As the cold wind blows, bringing with it the chilly air, it signals the leaves to change their colors to yellow, orange, and red in preparation for the harshness of nature. Ultimately, they succumb to the elements and fall from the branches, leaving only the strong trunks and branches standing tall. The leaves will return when the cold passes, and this is a story that nature is telling me. I believe that many travelers plan to experience the phenomenon of changing leaves at this location. So, let's embark on a journey together.

One autumn day in 2015.

I'm not sure how many more times I'll be able to visit Japan before I get tired of it. Between November 26th and December 3rd, 2015 (7 days and 6 nights), I had the opportunity to see the changing leaves in Kyoto and Osaka. This was my fourth trip to Japan and my second time seeing the changing leaves (the first time was in Tokyo a year earlier; I'll write a post about that trip when I have the chance).

The information and images I have are not intended to be posted in the first place, so there may be some lack of detail. I apologize for this in advance. However, I would like to share some tourist spots with my friends in the hope that it will be helpful for their travels, even if it is only a little. This has led to the creation of this post, which can be called a sharing of images of tourist spots in Kyoto and Osaka.

Travel List

Kyoto (Tofukuji Temple – Nishiki Market – Fushimi Inari-taisha – Gion – Arashiyama – Jojakkoji Temple)

2. Osaka (Eat, drink in Dotonbori – Winter illumination at Tennoji Zoo – Kuromon Market)

3. Kobe (Mt. Rokko)

The daily itinerary is relatively loose due to the fact that we are traveling with four people, including two elderly individuals: my mother and my mother's partner. I personally prefer a more relaxed travel style, exploring at my own pace without a strict schedule. I typically decide on destinations upon waking each day. As a result, I have never purchased a travel pass (perhaps as an excuse to visit Japan multiple times, exploring one or two cities in depth each visit). I believe that travel is a form of relaxation, and while I used to pack my itineraries with activities during my early travels, I found it to be overly tiring. As I approach my thirties, I prefer a more spontaneous approach to avoid stress. However, I do have specific places I want to visit, which I tend to schedule for full days, such as Arashiyama and Mt. Rokko on this trip. Let's begin our adventure!


November 26, 2015
01. Day 1 From Bangkok to Osaka

This trip was taken on Air AsiaX, departing from Don Mueang at 3:30 PM and arriving in Osaka around 11:00 PM. The price was approximately 10,XXX baht, without any promotional discounts. The desire to see the changing leaves was the primary motivation for this trip.

Ready to go! "Japan, here I come!"

Arriving in Osaka around 11:00 PM, I stayed at the Kansai Hotel near Osaka Station, a 10-minute walk away. This location facilitated easy travel to Kyoto and allowed for convenient bus access. Since my flight landed close to midnight, I opted for a bus instead of worrying about the last train at midnight. The bus service operated until 1:45 AM (Figure 1) and cost 1,550 yen when purchased from a vending machine (Figure 2). To reach Osaka Station, passengers should wait at bus stop number 5 (Figure 3). The journey took approximately one hour.


Purchase a ticket, wait in line, and board the bus. The driver will handle all luggage, making the process incredibly convenient.

Upon arriving at the hotel, we rested at our leisure in preparation for our exploration of Kyoto the following day.

November 27, 2015
Day 2 From Osaka to Kyoto

From Osaka to Kyoto, you can take either the Limited Express (Osaka Sta.) or the Shinkansen (Shin Osaka Sta.). However, the price difference is significant. I prioritize affordability due to my limited budget, but I have ample time.

While waiting...

It's comforting to have someone by your side.

After arriving in Kyoto, I took the train to my hotel. I stayed in Kyoto for a total of three nights, from November 27th to 30th. The name of the hotel was Guesthouse SanjyotakakuraHibiki. Judging from the amenities in the room, I believe it was originally a monthly apartment, as it even had a computer. The room rate was very expensive, around 20,000 yen per night (which was the cheapest I could find in Kyoto). However, it was conveniently located in the Sanjo district, near the Nishiki Market and Teramachi shopping street.


Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

[Image: Google map]

Upon arrival, we were unable to check in yet, so we left our luggage and went out to explore. Our first destination was Tofukuji Temple, a mere 2-minute train ride from Kyoto Station on the JR Nara Line. However, the walk from the station to the temple was quite long. Was it beautiful? Yes, it was. But it was also incredibly crowded. Let the pictures tell the story.

