Women's solo trip to Kyoto① ~Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine and Jishu Shrine~
Hello! It's Mo!!! This time, I went on a solo trip to Kyoto for the first time in a while!
Yay!! Traveling alone is the best. I don't have to worry about anything and it's so relaxing!
It was a wonderful trip! So, I would like to share my solo female trip to Kyoto with you all, so please take a look!
As a resident of Tokyo, I decided to take a late-night bus to Kyoto Station! So, first I headed to Shinjuku Station and got on the late-night bus! It departed at 11pm and was scheduled to arrive at Kyoto Station at 7am! The ride took about 8 hours! The price fluctuated quite a bit depending on the season, but the cheapest are around 3500 yen! The most expensive are around 6000 yen! I always check out late-night buses on a website called Bus Comparison Navi! There are various types of seats and the prices vary, so choose the one that's best for you! I sat in the 4th row with plenty of space for my legs, and I was able to sleep quite soundly! It's even better if you take a late-night bus with a power outlet, as you can charge your devices there too!
Yes! It's 7:00 in the morning!!! I've arrived at Kyoto Station! I've never woken up so early in the morning (lol). I'm planning to travel around Kyoto this time, so I bought a two-day subway and bus pass from the ticket machine! From 1700 yen! Is it cheap? Well, I don't know, but a one-day subway and bus pass is 900 yen, so I wonder if it's a good deal to buy two days' worth at once?
First, I went to Fushimi Inari Shrine!!! It's popular with foreign tourists too! But I've never been there before in my life, so I got on a Kyoto City bus at Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit, which is a 5-minute walk from Kyoto Station, and headed to Inari Taisha Shrine! I think the bus ride took about 10 minutes. I immediately used my subway and bus ticket! Yay (lol)
Fushimi-Inari Taisha
We arrived at Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine! There were a lot of food stalls! There were grilled rice balls, strawberry daifuku, and more! They all looked delicious!
I bought the obanyaki! Mmm! It was delicious! It was filled with plenty of bean paste inside, and was chewy and voluminous! It was delicious (^▽^)/
Ah! There's a fox mark on it! Come to think of it, Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine has a fox motif!
This is the reason why I wanted to go to Fushimi Inari Taisha! Because I actually wanted to see the "Senbon Torii"! Wow! So beautiful! The sight of many vermilion-painted torii gates lined up is overwhelming!! Speaking of torii gates, there is usually only one standing, so I have never felt any mysticism in them, but I think I understand why they are popular with foreign tourists. There were many foreigners there that day too! These "Senbon Torii" are said to be a symbol of gratitude for wishes that "pass" or "have passed" since the Edo period, and the custom of dedicating torii gates seems to have spread. Just seeing so many torii gates is overwhelming, but the further you go, the quieter and more natural it becomes. It feels even more mystical! If this was in the city, I wouldn't feel this way, so maybe it's good that it's in nature~~! As I walked further and further, I discovered Yotsutsuji, a place with a panoramic view of the southern part of Kyoto City! On the way, I found my favorite boiled eggs!! Hot and steaming boiled eggs were calling to me. "Good job," "Just a little bit more and try harder," "Eat me and cheer up," said the boiled egg! Don't make those eyes sparkle like that! I already love it! So, empowered by the rich and delicious boiled egg, I walked towards the summit! There are a lot of stairs to the top...! But since the boiled egg gave me energy, I have no choice but to do my best! Forest bathing feels so good!!!
We've arrived!!! At the summit, we'll visit the god known as "Suehiro-Okami" at "Ichinomine Kamisha." As the name "Suehiro-Okami" means "widening at the end," we hope something good will happen!
Click here for the official website of Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine
Jishu Shrine
Our next destination is Jishu Shrine! It's where the god of matchmaking resides! Matchmaking, huh?! I want to marry a wonderful person too! I'm daydreaming about my tall, handsome boyfriend telling me he loves me, and I'm done. Oh no, I need to get back to reality! I've found the "Love Fortune-Telling Stones"!!! These "Love Fortune-Telling Stones" are two stones standing about 10 meters apart in front of the main shrine. They're about knee-high! First, you stand in front of one of the stones with your eyes closed, and pray, "May I marry ___-kun," and then...
Close your eyes and walk towards the stone on the other side. Do not open your eyes on the way. It is said that if you can reach the stone safely with your eyes closed, your love wish will come true. If you can reach it on the first try, your love will be granted sooner. If you try twice or three times, it is said that your love will be granted more slowly, and if you receive advice from someone, your love will be granted with the help of others! This historic stone, which dates back to the Jomon period, has an inscription that reads, "Men and women of all ages will play here happily all day long," which made me feel that it is a stone that has been loved since ancient times.
I finally got there on my third try! Hmm, it seems it's pretty difficult to end up with a tall, handsome guy! It's frustrating!!! I'll put my money on the fortune slip! I'm sure it will be a great fortune and I'll meet a wonderful person!!! When I drew it, it was a bad fortune...OMG!!!! I'll make my solo trip more fulfilling!!! One day, I'll find a tall, handsome boyfriend!!! (lol) I wonder when this delusional girl will see reality (lol)
"I'm frustrated, so I'll buy a lucky charm," I thought, and headed to the lucky charm section!
There were many kinds of charms, such as "for those who don't have a crush on anyone", "for those who have a crush on someone", "for those who have mutual crushes", "for those who want to get married", "for those who are married", "for those who wish for happiness for their daughters and sons", and so on! I decided to buy a charm with a cute name, "Cupid", which is made for those who don't have a crush on anyone. I hope something good happens~~~~~!
Prayers for matchmaking and love fulfillment. Official website of Kyoto Jishu Shrine is here.
Continued: Solo trip to Kyoto ② ~ "Yuba cuisine Higashiyama Yumame", Yasaka Koshindo, Kawai Shrine edition ~
Check it out!!!
I wrote about my solo female trip to Kyoto, so be sure to check it out!!!
