日本京都大阪篇 / Osaka and Kyoto (Part 1)

终于达成我的梦想，在今年的十月末，又能背起背包到向往的日本跑一趟～～～

在BIG CARD的优惠下，我不小心地看到了去大阪的机票，用1500分，加上马币40元给买下去的飞机。非常幸运！

大约3点到达大阪Kansai机场，就研究了当地的交通（原先也做了功课）。
找到了"Nankai Raiway" （机场第一楼）-- 我们的Kansai day-pass (3天 5000 yen)。
这个pass，可以任你在大阪，京都，奈良，神户，高野山免费走行。
（注：JR和一些特定巴士除外）

搭上了轻快铁，往向我们的大阪，开始了第一天的旅程。
Kansai Airport -- Namba （南波站）。一定要搭上“特急”，省些时间（大约45-60分钟）
注：这里的轻快铁又分几种：local train (普通列車/各駅停車); Rapid (快速); Express (急行);  Limited Express (特急)。可以看看map，知道哪一种是有停在你想要下的站。
“普通列车”是停在每一站；然而，“特急”只停在特定的站，所以到达时间会相差蛮多的，尤其是从Kansai Airport 到南波站）【详细解释，可以到此一游】


终于到达了南波站，就打开酒店的地图。找到了我要去的站 -- “红线” 动物园前站 （Midosuji Line, Doubutsuen-mae Station)。Hotel Toyo 在2号出口，1分钟的步行，就能到达。
你会看到Taiyo Hotel，然后转左，就看到酒店在你的右手边。一点也不难找！而且非常的方便。100yen商店，Family Mart 就在附近！
【详细大阪轻快铁地图，可以到此一游】

我的个人tatami+ air-cond 是一晚1700 yen，非常经济。可是只有两间冲凉房而已！
我住了3天，醒得早，回得晚，没多大的冲突。要洗澡，都有空位！
若是没空位，男生可以到Taiyo Hotel 去经验Public Bath。（5pm 到 8.30pm而已）；女生则开放到9pm。免费的！

Check-in了hotel，就到梅田 （Umeda）一带走走～～
之后，就回旅馆休息。
休息是为了隔天一整天的行程～～

----------------------------------------------------

隔天，刚巧是21号。所以，就为了京都的“跳蚤市场”，原定大阪的行程就改成22号了。
因着天气预测23号会下雨，所以，我们就选择在21号一大早到了岚山 (Arashiyama)。
我们这天也选用了Kansai Day Pass～～

在Umeda (梅田站）搭上 “Hankyu Kyoto Line” 往向 Katsura 站 (朝向Kawaramachi 站），然后转向岚山 (Arashiyama)。行程大约45分钟。（记得要要搭上“特急”，不然就可要多花些时间在轻快铁上，少了走走看看的时间了！）【map】【介绍岚山】

我的天，是枫叶！
我的相机几乎都被枫叶给占满了！
虽然京都还是初秋，枫叶还不是很多，可是，如此的美景，怎能不打动人心。

经过渡月桥，不久后就会到达天龙寺 （Tenryu-ji Temple）。门票价格600yen。

接着是，竹园！！

------------------------------------------------------

午餐后，又走了一大段路。意外之下，给我们找到止痛“京都 Karasuma 站”的巴士（阪急京都線烏丸駅）。
之后就朝向下一站 -- 东寺！(Toji Temple)。
东寺就位于东寺站！步行200米，就能到达～～～ （Kintetsu Kyoto Line, 粉红线；京都站下一站就是了！）

在这里，每个月的21号都有“跳蚤市场”。卖着很多当地的特色，廉价的日本装，冬装，包包，纪念品等等。据说，12月21号是每年就大型的市场。不知道有机会见识、见识吗？！
由于时间的紧凑，就随便逛逛。结果，也买了3件廉价的冬装！（听说北海道是雨季，而且温度低至摄氏3度呢！）

---------------------------------------------------

接着，我们就往“Fushimi Inari”站去了“伏见稻荷”庙～～
非常美丽，颜色非常鲜艳！

Tatta~~  

看到两只狐狸吗？他们是这座大社的使者～～～

--------------------------------------------------

接着我们乘着地铁，坐下两站，就到了Tofukuji站 （东福寺站）。
这座东福寺离开地铁站有一段的距离。
疲累的身体，让我们差一些就决定放弃了～～～

非常意外的，就在这殿关上了前10分钟，让我们找到了天井龙图彩绘。。。

一路上走回到地铁站的路途上，望着枫叶，心里盘算着明年一定要回来看秋天红橙黄色的枫叶！！！想着，想着，都觉得太漂亮了～～

------------------------------------

接着，我们到了Sanjo站（三条站）。

 漂亮的一条街。傍晚时分，很多情侣一对一对坐在河旁享受凉风；有些人还在慢跑、骑上脚踏车～～～

Pontocho street -- 这是一条小街，接连着三条到四条。一路上，都是富有日本特色的建筑物。。。

我们真的非常的累，又饥、又渴～～ 可是，值得一游～～～

之后，我们就在河边歇了一会儿，就决定回到大阪，梅田站～～
我们就到了OSAKA tourist information centre （位于JR osaka 站 -- 就靠近梅田站）
注：在日本，到处都会有wireless，“wifine” （要register，才能免费享用。）
或者是，在旅游询问处，向他们要求wireless的密码～～～我到了北海道，才发现！！！


这就是我们第二天的行程～～～

------------------------

(Google translation with some modification)


At last, my dream had come true.  i managed to booked a flight to Osaka at the end of October.  Thx to BIG CARD promotions, i got the flight ticket to OSAKA with RM40 and 1,500 points (1 way). Very lucky!

