Kyoto to Osaka with a dash to Fukuoka City

So I had to check out this Golden pavilion for myself, and I must say it is quite the sight! I hope my photos do it justice...


My plan was to hit the pavilion and then walk down to Ashiyama where I had been told were a lot of monkeys roaming about that you can feed n stuff. So I head in that direction knowing it's going to be a little bit of a walk, but there are lots of temples along the way. Now, I'm walking down the street, and Bam! This pops out of nowhere! I head up the stairs and meet these fellaz guarding the entry and I aint wearing a collar, but I get in. So I check it out and it's free! Here's some pics of the inner grounds.. So after that, I continue down the street confident that this street will take me most of the way to where I want to go, but gradually I start to realise that I'm lost but let's not have that stop a photo opp. Here is a waterfall just behind some houses on a street with a shrine, why not... Here's a picture of suburbia in Japan

I finally give up and wave down a taxi, I'm glad I did because I was waaaay off. I point to the monkey picture on the sightseeing map and name Ashiyama, he seems to understand and drops me off pointing down the road. Excited to see the monkeys I head off down the side of the river hoping to make it in time as the day has moved on to about 4pm. I was told it was a bit of a hike so I persist on along the riverside, and finally come across a sign saying temple with a view and ask a guy close by about monkeys. He points ahead and nods urging me on. I read there was a shrine of sorts as well as the monkeys, so I climb the shoddy stairwell deep into the forested mountain... even though the path seems less used... I finally come to a crest and see a one-armed monkey and an old Japanese man having a tug of war with some food. He notices me and walks to the shoebox which says 300 yen on it, sure I was also read there was a shrine fee...though this did look a bit shabby compared to what I'm used to... he ushers me to the shack entrance and lets me know that I can enter while giving me a handout on meditation and Buddhism. But I came for monkeys! I'm not interested, and handing his leaflet back I exclaim "Monkeys?"
He seems a little perplexed then points to the one-armed monkey, now enjoying the forgotten food, and says "Monkey." I was told there were up to 100 of these critters! I've walked ages just to see a shack in the woods and a one-armed monkey! If that's the case then I'm going to definitely get my money's worth and meditate (somehow I think this frame of mind defeats the purpose)! I sat, got bored, then took a picture of the view that was mentioned.... On the way out there is a big bell. Usually, I don't do the bells, but after seeing that it was free and you get 3 gongs (technically 100 yen per gong if you ask me but hey) added with the quiet serenity of the place to shatter, I indulged.

Down I head thinking surely I had missed a turnoff. The river was quite nice with the lighting which I would not have got to see had I not gone the wrong way, so at least that was nice.. Then I hear a rustling above me and to my delight, I see a monkey that has two arms! I finally get back to where the taxi dropped me off, and on the right is the entrance to the monkey area I wanted all along it's closed now...FML.

Here is a shot of the famed Ashiyama bridge So its dark and luckily Kyoto is pretty good to get around in and I have the bus route as Ashiyama is right outside on the edge of the city. As I am leaving the next day for Osaka, I still want to see the Inari Temple and the thousand gates going up the hill. Worried I was too late by the time I get back to the hostel, as it is close to midnight. I ask about the closing time of the temple and am told it is always open. So I decide to go and check it out at night rather than the day. I nearly get lost again, when dropped off from the bus at a dark, quiet, out-of-the-way spot. I head to where I think the temple is and am amazed that as I go down a level from the overpass area I was just at, there are lots of people and stores below. I catch a train as that seems to be the reason why there are people here and get off at the temple's stop.
When I get there, there is an eerie silence to the place, and it is empty. I soon hear footsteps and see a torchlight of a solitary policeman walking a beat. I try not to be suspicious and whip out the camera all tourist-like and take some pictures... Progressively heading ever inward I find the start of the gates I'm quite excited as there is no one around, and there is that eerie feel of a place empty at night when it's usually bustling during the day, like schools at night. I head in... The walk is long and I'm about 40 minutes into it and its only mountain and trees outside my gate tunnel :/ I get about half way and come across an area of shrines Its bitterly cold, here's my dragon breath So I'm about an hour in and all of a sudden a light flashes on me and I freeze like a stuffed bear! It's the sensor of a house and I hear a TV and voices. So if there was ever a time to go, Ninja, on the steps of the Inari stairs in Japan is it... so I creep along and dodge the house. I can hear people no more than 10 feet from me inside. I spy a camera sitting above most likely recording all my stupid moves haha... oh well.
So now that obstacle is passed I feel like I'm getting into an area not allowed, or not usually paid for during the day. Soon a view opens up for me showing how far up I am... But this is not the end and I am determined, so I keep slogging along Then a glint, a glimmer of light, and behold the shrine at the end of the gates! Now I'm not into doing worship when I do not believe in it, but in this case, I made the exception as I heard that the Inari shrine and gates are related to business and prosperity, wealth, etc. So did a little donation and a prayer.

Realising time had flown, and I needed to make the last train, I left with haste. Finally able to take a photo on the train without disapproving eyes... The trains have heated seats, and they can get quite toasty and comfortable. More than once I have had to drag myself off my warm seat to go into the cold with a grumble.

It's off to Osaka for me. I'm not exactly sure what's going on here and that's no rucksack on her back haha

I was hoping to see some yakuza but nope Then again I'm not hanging out at the well-to-do places and would I really want to bump into them..could I resist taking a photo? Hmmm anyhowz the hostel I stayed at in Osaka was great, a very chilled art funky place with a cafe downstairs and friendly staff. Met a Brit guy Phil and a Japanese woman Hikaru based in London who are doing a documentary on Love Hotels in Osaka, very cool and interesting people, made my stay there better. Here are some pics... Love Hotels you say??!? It also came with a rooftop resort getawayand heaters that looked cooler than they felt warm

I had lazed around for a day or so, and while planning my next destination I came across a great discovery. I had another 10 days left on my rail pass! Excited, I booked to go see the snow monkeys and visit the onsens to the north. I relaxed another day resting my ribs which were playing up a bit and finally decided to go and see SOMETHING. I chose the Osaka floating garden, it looked hi-tech and cool looking to photograph, but on my way, I thought to book the tickets on the Shinkansen to Nagano and found out that my pass runs out that very night! I decided that just leaving as soon as I can and trying to book a hotel was the best bet as I needed to be further south for the jump to South Korea (I have since decided it's silly not to go on my way to China). So two hours to get back to the hostel, pack, and leave to the station reserve seats on the last train and head out. I arrived in Fukuoka City at midnight last night and got a hotel...such a strange experience being in a hotel with your own shower and bed n all... such luxury haha. So today I booked into another hostel close by and am watching Alien Vs Predator as I type this out, there is a cool little TV room and the kitchen looks fair. I will head out to the supermarket to stock up on food for the next couple of days. My plan at the moment is to take the "Beetle" which is a hydrofoil jet ferry from Hakata to Busan... should take 2.5 hrs. The ferry actually sits above the water when it's going so you avoid all the problems with fast water travel Wish me luck :p

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S.