I "Kansai" I'm In Love (Part 1): Fushimi Inari at Night, and Glimpses of Kyoto

- November 16-18, 2023, Thursday to Saturday.

- After exactly 10 full years, I was finally able to go back to Japan! This time, my trip focused on Kyoto and Osaka, which are part of the Kansai Region. I owe this to my bosses at work who convinced me to take part in the 6th Asian Consortium of South Asian Studies, an annual conference for South Asian Studies. This year, it was held in, and organized by Kyoto University. It was the perfect excuse to visit Japan again, and during autumn no less. I was also fortunate to have received a multiple-entry visa, so I can go in and out of Japan for the next 5 years! (Of course, given time and money. HAHA.)

- I arrived in Kansai International Airport on Thursday the 16th, around 7PM, and rode the Haruka Limited Express train directly to Kyoto. This particular train took around 1.5 hours. A shinkansen will take less time, but more money, while another JR Line will be cheaper, but slower than the Haruka line. The Haruka train had a Hello Kitty motif, which I think was the perfect way to be welcomed in Japan! (Take note: if possible, buy a tourist data sim card at the airport as it can help a lot with navigation, and maybe translation if you don't speak Japanese.)

Here I am!

Train model.

Our Haruka Hello Kitty train!

I mean....just look at it!

They're everywhere.

- I arrived in Kyoto Station at almost midnight. The Kyoto Tower was the first thing I saw upon alighting the train in Kyoto. It is an observation tower built in the 1960s, and is the tallest structure in Kyoto. It also looks amazing at night! The station's 7-Eleven also saved me and my boss as it was the only thing open at that hour with a variety of things to eat. Convenience stores in Japan are the best, with the varied selection of good food they offer. They're life savers forever and always.

The Japanese think of everything. Look at the fancy kimono the alcohol dispenser was wearing!

My room at Daiwa Roynet Kyoto Ekimae. I have this cozy room to myself! (Thank you, conference organizers!)

The tiny bathtub fits half my butt. OK maybe not, but I like how the tub looks!

- The following morning, just before the conference, I had some time to visit a temple right beside out hotel. The Higashi Hongan-ji or "The Eastern Monastery of Original Vow" was built in the 1600s and served as one of the main Shin-Buddhist temples in Kyoto. I honestly wasn't aware about this temple until I saw the map of our hotel. Well, as the former capital of Japan, Kyoto is a city full of temples so I wasn't too surprised. 

Side entrance.

Overlooking the Founder's Hall.

Giant sled.

Imagine me as a Japanese salary man praying for more money. And look, the Kyoto Tower can be seen at the back too. (I was dressed for the conference, I didn't expect to have a photoshoot in this temple. The temple exceeded my expectations!)

Jedi.

Amida Hall (Left) and Founder's Hall (Right). These are the two main halls of the temple.

It was standing so still I didn't think it was a real Japanese heron. Well, it later flew away, so it's real.

- After a day in the conference, we had dinner in one of the the main areas of Kyoto University, where I saw its famous clocktower. Kyoto University, by the way, is the second oldest university in Japan, being built in 1897.

Kyoto University Clocktower.

- The night was young after dinner, so I decided to head out for a bit that night. One of the places of interest that's open 24/7 in Kyoto is the Fushimi Inari Shrine (or "Fushimi Inari Taisha"), accessible via the Keihan Main Line train to Fushimi-Inari Station or JR Nara Line to Inari Station. Although accessible by train, I took an Uber instead because I didn't want to risk getting lost at night. The Fushimi Inari Taisha was rather out of the way too, so I might as well be sure to save time. Uber cabs in Japan are expensive by the way, at least by Philippine standards. 

- The Fushimi Inari Taisha requires no entrance fees, and is open all day to visitors and Shinto followers. Built on the Inari mountain in the 700s AD, the shrine is known for its "senbon torii" or thousand torii gates. These gates are donated by people if they wanted to have a wish granted, or in gratitude to the kami spirits for granting their wishes. The gates go all the way around the mountain, and it is said that from the start to end can take 3 hours. I did not have that much time that night, and it started to get eerie as I thought of heading further into the mountain at night. Thankfully, I didn't really need to go that far into the mountain. Since I went at night, the usually-packed tourist crowd was absent, so taking photos was a breeze. The main difficulty in taking photos at night though was playing with light sources. I had to maximize the use of lamps that lit the torii gates. 

Giant torii in front of the shrine.

One of the kami shrines.

Kitsune. (I scared so many people that night during my photoshoot, because of my mask....sorry other tourists.)

I am just a humble person.

My other kitsune mask.

- The shrine is also known for being associated with foxes. Foxes, or "kitsune" in Japanese, are known as the messengers of gods or spirits. That's why fox masks are also sold in souvenir shops in Japan, especially those near the shrine. However, I was able to find mine via Shopee while still in the Philippines. I bought mine for around 40PHP, while the same ones being sold in Japan were sold for around 800JPY (300PHP)!   

More torii gates.

One of the many fox statues.

Another.

Saw this giant horse statue.

Another kami shrine.

It was hard wearing these wooden geta.

The main worship hall.

You'll see this big torii gate at the entrance, and is right across the train station.

Just wanted to show you what my kaku obi looks like from the back.

- I left the temple with almost no one inside, and I was really glad an Uber taxi was able to pick me up immediately. I was able to arrive in my hotel in no time, with enough time to prepare things for the next day. I had to rest because I was presenting my work in the conference the next day.

Lost my voice because of this haha.

- I lost my voice during the conference because of my allergies and that I had to speak continuously during my turn, but at least I was able to successfully present and take questions from the audience. After the day's activities, I had some time going around the city with my superiors at work, and spent the night after dinner walking along the Kawaramachi area. (I mainly just shopped in Don Quijote, which is perhaps the most famous discount store in Japan.

Outside Higashi Hongan-ji and Kyoto Tower. 

This was a really surprisingly wonderful and serene view.

I also got to try a fruit sandwich from Family Mart. The fruit shapes weren't as fancy as I had hoped but it does the job I guess.

- My first few days in Kyoto were very eventful though I had less time for myself. At least, I was able to squeeze in some time to get a feel of Kyoto. However, this was just the start of my many adventures for this trip to Japan!

** Check out the other legs of my Kansai trip!

Part 2 (Kyoto): here

Part 3 (Kyoto): here

Part 4 (Osaka): here

Part 5 (Osaka): here