My favorite place of all.
There’s something almost magical about the reflection at Byodoin—it instantly makes you feel calm. Watching the Phoenix Hall perfectly mirrored on the pond is something I could never get tired of. No matter how many times I see it, I fall in love with it all over again.
Compared with the crowds at Kyoto’s other popular spots, Byodoin has a special elegance.
What I love most is sitting down at the wisteria tea house there, ordering an authentic Uji sencha and dessert, and gazing out at the greenery and garden outside the window. Enjoying that peaceful, Zen-like moment without any interruptions was honestly one of the best parts of my trip. It feels like a secret hideaway just for the people who truly appreciate it.
And the tea is so, so good—I still miss it.
Byodoin | Review by 10BRENDA
Other Reviews by 10BRENDA
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Sagano Bamboo Grove Trail
The delightful scenery attracted noble families and poets who built their homes in Sagano. Sagano bamboo trail spans about 400m (437 yards) from Nonomiya Shrine, via Tenryuji Temple’s north gate to Okochi Sanso cottage.
Because this place is so popular, it usually gets a bit crowded with tourists. If you want to capture the pure, tranquil beauty of the bamboo grove like in the photos, with no one around, the best trick is to point your camera upward or come around 7 or 8 in the morning to enjoy a peaceful walk and the fresh scent of the bamboo.
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Ujigami Shrine
This ancient shrine, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto," has been attracting reverence for centuries. It is said to have been established in 1060, three years after the construction of Uji Byodoin Temple in 1053, serving as its guardian shrine. As the protective deity of Uji's land, it has been continuously worshipped by people from all walks of life, from commoners to nobility, and it still gathers much reverence today.
Compared with the lively area around Byodo-in nearby, Ujigami Shrine is just across the bridge, but the whole atmosphere feels completely different.
It feels like a corner of the forest forgotten by time, giving off a quiet, ancient spiritual vibe. Even though it’s not large, it has a unique historical and cultural charm of its own. -
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New Chitose Airport
This is the largest airport in Hokkaido which spans Chitose and Tomakomai Cities. With the excellent access to the cities, it is called the aerial gate to Hokkaido. On the two 3000m-long runways, international aircrafts take off and land 24 hours a day.
It had been many years since my last visit to New Chitose Airport.
After clearing immigration this time, I saw a FamilyMart convenience store right away on the right, so I immediately went over to buy some limited-edition items. The layout was also very convenient. If you go straight, you reach the domestic terminal, where you can catch flights to destinations all over Japan. On B1, you can take the JR train to central Sapporo, and there are also shuttle buses available. The planning and overall setup have really gotten better and better. -
