2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 24: Returning Home, Our First Experience of Business Class

Day 6: April 7 (Tue), Returning Home

We took Limited Express Train to Kansai Airport early in the morning. The next 2 hours in airport was just queuing. The long queue almost made us miss the flight, we entered the cabin just 2 minutes before taking off.

Today we will have our first experience of Business Class. Firstly, let me explain why we were so "rich" to take Business Class. Actually, we bought Economy Class initially, but Malaysia Airlines offered us to bid for Business Class, so we bid for SGD 200 each person for the flight bound from Osaka to Kuala Lumpur. We did not expect that we could take Business Class because the bid that we placed was actually low. However, we were so lucky at last. Haha!

Invitation card to Asuka Lounge. We were unable to go due to long queue.

The plane that we took, A330-300

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 23: Full Moon that Seems Crossing the Bridge, Togetsu Bridge

We headed south for about 700 meter after leaving from Tenryu-ji and arrived at the Togetsu Bridge, which is also a major attraction at Arashiyama. It is believed that Togetsu Bridge was built by Monk Dosho, the disciple of Master Kukai of Shingon School, in 836. The bridge receives its name when Emperor Kameyama (13th century) sang a waka (Japanese poetry) during his sailing on Katsura River. The waka writes "くまなき月の渡るに似る", which means "The night sky without clouds, Full moon seems crossing the bridge". This bridge is also a good place for viewing sakura in spring and maple in autumn.

O'i River, the section of Katsura River flows here

Mt. Arashi at far side

East view of Togetsu Bridge

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 22: A Poetic Zen Garden, Sogenchi Garden of Tenryu-ji

Well, this post is the prettiest record of flora in Sogenchi Garden.

Sogenchi Garden is the most beautiful site in Tenryu-ji. It is designed as a strolling pond garden by Muso Soseki, the Zen master who led the construction of Tenryu-ji. It employs "borrowed scenery" (shakkei) of Mt. Arashi (left), Mt. Kame and Mt. Ogura (front) and Mt. Atago (right). It also fuses the painting style of Yamato and Zen style of Song and Yuan Dynasty of China.

The pond recieved the name Sogenchi when Muso Soseki discovered a stone stele inscribed with the characters of "Sogen itteki" when removing the mud from the pond. This garden is listed as World Cultural Heritage in 1994.

Mitsuba Tsutsuji (lit. Three leaves Rhododendron)

Nihon-no-homare Tsubaki (lit. Japanese Glory Camellia)

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 21: Top of the Kyoto Gozan and Head Temple of Rinzai School, Tenryu-ji Temple

We went to our last destination, Tenryu-ji Temple after Sagano Torokko Train.

Keihuku Electric Railroad Arashiyama Main Line

Randen Sagano Station

Entrance of Tenryu-ji

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 20: Sagano Torokko Train, a Trip to Hozukyo Valley

We left for Gion (祇園) after Kyoto and had dessert at Tsujiri Tea House (茶寮都路里) located at Shijyodori (四条通り). The subway was quite empty at Monday noon, which was totally different from the men-in-black in morning.

The brown building is Tsujiri Tea House

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 19: Witness of Chrysanthemum Dynasty, Kyoto Gosho (2)

Behind Shishin-den is the hall where the Emperors in Hei'an Period normally lived in. It is called as Seiryo-den. The interior is divided into rooms by folding screens. Its front side (east side) has a thick tatami, called Hino'omashi, which served as imperial throne. Bamboos are planted in front of Seiryo-den, which named as Kuretake (north side) and Kawatake (south side).

Kawatake

South side of Seiryo-den. The floor in front of folding screens is paved by lime. It is named as Ishibai-no-dan and served as the place where Emperor prays to the direction of Ise Grand Shrine.

Hino'omashi

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 18: Witness of Chrysanthemum Dynasty, Kyoto Gosho (1)

Day 5: April 6 (Mon), Kyoto

We came to Kyoto, the capital of Japan before Meiji Era. Kyoto Gyoen was definitely a place must go.

We took subway to Marutamachi Station and came to the South Entrance of Kyoto Gyoen from Exit 1.

The South Entrance of Kyoto Gyoen

Former Kan'in-no-miya Residential Palace, Kan'in-no-miya was one of the four main branches of Imperial Family of Japan.

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 17: Osaka Castle, the battlefield between Toyotomi and Tokugawa

It's 3 pm after we backed to Osaka. Since the closing time of Osaka Castle was almost ended, we quickly walked to there in spite of the rain.

After getting the entrance ticket, I climbed up the stairs to the highest level of Tenshukaku (Main keep of Japanese castle). There were too many tourists waiting for the lift.

North view of Osaka Castle

South view of Osaka Castle, the brown rectangular building is the Command Headquarter of 4th Division of Imperial Japanese Army during WWII.

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 16: The Great Buddha of Nara, Todai-ji Temple

After feeding the deer, we continued our trip to Todai-ji Temple.

The street in front of Nandaimon (South Main Gate) of Todai-ji Temple. It's so crowded today.

