Japan Day 3: (Eastern Kyoto) Kodaiji Temple. Maruyama-Koen. Yasaka Shrine

Kodai-ji Temple is right in the middle of the Southern Higashiyma district so you won't miss it.  We did not go in anymore as the temples are of no particularly value to us religiously, except for sightseeing.  I did not want to pay another admission fee for one more temple that day. hahaha!:)

The Kodai-ji landscaped gardens are beautiful, and this weeping cherry blossom tree stands in the middle of it.

After walking the preserved historic streets of Higashiyama, we proceeded to Maruyama-Koen.

B, my ever curious middle child, loves to read everything... even the short description about the park near the entrance.

We got there a week or two early as the extended winter delayed the Sakura blooms by two weeks.  This is supposedly the park's star attraction, an old weeping cherry tree with droopiong branches, but the buds are yet to open.  The lack of blooms and the overcast sky combined for a less than perfect photo.

Maruyama Koen is a public park next to Yasaka Shrine. During the first half of April, when the 800 or so cherry trees are in full bloom, Maruyama Park becomes Kyoto's most popular and most crowded spot for cherry blossom viewing.  Look!  The locals have already reserved their spot for their hanami picnics by placing their mats to claim their spot.

The kids had fun looking at the ducks, heron, carps and turtles in the pond while we walked through the uphill section of the park.

As we exited the park, we just walked a few steps and we were at the Yasaka Shrine, also known as Gion Shrine. It is popular among tourist because it is located between Gion and Higashiyama, and is often visited by tourists walking between the two districts.

When we exited the shrine, we  were facing this street that led straight to Gion.  There are a lot of souvenir shops selling Japanese sweets along the way, but we did not buy anything since it was just our third day out of eleven.  So we had to restrain ourselves.  But, we let B buy a few sweets that were on her "List of Sweets to Eat in Japan."  Yes she really made a list!  And she typed this all on her own! :)

The main street of Gion is Hanami-koji Lane, which is lined with atmospheric old Kyoto machiya (townhouses).

Just be patient and wait, like we did, for you are sure to see some maikos walking by.

The best place to see maikos/geisha in Kyoto is along Hanami-koji on the south side of Shijo-dori.  We saw several walk by, but they were walking so fast.  Graceful yet so fast.

I've updated this post to provide a link to ALL MY JAPAN POSTS!

1. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/03/phenomenal-tip-my-10-step-guide-on-how.html
2. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/04/japan-2014-osaka-kyoto-nara-kobe-trip.html
3. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/04/japan-2014-websites-and-apps-to-help.html

4. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/04/japan-2014-snippets-of-our-vacation.html
5. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/04/japan-2014-where-to-stay-in-osaka.html
6. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/04/japan-2014-where-to-stay-in-osaka_25.html

7. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/04/japan-2014-how-to-get-around-kansai-how.html
8. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/05/japan-2014-day-1-arrival-at-osaka.html
9. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/05/japan-2014-day-2-universal-studios-japan.html

10. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/05/japan-2014-day-2-ippudo-ramen-osaka.html
11. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/05/japan-2014-day-3-eastern-kyoto.html
12. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/05/japan-2014-day-3-eastern-kyoto_16.html

13. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/05/japan-2014-day-3-eastern-kyoto-kodaiji.html
14. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/07/japan-2014-day-4-western-kyoto.html
15. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/07/japan-2014-day-4-western-kyoto-kinkakuji.html

16. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/11/japan-2014-day-5-downtown-kyoto-nishiki.html
17. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2014/12/japan-2014-day-5-southern-kyoto-fushimi.html
18. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/japan-2014-day-5-nara-nara-deer-park.html

19. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/japan-2014-day-6-osaka-kuromon-ichiba.html
20. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/japan-2014-day-6-osaka-tempozan-harbor.html
21. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/japan-2014-day-7-osaka-shinsaibashi.html

22. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/japan-2014-day-8-kobe-kitano-district.html
23. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/japan-2014-day-8-kobe-kobe-steak-lunch.html
24. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/japan-2014-day-8-kobe-meriken-park.html

25. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/01/japan-2014-day-9-osaka-hanami-picnic-at.html

26. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/02/japan-2014-day-9-osaka-doguyasuji.html

27. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/03/japan-2014-day-9-osaka-osaka-castle.html

28. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/04/japan-2014-day-10-osaka-osaka-museum-of.html
29. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/04/japan-2014-drainspotting-in-japan-art.html
30. http://thephenomenalmama.blogspot.com/2015/04/japan-2014-ways-to-save-so-you-can.html

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