Kyoto: A Haven for Temples & Shrines Part 2: Ginkakuji Temple, Path of Philosophy, Heian Shrine

There are two start points to get to The Path of Philosophy. You can either begin the walk at Ootoyo Jinja and end it at Ginkakuji Temple or vice versa. I started from the side nearest to Ootoyo-Jinja, but it was the wrong choice. Even with direction from the locals it was extremely difficult to locate the start point of the walk.

*My advice is that you should first visit the Ginkakuji Temple. Start the Philosophy walk from that side and end the walk at the Ootoyo Jinja. After which you can consider going to Lake Biwa Canal Museum and Kyoto Museum of Traditional Craft (Fureaikan) and lastly to Heian Shrine.

Lake Biwa Canal Museum
17 Nanzenji, Kusagawa-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
Mar - Nov: 9:00am - 4:30pm
Dec - Feb: 9:30am - 4:00pm
Closed on Monday
Fee: Free
Kyoto Museum of Traditional Craft
Kyoto International Exhibition Hall "Miyako Messe" 1st Floor Basement, 9-1 Seishoji-cho, Okazaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
10:00am - 6:00pm
Closed on Dec 29th - Jan 3rd
Fee: Free
Access: Kyoto City Bus to "Kyoto Kaikan/Bijutsukan-mae"
Subway Tozai Line to "Higashiyama"
* Information extracted from here
Heian Shrine
Nishi Ten-o-cho, Okazaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8341
March 1 - 14 & Sept 1 - 10: open 6 am - 5:30 pm.
March 15 - Aug 31: open 6 am - 6 pm.
Nov, Dec, Jan & Feb: 6 am - 5 pm.
Access
From JR Kyoto Station take City Bus 5 to "Kyoto Kaikan Bijitusu-kan Mae".
10 min walk from "Higashi-yama" Tozai line subway stop.
15 min walk from Keihan Railway's Sanjo Station.
By car: exit Meishin Expressway via Kyoto East Interchange. Drive west on Sanjo-dori for 20 min.
Information extracted from here

Kyoto: A Haven for Temples & Shrines Part 1: Kinkaku-ji

A great way to start your 'Architectural Treasure' experience in Kyoto is to visit the Golden Pavilion - A three storey structure overlooking a pond. Each floor was built using a different architecture style. A golden phoenix stands on the top of the gold-leafed Kinkaku-ji. I love the reflection of the temple on the water. For more information on the temple please click here

Getting There:
Take Bus number 101 or 205 from Kyoto Station
Opening Hours:
9am-5pm

Kyoto Central Market

We reached the market at 7.30am and they were already cleaning and closing up. If you are interested in the Tuna auction, do arrive at 5.30am to catch the action! Though I missed the Hustle and Bustle of the Auction but I arrived in time to see them slicing a tuna! This market is less commercialised than the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. This place is wonderful, if you do not want to meet hordes of photo crazy tourists!

Satisfy your growling stomach by buying pieces of sashimi. The fishmonger will gladly slice your "prized catch" for you! I paid 1000 yen for a piece of tuna and I got 15 as-thick-as-my-thumb slices for that price! Oishii

Be careful of the food transportation carts. Do not step on the wooden crates as they are used to place the fishes for sale! We have traffic policemen to direct traffic on a congested street. The market employs policemen to direct the food transportation carts!