On the way to the temple


Ticket obtained. Admission fee: 400 yen. Opening hours (November - early December): 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

The area is covered solely by maple trees.

The place is extremely crowded and uncomfortable. I would not recommend it. Even my mother couldn't stand waiting outside.

My favorite aspect of this place is…

Steadily.

The higher you climb, the stronger the wind blows. Sometimes it's better to stay grounded.

After visiting the temple, we headed back to the hotel to check in. The street in front of the temple was lined with food stalls and shops, so we had plenty of options for dinner. We then went for a walk around Nishiki Market, which offered a wide variety of food, from fresh produce to modern and traditional sweets. There were also many shops to browse through. I wandered around, trying different foods, but didn't settle on any one place in particular.

Seared jumbo scallop with soy sauce

Deep-fried fish balls are delicious.

Abundant seafood.

It's sweet.

Among all the food I've eaten, I like this one the most. The crispy grilled mochi is topped with various sauces/powders. The ones I remember are cheese and seaweed nori. It was incredibly delicious. The chef's hands must have a lot of experience. He grilled it meticulously, slowly and carefully. But I finished it within thirty seconds.

At the end of the street, you will find a short but bustling shopping street. It may not be as long as Shinsaibashi, but it offers a wide variety of affordable items. 100 yen and 300 yen clothing stores are abundant, and my girlfriend's wallet was empty by the first day. Most of the items are fashion-related, both new and used. It's a pleasant walk, and you're sure to find something to take home.

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Day 2 of the trip is over. Good night and sweet dreams.

November 28, 2015
Day 3 Stay Chill in Kyoto

This morning, I woke up around 10:30 am. My travel hours are from noon to midnight. It took me a while to get going, as I had to wake up, buy coffee, use the bathroom, shower, eat breakfast, use the bathroom again, and finally leave. My group is like this, so no one gets mad at each other. 5555555

Nearly every morning in Kyoto, I entrusted my stomach to the Nakau restaurant in front of the hotel. This restaurant seems to have several branches, but this is the first one I saw. The menu is similar to Yoshinoya and Sukiya, but the beef bowls are much more delicious than those two. They also have salmon roe rice bowls for less than 1,000 yen, so I had them every morning.

This set costs 600 yen.

Next, we headed to Fushimi Inari Shrine, the legendary shrine with thousands of orange torii gates. The journey was similar to the previous day, just one station away from Tofukuji Temple.

Free Admission

This phrase indicates that there is no entrance fee required to access a particular location.

Stroll along, calm your mind. Finding a secluded spot might require a long walk, perhaps even to the point of muscle fatigue.

I continued walking uphill, then veered off into the forest alone. At that moment, I got separated from the others. I stumbled upon a large bamboo forest, momentarily forgetting about being lost. I took a few photos before haphazardly walking back down. Luckily, I encountered two foreigners descending the mountain, so I followed them down. My girlfriend was waiting for me at the bottom, and I got a good scolding.

Afterward, it was time to move on. In front of the temple, there were countless food stalls, a paradise for foodies! There were many unique offerings, and I tried a lot of them. Some were delicious, while others were not so much. If you ask me what you shouldn't miss, it's the sweet tofu pockets. There were three or four shops selling udon, oden, and sweet tofu pockets (Inari Sushi). Everything else was just okay, but the sweet tofu pockets (Inari Sushi) were so good I almost cried. I apologize, but I don't have any pictures. Another must-try is the grilled meat. It was indescribable, the meat was so tender! Each skewer cost around 200 or 300 yen, I'm not sure exactly. Walking out of the temple, turn right and you'll see a long line of people. Join the queue, you won't regret it!

After finishing, we went to Gion to find geisha. Actually, we didn't intend to go shopping in Sanjo, but the station named Gion sounded familiar to us as a place with geisha, so we decided to go there and see what we could find.


Near the station

In at the alley, out where? Ugh!

Where is Geisha? Honestly, I still don't know if I didn't see her because she wasn't there or if I went to the wrong Gion. Haha.

