hello dear readers!

I finally went to Kibune, a place that I’ve longed to go ever since.. I saw its pictures online. google Kibune and its pictures will take your blow you away. this place is especially beautiful at night but.. I went in the day anyway.

now isn’t it breath taking?

since I was living in Osaka, a trip down to Kibune took me around 2 hours. train after train after train. the train above is to Kibune! finally. PSST. check out that cat on that girl’s phone hahaha. Japanese people’s obsession with cats. opps wait, rephrase, the world’s obsession with cats. =P.

when I arrived, I thought to myself “uh oh. very very crowded T_T” a tourist attraction indeed.

but no matter how many people, the view was so beautiful and the air was so fresh. the weather though, was a little bad. what a pity =/.

we actually took the bus inwards because walking was too tiring. =X. walked to the station though because the bus line was too long hahaha.

the touristy area. you can find many (expensive) restaurants around but if you’re in for a Kibune styled dining, walk a little bit more. also provided if you’re willing to splurge!

being a tourist haha.

every corner was so beautiful I had over 300 pictures of Kibune but I filtered it down to 55. it was very hard filtering them pfft.

get what I mean? it’s very.. traditional Japan.

I was surprised this maple tree was so red even though it was summer and I was sweating like mad =X.

the ever crowded shrine.

this is actually the prettiest part and the reason why I want to Kibune, the cascading steps of stone with red lanterns on the side. but it was so crowded I barely get to take a decent picture of it. and oh, the queue to “something” starts here. T_T.

I waited for at least 20minutes. and I was bored =X.

and it turns out that, we didn’t have to wait to go up to the shrine. what we were waiting for was..

this. okay just kidding. but sort of. the queue was to pray at the shrine which later leads you to buying this.

this expensive piece of paper costs 200yen. not to much to pay for the amount of happiness it gives.

it was absolutely magical. and beautiful. I wish I had a DSLR that allows me to record a video (mine’s ancient so it doesn’t have that function =(.) but here’s one by a compact camera.

sorry I sound weird. that’s the reason why I don’t youtube. hahaha. I think I sound bad on videos.

my favourite thing in every shrine, the holy water! I shall be blessed!

people normally wash their hands with it but at some places you can even drink them. I tried once but.. I’d advise you not to. =S. but here you should only wash your hands.

apparently, the 7th of July is wishing day called Tanabata in Japan so all the kids, adults and grandparents wrote their wishes and hung them on the tree! it’s normally done by kids though. this day is said to be the day where this separated couple could only meet once a year and it was only during that day. you know the story right?

that crazy line to the shrine.

okay so let me show you around more. so in summer, you can dine ON the narrow river. you heard me. ON the river. well, above it to be precise.

these platforms built above the river during the summer is called “yuka” and Kibune is probably the only spot that has such facilities.

this was actually one noodle snack place I’ve wanted to dine at but.. it was closed by the time I arrived. and it wasn’t even that late T_T. I arrived at Kibune around 2 and at this place around 5 probably. but it was so pretty I had to take a picture with it.

just look at the view! and what’s so special about this noodle place you ask?

well you dip your noodle on the flowing water. that’s why it’s so special. not sure if it’s yummy but I guess it is! water in Kibune’s said to be pure and clean too!

don’t you want to dine there?

I wanted to but.. the cheapest course was 6700yen. that’s approximately 200ringgit for a set meal. >_<. definitely paying for the view. I hope I’m rich T_T.

so that wall at the side’s all the dining above the river platform area.

if you feel even richer, there are even more exclusive dining areas around.

but for me, dining on a yuka is good enough.

look! I found a huge tree!!! since I watched Totoro, I believe every tree has a spirit.

I laughed so hard when I saw this picture. those were pretty much everything you can do in Kibune. not much, but it’ll eat up all your time. trust me.

all the restaurants here were so pretty I wanted to try all of them T_T.

when I walked back to the shine, surprisingly the area cleared. so… it’s my chance to take a picture!!!

at the very end of the road, you’ll find another shrine.

mini pool of holy water.

a very tiny shrine. but it’s really spacious and peaceful. it wasn’t crowded and you can feel the zen here.

well I am still trying to guess why they make the lions wear that red cloth. in certain places it made them look like they were wearing napkins. my Japanese friends didn’t know why too hmmmmmm.

and me, trying to imitate its expression.

I’m pretty good yes?

when it clears up, you better take your chance. quick.

because in any minute, there will be a crowd coming in.

the moss that makes all trees and land in Kyoto look magical.

in front of Kibune Shrine.

oh hello!

like I mentioned above, the bus line was very long so we walked down.

and walked

and we saw this beautiful cafe!!! wanted to have a cup of tea here but.. we were rushing back to dine at Kamogawa =S.

on the way down, there were actually quite a few pretty restaurants so I recommend walking down!

and you can even take pictures with the road as your view hahahah.

okay I like being dorky. it’s fun.

remember to take the train that heads back to central Kyoto! that’s to the right.