wendy's Reviews Page 7/30

When visiting Nara, besides the familiar Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple, Gangoji Temple is also well worth adding to your itinerary! With a history of about 1,300 years, Gangoji is one of Nara's important ancient temples and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.” Compared with the bustle and crowds at Todaiji Temple, this place feels especially understated and quiet. Once you enter the temple grounds, there's an added sense of tranquility and solemnity.

The temple preserves many precious historical artifacts and antiques that you can take your time appreciating while experiencing the traces left by this thousand-year-old temple. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited in some areas, so I could only keep the scenery and history before me in my memory.

If you come to Nara and don't want to visit only the popular attractions, I really recommend stopping by Gangoji Temple. Without the noisy crowds, you can quietly experience Nara's thousand years of history and culture.

When visiting Nara, besides Nara Park and Todaiji Temple, I also highly recommend taking a walk through Naramachi. Centered around the former grounds of Gangoji Temple, the area still preserves many traditional machiya townhouses dating back to the Edo and Meiji periods. As you wander through the narrow alleys, old wooden buildings stand quietly in rows. Without a flashy or bustling tourist atmosphere, it's easier to experience Nara's most down-to-earth, everyday side.

I visited on a weekday this time, and the streets were truly very quiet, with few tourists. Walking through the alleys felt especially relaxing, and sometimes all I could hear were my own footsteps, which made it feel like I had traveled back in time. It's also very close to Gangoji Temple, so taking a stroll to Naramachi after visiting the temple is just right.

When visiting Nara, besides Todaiji Temple, Kasugataisha Shrine is another classic attraction you absolutely shouldn't miss. Located within the Kasugayama Primeval Forest, Kasugataisha is the head shrine of about 3,000 Kasuga shrines across Japan. Together with Todaiji Temple and Kofukuji Temple, it forms one of Nara's representative cultural landscapes and is also listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Walking slowly along the approach into the forest, the towering ancient trees, stone lanterns, and vermilion buildings blend together. Sunlight filters through the treetops, creating an atmosphere that is both solemn and mysterious. What impressed me most was the sheer number of lanterns.
There are many stone lanterns and hanging lanterns donated by worshippers throughout the grounds of Kasugataisha and along the surrounding approaches. Even when quietly lined up among the ancient forest and shrine buildings, they are already very distinctive; during certain annual festivals, thousands of lanterns are lit, creating a dreamlike and sacred scene.

There are also Nara's cutest divine messengers--the deer. While walking along the approach to Kasugataisha, you'll occasionally come across Nara deer strolling leisurely. Deer have deep ties to the beliefs of Kasugataisha and are regarded as messengers of the gods, adding a touch of charm and liveliness to the solemn shrine.

What I liked most about this visit to Kasugataisha was the peaceful feeling of being surrounded by forest and far away from the noise of the city. The vermilion shrine buildings, ancient lanterns, towering trees, and leisurely sacred deer all fill the area with Nara's unique charm.

When visiting Nara, don't miss this tranquil and elegant Japanese garden, Isuien Garden, on the way from Nara Park to Todai-ji Temple. It has been designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty, and in a single garden, you can experience Japanese aesthetics from different eras. Stroll slowly along the pond, where the greenery, flowing water, old trees, and traditional buildings complement one another. Every change in angle feels like admiring a carefully painted work of art.

It's even more beautiful in the fall, making it hard to leave! The maple leaves turn from green to red, with orange-red and golden yellow colors interwoven throughout the garden and reflected in the pond. Together with the rustic buildings and lush green pine trees, the entire scene is filled with a distinctly Japanese atmosphere. There are no noisy crowds, only quiet autumn moments in the garden. Walking around while admiring the beauty left by the changing seasons really makes you feel as though you've stepped into a Japanese painting.

When visiting Nara Park, besides meeting the deer and visiting Todaiji Temple, I also recommend stopping by Yumekaze Plaza in front of the Todaiji Temple Gate!

Located amid the lush greenery of Nara Park, this plaza has several shops selling Nara specialties and souvenirs, as well as dessert shops and restaurants. Whether you want something to eat, need to buy souvenirs, or are just looking for a place to rest after walking around, it’s very convenient.

And when you’re in Nara, you definitely shouldn’t miss the famous Nara pudding! It’s rich and smooth, with just the right amount of sweetness. After visiting Todaiji Temple and seeing the deer, enjoying a cup of coffee with some pudding really is one of those relaxing little moments that makes a trip special.

