Japan Day 15: Kyoto, Osaka, Manila

It was already our last day (mainly our flight date) in Japan, and we had booked a flight with Philippine Airlines from the Osaka Kansai Airport to Manila. From there we wanted to start the next lap of our journey, sightseeing in the Philippines including Mount Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano, Whale-Shark-Spotting Hot Spot Donsol, and the Albay and Sorsogon Provinces. After that, of course, I wanted to stay three more weeks in Palawan where I grew up, to spend time with my family.  

In the morning we left the hotel APA Hotel Kyoto-eki Horikawa-Dori in Kyoto very early and walked to the nearby Kyoto Train Station to take a Kansai Airport Express to the Kansai Airport at 6.20 a.m., which took about 80 minutes. We had bought the tickets to the train inside the Kyoto Train Station the day before. Fortunately, we found seats in the non-reserved wagon. We actually thought we would have a lot of spare time and maybe could have breakfast at the airport. But when we wanted to check in for our flight to our next destination, Manila, there was already a very long queue, and it took forever just to check in. There were more queues at the baggage check and then at the immigration and then we had to take another train inside the airport to go to our departure gate. In the end, there wasn't really spare time at all.

The flight took about 4 hours, and when we arrived in Manila, we immediately felt the heat wave. In Japan, it was around 15 to 20°C most of the time, and at this time in the Philippines, it must have been 30- 35 °C. There was no airconditioning unit at the airport, or it must have been broken. After having been to many airports, I could safely say that the NAIA is not par with other international airports.

Then, the immigration nightmare started. (Be sure to fill out the immigration form you get in the plane before coming out). Imagine a big room, entirely crowded with people, 35°C, no explicit queues and spending more than an hour in it, without anyone really moving forward and just more people coming from other flights and jostling in. Only two counters were open for the drove of guests arriving in from all different flights, plus the one for OFW. The process itself is actually quick - you just show your passport and the immigration form, then you are through, so I don't know why it took so long. We were so happy when we finally were through. Comparing the immigration in Japan in Fukuoka when we arrived, it surely had taken some time too, but it was very orderly. There they had one clear queue, and even if it took longer, at least you always came closer and couldn't be in the one (semi-)line that just doesn't move forward.

I was still groggy from the medicine, and all I can think of was a bed. It was already afternoon, and it was clear that we would not be doing any sightseeing in Manila. We were tired of the queues and crowds and the travelling and just wanted to finally settle in at the hotel, the Microtel by Wyndham, Mall of Asia. The registered taxi from the airport to our hotel would generally cost 680 Pesos, and the regular cab would cost even less. But do be careful and be aware that the taxis in Manila were not known to be completely honest. Of course, there is always an exemption to the rule, but caution and common sense should be exercised so that you would not fall prey to those unscrupulous people.

Finally, at the hotel, I just relaxed as I was still sick, while my friend went to the little pool on the rooftop. Later we used the free shuttle service to the nearby Mall of Asia, the 10th largest shopping mall in the world. We stayed at the Microtel on our trip three years before, and it is a charming, clean hotel not too far from the airport and some Manila attractions. The proximity and the frequent free shuttle to the Mall of Asia were another reason to choose the hotel again.

At the mall, I bought some medicine for myself, and we also bought dinner, including a (disappointing) pizza for my friend that tasted just like margarine. We went to sleep relatively early because we had to leave for our main destination the next day, Legazpi City and the Mount Mayon. We just spent the night in Manila coming from Kyoto because there was no late flight from Manila to Legazpi on the same day.

Japan Day 14: Kyoto - Ryozen Kannon, Kodaiji Temple, Yasaka Shrine, Chionin Temple & More

I was officially sick in Kyoto and needed to rest. So I gave my friend my camera to at least bring some impressions home. He had to walk from the hotel to the nearby Kyoto Train Station and had to buy another day ticket for the bus and subway in front of the station, where also the bus terminal is located.

Now let's hear from him about his adventure alone in the wilderness of Kyoto, shall we?

After finding the right bus stop, I lined up in a long queue for the Bus 206 for another huge attraction of Kyoto, the Kyomizudera Temple. Bus connections inside Kyoto are fortunately easily found online. It took a bit more than 10 minutes in a crowded bus to Gojozaka Station, from where a street leads upwards to the temple. When I finally came closer to the entrance it became really crowded (tour busses park nearby and there were many), so crowded that I lost interest and decided to skip it.

I instead walked back the busy street leading to the Kyomizudera Temple where I had already seen a sign for the Kodaiji Temple. I walked through a beautiful area, the historic Higashiyama District until the street came to an end. To the right was a street to the Ryozen Kannon, to the left a street to the Kodaiji Temple, but a path also lead upwards to a huge parking lot, where I could already see the Ryozen Kannon. The Ryozen Kannon which is actually a war memorial, has a huge statue and is quite a sight.

From the parking lot in front of the Ryozen Kannon it is just a few steps to the north to the entrance of the Kodaiji Temple. Unfortunately, I only found out later and walked back down from the parking lot and later had to walk up again to another path, after confirming with a Japanese woman, that this is the path leading to the entrance. The lovely Kodaiji Temple however proved to be quite rewarding. When I followed the walking course inside the complex, I even came to another bamboo forest.

I continued back down and then to the north towards the next sight, the Yasaka Shrine and could even help two Italian tourists, who were looking for the way to the nearby Gion Geisha District, with my maps. The Yasaka Shrine is another huge complex with so much to see.

I exited the Yasaka Shrine complex at the western entrance, where a big and busy road leads to the Gion District. The district was originally built to accommodate the needs of the travellers and visitors to the shrine. Later on, it became one of the most exclusive geisha districts in all of Japan. From the big street another street leads south into the Hanami-koji area. I went there, but didn't stay there long. There were so many cars driving through the streets and it was rather busy and stressful. The pedestrian road is where the cars were also driving through.

After a coffee I instead walked to the Chionin Temple. The temple is located  further north and has a huge gate. The major highlight was the massive bell.

From the Chionin Temple I walked further to the north to the Shorenin Temple, which is completely different to the Chionin Temple. While at the Chionin Temple everything is huge and impressive, at the Shorenin Temple it is more small, green and charming.

The road continued to the north towards another huge and impressive complex, the Heian Shrine. I actually came at the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art first, but skipped that.

From the Heian Shrine I walked eastwards along the Kyoto Zoo towards the Nanzenji Temple. It is another huge complex, with a lot of green, beautiful gardens and even an aqueduct.

I then walked to nearby Keage Station and took the subway back to Kyoto Train Station.

I had a good rest and slept the most part of the day at the hotel. When my friend came back, I could at least get up and feeling a bit better, so we went to the shopping centre at the train station for some food and later enjoyed the great onsen of the APA Hotel Kyoto-eki Horikawa-Dori.