Rkidz's Japan Travel Blog - Day 9: Travelling to Kyoto (day 1)

Day 9.
Kyoto, the historical city.



After a really amazing 3 days at the Comiket, it's time to continue my travel all around Japan. My next destination is Kyoto. To get there, I have to use the Shinkansen (bullet train), which is a new experience for me. These modern marvels can travel up to 320 km/h. Talk about fast. The train itself was very comfortable and once inside you won't even notice the speed. The regular one way fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is 13,080 yen by non-reserved seat on any train, around 13,500 yen ($131) by reserved seat on Hikari or Kodama trains and around 14,000 ($136) yen by reserved seat on a Nozomi train. Thankfully I have the JR Pass which is a really, really convenient pass if you are a tourist wanting to travel all around Japan and only cost $276 for a 7-days Japan Rail Pass. With this pass, you can ride on almost all trains operated on the nationwide network of JR (Japan Railways), including shinkansen, limited express, express, rapid and local trains. For a long term trip, this is a must have. More details regarding the JR Pass can be found here and here. From Tokyo, I reached Kyoto in less than 3 hours.

If I had to describe Kyoto in one word, it had to be Kyoto = Temples. This city has numerous temples and shrine scattered all over the places, and each one of them has their own unique look and feels. I don't really have the time and energy to visit each and every one of them, so I've decided to visit a select few. The first temple I went to is the Toji Temple. It is a rather large temple with tall pagoda in its beautiful garden. Toji's five storied pagoda stands 57 meters tall, making it the tallest pagoda in Japan, and has become a symbol of both the temple and Kyoto as it can be seen from many places across the city. Toji Temple is one of Kyoto's many UNESCO world heritage sites. To enter, there is a fee of 500 yen, but the view around the area is worth it. I also noticed that they are preparing for a festival and decided to come back again later in the night.

The next temple I went to were the Nishi Honganji and Higashi Honganji temples. These two large temples in the center of Kyoto act as a headquarters of the two factions of the Jodo-Shin Sect (True Pure Land Sect), one of Japan's largest Buddhist sects. Both of these temples were located near to each others, and looks fairly identical. They are free to enter, and is a good place to experience the unique atmosphere of Japanese religious site. Nishi Honganji is also designated an UNESCO world heritage site.

Later in the evening, I went up to the third tall tower of the trip; the Kyoto Tower. Standing 131 meters tall just across Kyoto Station, Kyoto Tower is Kyoto's tallest building and a rare modern iconic landmark in the city famous for its ancient temples and shrines. A viewing platform is located 100 meters above ground and affords a 360-degree view of Kyoto and as far as Osaka on clear days. Kyoto Tower stands on top of a typical commercial building and to enter there is an entrance fee of 770 yen. While not as tall as Tokyo Skytree or Tokyo Tower, the surrouding view is still a sight to behold. Looking at the city basking on the golden evening sunlight is one heck of an experience.

The third place I went to before the sun sets out is the Fushimi Inari Shrine, an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. There is no entrance fee which is always great. The shrine itself have a really attractive look, with bright red colour and beautiful architecture. Behind it the entrance to the torii gate trails. The torii gates along the entire trail are donations by individuals and companies with donator's name and the date of the donation inscribed on the back of each gate. It is such a mysterious and amazing feeling walking under the gates.

Later on in the night, I managed to experience Japan own Bon Odori festival back at the Toji Temple. It is a must go event during the summer. There were lots of people coming, dancing together and enjoying the lively festive on the temple ground. I didn't hesitate to taste the food sold by the stands there, including shaved ice and candy apple. I had watched lots of anime featuring the summer festival again and again, but experiencing it itself is a whole different story. It was indeed a very memorable experience.

It was a very amazing day, visiting this ancient, historic city. Next up, Kyoto day 2.

Rkidz's Japan Travel Blog - Day 8: Comiket (day 3)

Day 8.
Comiket day 3.




Welcome back to the battlefield we call Comiket. It was a warzone, where passionate people each band together to get the right on their favourite doujins. Third day is all about adult, digital and independent doujins. The collective lust and energy amassed in this single massive event is tremendous. Lining up for hours under the hot blazing sun is but a small worries for these warriors. Alright, enough of an intro.

Overall, I'm extremely satisfied and happy for the event. I managed to get most of my favourite doujins including; Asanagi, Bifidus, Cle, Raita, Meme50 and many more. I somehow went over my budget limit, but that's a minor issue. The queue for some of them are ridiculously long. Heck, I lined up for a Girl und Panzer doujin but after half an hour I was told that it had been sold out. That's probably the only regret I have. Other than that, it was pure adult doujin heaven.

By the end of the event, I am left with extremely sore shoulder. Is it worth it? Totally. This is indeed a very memorable event; something that I've been longing for so long. At least one thing in the checklist of things I want to do in my life before I died is ticked off, and I could not get more than happy. It's finally the end of Comiket 90.

Until then, see you Summer Comiket.

Well then, I will resume my japan travel trip on the next day; travelling outside of Tokyo next.

Rkidz's Japan Travel Blog - Day 7: Comiket (day 2) and walking around Odaiba

Day 7.
Comiket day 2 and Odaiba sightseeing.

You thought that Comiket could not get any crowded? Guess what, there are more people in this day compared to the day before. Day 2 of Cimkiet is the time where the battlefield starts to get really heated up. Maybe because it was the weekend. Maybe because it's Kancolle and Touhou doujins day. But oh my, the number of attendees was just overwhelming. Despite the huge crowd, it is actually well organised. The line might be really, really long and it may take hours just to get your favourite doujins, but the line itself is coordinated really well; people in the back holding the 'end of the line' sign and the volunteers manages the crowd splendidly. I managed to get most of my targeted doujins, but most of the popular one sold out in mere hours. It's really amazing.

After an exhausting day at Comiket, I took a walk to Odaiba. The first place I went to was the Fuji TV building, the headquarters of Fuji Television. I didn't actually enter the building itself and just loiter around the ground, admiring the beautiful building. Later on, I went to DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, where you can see a 1:1 scale Gundam statue stands in front of the building plaza. It's free, and the sight of a real life sized mecha is just spectacular. I mostly hang around under statue, until it's late in the evening before going to Aquacity Odaiba. I enjoyed a really nice views of the Rainbow Bridge from the wooden deck in front of Aquacity, beautiful with its nightly illumination. There are also some kind of light show on the Fuji TV Building later in the night, run between an interval set of time.

Overall, It's a really fulfilling day indeed.Next up, Comiket day 3.