Nara isn’t just about admiring the scenery and following the deer around. Even a small pudding can become a flavor you remember from your trip.

Nara Park really is a place that represents the scenery and atmosphere of Japan. If you visit Nara on a weekday, I highly recommend coming by train. There are relatively fewer tourists, making the whole trip more leisurely and comfortable.

After arriving at the station, there’s a charming shopping street on the right. If you’re hungry, you can first find somewhere to eat and browse the small shops. If you want to head straight to Todaiji Temple, follow the main road on the left. You’ll gradually start encountering sika deer along the way. Although it takes a little while to walk there, the scenery is beautiful, the streets are pleasant and lively, and there are plenty of shops to browse at your own pace. Another route takes you past Kohfukuji Temple first, and after walking through the temple grounds, you’ll enter Nara Park.

When more and more sika deer start appearing in front of you, it means you’re almost at Todaiji Temple! *Something that felt special about this visit was that, unlike what I remembered from before, the deer weren’t all gathered around Todaiji Temple. Instead, they were scattered throughout the park, strolling around at their leisure, which made the overall atmosphere feel much more relaxed.

Of course, there’s one small thing to keep in mind at Nara Park: watch out for the “deer poop” underfoot! And if you buy deer crackers to feed them, you really need to be prepared. The moment they see food, they’ll all rush over at once. So this time, I just watched other people feed them, haha〜

Who knew Kyoto had such a unique "cat temple" tucked away! At first glance, it looks like a temple, but it isn't actually an official temple. It's a distinctive space that combines temple decor, a café, shops, and cats.

The most special part is that seven cats live here as abbots. Each one has its own personality, and the entire place is filled with cat-themed touches. Cat lovers will probably find it hard to stop taking pictures.

It's about a 17-minute walk from Cable Enryakuji Station, and the stroll there is very pleasant. If you get tired from exploring, you can have a glass of milk with some cookies and sit back and relax while taking in this very different cat world.

Enkouji Temple is a historic Zen temple founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Compared with many of Kyoto's popular attractions, it's less crowded and has a more peaceful, relaxed atmosphere.

It's truly beautiful during the fresh green season. The lush green garden, old temple, and surrounding mountain scenery create a very relaxing atmosphere. There also aren't as many visitors as at Shisen-do Temple, so you can walk around and take in the sights at your own pace. It really feels like an escape from the noise of the city.

When visiting Enkouji Temple, don't stop at just the garden. Be sure to keep going deeper into the grounds, then follow the slope uphill! Once you reach the top, the view suddenly opens up, and you can look out over the city of Kyoto. The greenery of the mountains stretches all the way to the cityscape, making for a very pleasant view.

Although you have to walk up a bit of a slope, the scenery from the top is definitely worth it. This is also one of my favorite places in Kyoto.

I walked along the Philosopher's Path to Ginkaku-ji. Although it was still some distance away, taking a leisurely walk and looking at the streets along the way was actually very pleasant. Outside Ginkaku-ji is a shopping street full of small shops and snacks, so you can browse around before going in. Admission is JPY 500, and the moment I stepped into the temple grounds, I was genuinely struck by how beautiful it was.

It doesn't have the dazzling splendor of Kinkaku-ji. Instead, it feels peaceful, understated, and elegant. The carefully maintained garden, pond, moss, and neatly trimmed trees, paired with the traditional architecture, naturally make you slow down. The grounds aren't very large, and it takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to follow the route around. There's also a path in the back that leads uphill. From the top, you can look back and take in the entire garden and the scenery of Kyoto, offering a different kind of view.

There were definitely a lot of visitors, but that didn't take away from the peaceful and comfortable atmosphere. Also, throughout this walk, I kept hearing familiar Taiwanese accents. It really seems like Taiwanese travelers love Kyoto!

Nishiki Market is definitely a stop you can't miss in Kyoto! Known as “Kyoto's Kitchen,” Nishiki Market has a history of more than 400 years. It stretches about 400 meters and is lined with more than 130 shops offering everything from Kyoto specialties, pickles, tofu, and seafood to all kinds of souvenirs. Walking through it gives you a real sense of everyday life in Kyoto.

The market isn't just a place to “eat”—it's more like a food stroll through Kyoto. Every shop has its own specialties, and browsing and choosing foods you like as you go is really part of the fun! One important reminder when visiting Nishiki Market: don't eat while walking! The market street is fairly narrow, so to avoid getting food on other visitors and to help keep the market clean, it's best to eat purchased food in the shop's designated area or dine inside.