Kyoto is the most famous sightseeing spot in Japan. There are many Japanese traditional buildings such as temples and shrines. Kiyomizu-Dera (Kiyomizu temple), Kinkaku-Ji (Kinkaku temple) and Fushimi-Inari-Jinja (Fushimi-inari shrines) and so on are very popular for visitors because they are very attractive. In addition, they are "easy to access”. If visitors plan to go to easily accessible places, they can go to many places efficiently. First-time visitors should go there.
However, here I want to introduce two places that are "difficult to access” but where we can enjoy Kyoto more. That is because I love Kyoto and visited many times. Therefore I got tired of going famous and easily accessible places in Kyoto. I think there are some people that feel like me. Let’s take one step toward deep Kyoto!
Kifune-Jinja (Kifune shrine)
Kifune shrine is very far from Kyoto station. It takes 70 minutes by train, bus and walking from Kyoto station. The nearest bus stop is “Kifune bus stop”. After arriving there, we walk to Kifune shrine for about 10 minutes. We arrive at Kifune shrine to see big Torii. Torii means the Japanese traditional gateway of a shrine. Passing the gateway, we can see stairs with many Lights. The right is called “Torou” in Japanese. This otherworldly atmosphere is rare even if in Kyoto. Of course, we can see the main building of Kifune shrine after going upstairs, but stairs with light are more popular for visitors than the main building.
Koke-Dera (Koke temple)
Koke means moss. The true name of Koke-Dear is Saihou-Ji (Saihou temple). However moss grows all over the garden of Saihou temple, it is called Koke temple.
It takes 50 minutes by bus from Kyoto station to Koke temple. It is not so far from Kyoto station but advance reservation by letters are required to enter Koke temple. Limited numbers of people can enter it. In addition, the admission fee is about 30 dollars. It is the highest of all of the temples and shrines in Kyoto. They are why Koke temple is difficult to access.
However, we can see beautiful moss with a few people in a quiet environment.
The otherworldly atmosphere thanks to beautiful moss is like one in the Ghibli movie of Nausicaa of the valley of the wind. If you like director Miyazaki Hayao of Studio Ghibli like me, you like Koke temple.
I introduced a shrine and a temple difficult to access. Therefore we can enjoy deep Kyoto that other people can’t.