We reach Osaka Kansai airport about 3pm, we headed towards first floor of the airport to search for Nanai Raiway" (the airport first floor).  Here for our Kansai day-pass (3 days 5000 yen).
Throught this pass, you can freely travel within Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Koyasan, etc.
(Note:  JR and certain except buses)

We catch the MRT from Kansai airport to Namba station.  Look for "Express" because it saves a lot of time (about 45-60 minutes) to reach the final destination.
Note: There are several types of MRT: the local train; Rapid; Express;  and Limited Express.  You can look at the map, this is for you to know which station is stopped when u are taking the type of MRT.
Local train stops at every SINGLE station;
However, "Express" stops ONLY at a particular station, so the arrival time will vary, especially from Kansai Airport to Namba Station) 【Further details 】


You can reach Hotel Toyo by the "red line" / Midosuji Line, Doubutsuen-mae Station. Exit 2.  You can reach in 1-minute by walk.  (You will first see Taiyo Hotel, then turn left, you see the hotel on your right. It is VERY easy to find! And very convenient. 100yen store, Family Mart are nearby!!!
【Detailed map of Osaka MRT】

My personal tatami + air-cond costs me ONLY 1700 yen/night, it is very economical. But we need to share bathroom, and there are ONLY two bathrooms available~~~
I stayed here for three days.  Wake up early and came back late, therefore, not much of conflict. There is always vacancy for me when i want to take a shower.
If no vacancy, boys can visit Taiyo Hotel for the free Public Bath. (5pm to 8.30pm.); whereas, Girls open until 9pm. It's Free!

Check-in the hotel, then, we spent the night walking around Umeda area ~ ~
After that, I was back to the hotel and rest, because it will be a full day for the next day~ ~ ~

--------------------------------

The next day, which happened to be the 21st. So, We planned to visit to Kyoto, solely because of the Kyoto "flea market" at Toji temple.
Because of the weather forecast on the 23rd will rain, so we choose to visit Arashiyama first.
Today, we also use Kansai Day Pass ~ ~

We used "Hankyu Kyoto Line"  from Umeda to Katsura stations (toward the Kawaramachi station), and then turned to Arashiyama (Arashiyama). The journey takes approximately 45 minutes. (Remember you want to catch the "Express", or else you need to spend more time on the train instead, there will be less time to walk around then!!) [Map] [Arashiyama]

OMG!!! It is the Maple Leaf!
My camera is almost filled with Maple Leaves!!!
Although It's stil very early autumn in Kyoto, therefore the Maple Leaves are scanty, not a lot. But, it is still beautiful and breath-taking~~~


Tenryu-ji (Tenryu-ji Temple). Ticket price - 600yen.

   

Then, the bamboo garden~~~
   

---------------------------------------

After lunch, and we continue our walk.  But we were very tired.  Fortunately, we found a bus, send us directly until "Kyoto Karasuma Station".

After this, we go for the next destination -  Toji Temple
Toji Temple is located 200 meters away from the Toji station (Kintetsu Kyoto Line, Pink Line; 1 station next to "Kyoto" Station!!!).

There is a flea market on 21st of each months. They sell local specialties, Japanese wear, winter clothes, bags, souvenirs, food and the list goes on.
The largest market is on 21st of December every year.  I wonder whether i will get to experience it in future?!?! Erm~~~

　　　

---------------------------------------

Then, we went towards "Fushimi Inari" Station, for Fushimi Inari Temple ~ ~
This temple is very unique and beautiful, especially its bright colors!



Tatta ~ ~





Saw two foxes it? They are the messengers ~ ~ ~

-----------------------------------

Then we caught the subway further down for 2 stations to Tofukuji station for Tofukuji temple.
This temple is quite a distance away from the subway station.
We planned to give up, because we were really really exhausted~~~





Unexpectedly, we found the famous "Dragon Paint" here~~~



Along the way walking back to the subway station, we witness the beauty of  the Maple Leaves.  In my mind, i will definitely come back Kyoto for the autumn next year~~~ONCE again~~~ Because it is sooooooooooooooooooooooooo beautiful and breath-taking ~ ~ isn't it?!



------------------------------------

Then, we went to the the Sanjo station.



Beautiful street. There is a lot of couples sitting beside the river to enjoy the cool breeze; some people are here for jogging, riding on a bike, etc ~ ~ ~




Pontocho street - a small allay connects from sanjo to another street (Gion/ Geisha street). Along the way, there are a lot of unique buildings and restaurants.  It is worth a visit ~ ~ ~
But, we were really tired, and hungry and thirsty~~





After that, we rested by the river for a while, then we decided to go back to Osaka Umeda Station ~ ~
We went to OSAKA tourist information centre (located at JR osaka station - near Umeda Station) to get the info regarding OSAKA day pass.

Note: In Japan, everywhere there will be free wireless service.
If you see "wifine", you need to register and enjoy free wireless then.
Or at the Tourist Information, ask them for the wireless password ~ ​​~ ~ I ONLY found out when i visited to Hokkaido!!!


This is the second day of the itinerary ~ ~ ~