Kyoto is known as a city with an extremely mild and pleasant climate, with summers that are not too hot, and winters that are not too cold. That's why we rarely see snowfall here, except for some high mountain locations like ancient villages. Kayabuki no sato, or Kifune Temple - the place I will introduce to you today.
Normally, all tourists will take the bus straight to Kifune, but if they do that, they will miss out on many beautiful places nearby. Let's follow along and see how Japanese people discover this place.
- First location: Kurama Dera Temple.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/viwgVJyHzW8sHKSe7
How to get there: First, take the Keihan line to the station Demachiyanagi, then move on Eizan line, get on the train and go to the station Kurama (right after the station Kibune guchi – the station where people often get off to take the bus to Kifune Shrine).
The train to Kifune is also a sightseeing train, with seats placed horizontally facing the window, helping passengers enjoy the scenery outside more easily. The route on this train will be extremely beautiful in the fall with red leaves and in winter with white snow on the roofs.
After about 25 minutes by train from Demachiyanagi station, we will arrive at Kurama station. This is a train station with an ancient style, decorated with many Tengu masks (a legendary creature found in Japanese folk beliefs and also considered a type of god in Shinto). .
Tengu (天狗)'s distinguishing features are its red face, frowning eyebrows, and extremely long nose.
Around kurama station are many shops selling souvenirs, especially models related to Tengu.
After walking for about 3-5 minutes through the shops, we will reach the entrance gate of Kurama Dera temple.
The map also numbers and names the locations we will go through, with the starting point being Nio-mon (entrance gate) and ending at the temple. Kifune – today's main location.
Right in front of the entrance gate is a restaurant with specialties of Mount Kurama. Remember to try a few dumplings before entering the door.
Admission is 500 JPY for adults and 250 JPY for children.
The entrance is lined with many red lanterns - a highlight of Kifune.
Right at the entrance, there will be a cable car going straight to the main temple of Kurama Dera, because the climbing distance is quite long, suitable for families with young children, or those who are not used to climbing mountains regularly. The cable car will go from point 6 to point 9 (on the map). You can directly download the map for easy viewing here THIS.
Let's see what's on the walking trail.
The road is quite steep and long, even for someone who is familiar with climbing mountains like me, it feels quite tiring 😀 So I recommend everyone to take the cable car to have the strength to walk to Kifune.
This temple is dedicated to the Sonten, three gods believed to have created the universe (Maōson, Bishamonten and Senjū Kannon). (Source: Kurama-dera | Discover Kyoto)
Statue of two tigers protecting the main hall.
Some pictures around Kurama Dera temple:
After visiting and exploring the temple, people can walk straight to Kifune following the signs (from number 29 to number 41 on the map), the distance is equivalent to going up.
People call the climbing route from Kurama to Kifune Sandō (sacred path) with many large and small temples on our way.
The scenery along the way is also extremely majestic with hundreds of giant Japanese cedar trees.
After about 30 minutes of climbing (mostly downhill), we will reach the entrance gate of Kifune.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UMs3QfsnYwVreXYQA
And here, is the extremely famous scene of Kifune. Stone steps with dozens of red lantern columns stretch to the entrance gate:
Kifune is known as the residence of the Water God, people often come to pray for health and good harvests.
This place is also famous for drawing Omikuji cards (おみくじ) and you can only see whether your cards are good or bad after placing them in the water next to the temple.
The fee for Omikuji here is 200 JPY, put the exact amount in the box on the left and choose any card you like, then bring it to the water and drop it.
Let's see how the words on the hexagram appear:
… all content will slowly appear.
Don't worry if you don't understand Japanese, because you can scan the QR code on your Omikuji hexagram to translate the meaning of the hexagram into your language extremely easily.
My hexagram today is "small sand", so I will keep it. If your Omikuji has a bad meaning, you can tie it up in the area where people's bad hexagrams are hung.
In addition to watching the snow in winter, Kifune is also famous in summer with dozens of restaurants located along the beautiful waterfalls here.
Here is also extremely famous for "bamboo tube noodles" - a specialty in Kifune. Come visit Hirobun (ひろ文) - a bamboo noodle restaurant here.
Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WwXo6uyQinMQ9gdx5
The noodles flow down from the bamboo tube, and there will be separate bamboo tubes for each person. Our job is to pick up the noodles as they flow down and eat them with the prepared broth. A very interesting experience, remember to try it when you come here in the summer.
After exploring and taking pictures of Kifune, you can return by train at Kibuneguchi station, arriving at the final station Demachiyanagi.
Kibuneguchi station address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/UQeYnSwYCm3UaxRW7
From Kifune temple to Kibuneguchi station is about 2km, you can walk to see the surrounding area, or take the bus from kifune to the station.
This is the end of a day of exploring Kifune to the fullest, a beautiful place with all four seasons of the year, especially winter with snow-covered steps leading to the temple. How do you feel about Kifune? Please leave a comment below.
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Claw! There's always snow. It looks like salt