Unable to find it, let's go find some grilled meat to eat and then take a walk around the hotel.

- On the way to Kawaramachi -

Kyoto is like a living history book, with a beautiful past that seamlessly blends with modern elements. Everything exudes a classic, unique character. If you've experienced the essence of Japan in various places, encountering Kyoto is like opening a new page in the world's book.

I am deeply captivated by this bridge. It resembles a bridge that transcends dimensions, transporting us to the past and propelling us from the past into the future.

From the bridge, walk back from Gion, cross the canal and turn right. You will find an alleyway with many Izakaya-style restaurants. It's a great place to hang out, with bars, yakiniku restaurants, and ramen shops. We chose Chifaja, a yakiniku restaurant with a buffet priced at 2,900, 3,900, or 4,900 yen for 90 minutes, depending on the quality of the meat. I chose the 2,900 yen option, and it was delicious.

It's juicy.

Not drinking with beer is considered wrong.

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End of Day 3 by rolling back to the hotel.

November 29, 2015
Day 4: The Day for Arashiyama

As mentioned earlier, the primary goal of my trip was to visit Arashiyama and ride the Sagano Romantic Train. However, due to the peak autumn foliage season, most train departures were fully booked, leaving only inconvenient time slots. Consequently, I had to accept the situation and explore other attractions instead. Nevertheless, Arashiyama remains a beautiful and romantic destination, albeit with a significant number of visitors.

Note: It is not advisable to plan a visit here on Sundays, as you will encounter a massive, unanticipated crowd. While I was fortunate to arrive early and capture some beautiful images, the streets in the city center became impassable by the afternoon. The bamboo forest and Tenryuji Temple were particularly crowded, so I decided to skip them.

  • The nearest way to get to Nijo station from a hotel near Sanjo is:

"I wonder if that mountain is Arashiyama."

Upon arriving at Arashiyama, you will encounter the Railway Museum directly outside the station. Admission costs 500 yen. My mother's partner, an avid train enthusiast, suggested we visit. The museum showcases trains from various eras. A quick 10-20 minute walk is sufficient to explore the entire exhibit. Regrettably, photography is prohibited inside.


Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

The abundance of charming shops could easily tempt one to spend money, but I had just finished breakfast, so I was safe.

My initial plan was to visit Tenryuji Temple, but when I arrived near the entrance, I was met with a large crowd. I decided to retreat and instead headed to Togetsukyo Bridge, where I enjoyed a boat ride on the Hozu River.

Upon reaching the bridge, turn right to find a boat rental area where you can rent paddle boats or take a scenic boat ride on the Hozu River.


The colonel's mother and uncle were sent on the boat first. As for me, my girlfriend didn't trust my rowing skills, so she asked my uncle to row instead. I'm not sure about the exact price, but it was no more than 2,000 yen per hour.

Let's sit like this.

Tickets are available and we are waiting for the bus to fill up. The fare is around 1000 yen.

Let's get started.


"Seeing me take a lot of photos, the old man started posing dramatically."


Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

The pre-wedding shoot here is absolutely amazing.


Along the way, about 80% of the leaves along the roadside have fallen past their peak.


I finally found Geisha, whom I have been searching for, in a place I never expected to find her.


Gliding along, there were boats selling snacks, which immediately reminded me of the floating markets in Kanchanaburi. The dango was delicious, highly recommended.

After finishing the boat ride, my next destination was Jojakkoji Temple. It was in the same direction as the bamboo forest, but it was quite a distance further. However, I was determined to go, as I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't.

- Along the way, the leaves here are in full color, except for those by the river, which have almost all fallen.

  • If you find a coffee shop behind this one, you're very close. Don't give up yet. Don't stop by and try to sit and sip coffee and enjoy the maple leaves. The atmosphere is great.


We finally arrived at Jojakkoji Temple. It was a long walk up a steep hill, but I think it was definitely worth it. The entrance fee is around 400 yen.

The view from here extends all the way to Kyoto, and it's incredibly cold.

It's time to leave this place. Although we haven't known each other for long, I'm sure I'll be back here again.

Upon arriving in Kyoto, indulge in a warm Sukiya hotpot to ward off the chill and relax at your leisure.


- Day 4 of the journey has come to an end. See you in Osaka. -

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