"Todai-ji, the head temple of Kegon school"

Yoshiki River in front of Nandaimon

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 15: The Buddhism Sacred Land, Nara the Ancient Capital

Day 4: April 5 (Sun), Nara and Osaka Castle

We came to Nara, an ancient capital 1300 years ago, early in the morning.

Nara Station

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 14: Dining and Shopping at Osaka

The schedule at evening today is just basically shopping and dining at Osaka.

First, we came to Kuromon Market. It's not so crowded around 4pm.

White strawberries from Kumamoto prefecture

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 13: Coastal Line along the Kinokuni Railway

Day 3: April 4 (Sat), from Kii-katsuura to Osaka

Compared with the cloudy weather yesterday, the sky was so blue at 6 o'clock in this morning. Green hills warmed by sunshine could be seen from the balcony.

We planned to take 8 am train after breakfast, but we were unable to catch up, so we stayed at Kii-katsuura station for two more hours. During the waiting time, we went to post a postcard. The staff said it took about 5 days to reach Singapore, but actually it's faster than that. So impressed with its efficiency.

After that, we went to the small park mentioned before. The cherry blossom was so pretty with the blue sky.

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 12: Walk in the Woods of Nakanoshima, Lookout for Pacific Ocean

When we backed to Kii-katsuura, we walked along the jetty, where a few of fishing ships from other prefecture could be seen. However, the crew doing the cleaning were speaking in Indonesian. No wonder there is an Indonesian signage pasted on a bench in the street we walked past just now.

We saw quite a number of Japanese, with their children, waiting for ferry. It's quite a big difference compared with yesterday. Maybe a lot of Japanese come for the hot spring and relax themselves during weekend.

Our room was tidied up when we return to the hotel. O-cha (Japanese green tea) and the delicious Nanki orange cakes were served on the table.

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 11: The Great Waterfall of Japan, The Nachi Fall

Even though it's raining heavily outside, we still walked to the Nachi Fall. The first thing you would see is the following rock carving:

"World Heritage Site: The Nachi Fall"

The poetry described the beauty and greatness of the Nachi Fall.
Translation as followed: 
Hundred-feet of firs surrounding the rolling hills, 
The water falls like a piece of white silk suspending in the sky,
You won't know how the summer is if you are here for three days,
This Great Waterfall is truly a wonder in the world
"The poetry of viewing waterfall by Shunkei"

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 10: Enjoy the Beauty of Nachi at the Top of Sanjyu-no-to

After walked past the Shakyokura (写経蔵, the place where sutra is transcribed), Sanjyu-no-to (三重塔, Three-storied Pagoda) was right in the front. The Nachi Fall could be seen from here.

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 09: The First Stop of Saikoku Pilgrimage, Nachi Seiganto Temple

Nachi Seiganto Temple is just beside Nachi Grand Shrine. The co-existence of Shinto religion and Buddhism is totally reflected here.

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 08: The God's Sacred Place, Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine

After climbed up the Omotesando stairs, there is a platform before entering Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine. From here, the visitors could enjoy the view of rolling hills. Two red torii of Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine could be seen at the back.

One of the major attractions at Kumano, the Nachi Fall

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 07: Pilgrimage Path Surrounded by Tall Firs

After walked pass the Meoto-sugi, there is a giant stone at the right side of the path.

The site of Tahuke-ooji

This is the last ooji-sha (prince shrine) of Kumano Ninety-Nine Ooji. During 12th - 13th century, the visitors and nobles, who came to Kumano for pilgrimage, built a lot of shrines along the paths. These shrines, called as ooji-sha, were used as resting place or accommodation in the past. Waka (japanese poetry) event was also held in these places to pray for the safety during the pilgrimage.

Ninety-Nine Ooji does not mean 99 shrines had been built, but have a meaning of many in number. Although 'ooji' means prince in japanese, it actually represents the mikogami, the children god, of Kumano Gongen (The gods of Kumano Sanzan, or the Three Kumano Mountains). However, the phrase of 'ooji' did not appear in Hei'an literature, but found in Edo literature (17th - 19th century). 

According to the introduction board, a shrine was built at here during Edo period. It was then moved to the vicinity of Kumano Musumi Shrine (currently known as Kumano Nachi Grand Shrine) at 1877. Therefore, a stone was placed at here to show its original site.

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 06: Time Travel back to Hei'an Period and Turn into Hei'an Noble

We arrived at Daimonzaka carpark after 20 mins from Kii-katsuura bus station.

Daimonzaka is located at north-west of Kii-katsuura

It was drizzling when we arrived, but the weather could not stop us to explore this heritage.

Entrance of Daimonzaka

2015 Japan Cherry Blossom Trip 05: Nachi Katsuura, a tranquil town

We came to the jetty in front of  the lobby, the hall staffs greeted us ohayo gozaimasu (good morning) at there. When the ferry headed to the town, they kept waving their hands at jetty until we can't see them.

Nakanoshima Ryokan, view from the backside of the ferry

Entrance to Pacific Ocean

After landed, we walked into the streets in Katsuura. It was 8 am in the morning, most of the shops were not open yet. It was so tranquil in town.