day: Half Day in Northern Kyoto