Japan Trip Day #9 Nara

Japan Trip

Day #9 31/05/14 Saturday

I and Hide went to Nara Park / Nara Koen ( Koen is Park in Japanese). The park is famous for its hundreds of deer, and that became Nara's icon, it is believed as a messengers of the gods in Shinto. The unique thing was everybody can play with the deers freely, mostly play run and feed, because the deer will continuously ask for some foods you bring. 

This is how to get to Nara Park :

Look at those friendly eyes ♥ .

 

How to get to Nara Park (www.japan-guide.com)

I thought that the deers will have long and big antlers,in fact they didn't. The kind of deer looked similar with the deers in Kebun Raya Bogor (Bogor Botanical Garden). I was not that surprised about the animal, but the fact that I could touch them freely was a nice thing!

Japan Trip Day #8 Kyoto & Nara

Japan Trip

Day #8 30/05/14 Friday

This day was my last day in Kyoto, and it was a super happy and lucky day!! 

First of all, I managed to find and did the maiko henshin (maiko cosplay) at Yumekoubou studio in Gion (http://www.yumekoubou.info/english/). I saw the other Yumekobou studio on the way to Kiyomizudera temple before, and it was full booked for the next 3 days. So, I was really glad that I could do the cosplay that day without reservation. 

All the experience was priceless! The staffs were so helpful and very nice. The studio was neat and complete. Beside becoming pretty with the costume, it gave me a new knowledge about the techniques of wearing full set kimono and the accessories of maiko. 

I took the walking plan in which I could take a walk outside the studio with the costume. During the walk, one crew helped me to take pictures as many as I want with my own camera. We took a walk to a photogenic old district near the studio. There were some people wearing the costumes. Looked like I was a fake maiko with the biggest eyes and tan skin! hahahaha.

A full set of Maiko costume ;) . 

Ready for strolling around Gion with the costume.

Japan Trip Day #7 Kyoto : Arashiyama, Gion

Japan Trip

Day #7 29/05/14 Thursday

One of Kyoto's must visit place is Bamboo Grove Arashiyama. It's one of the most photogenic object, along with red torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. But for me -like every place on earth- no picture can describe the astonishing feeling standing in the middle of bamboo grove. The greenest green in harmony with the brown soil and the whisper sounds of the leaves. I felt divine. Definitely one of must visits in Kyoto!

Kyoto's must visit place: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

Japan Trip Day #6 Kyoto

Japan Trip

Day #6 28/05/14 Wednesday

I arrived way too early in Kyoto, about 7 in the morning. The tourist information center had not opened yet, so I just went directly to my hostel.

I stayed for 3 days 2 Nights at JAM Hostel Kyoto. The price was 2000 JPY/night for a bunk bed in a 6 people room. I had made a booking through my fave website booking.com before. 

The best part from JAM Hostel was its location. It's perfect! Located in Gion (the most popular area in Kyoto!), beside the river with lovely waterfront area. The room itself was so spacious! The facilities were also complete, only the bathroom was only two, so I had to queue to take a shower. It has private toilet inside every room. So, don't worry about the toilet hassle in the morning ;)

JAM Hostel also has a very nice bar on the ground floor. It has nice ambience there, and not so expensive. I could say the bar is their lobby too. I put my rucksack in the lobby, and took a walk until my check in time (3 PM). 

Jam Hostel's front facade.