Category: Wanderlust Wednesday

Bucket list: Golden Pavilion

Published on by LostViivi13 Comments

Today I’m going to introduce yet another Wanderlust Wednesday place based in Japan. This golden pavilion is mainly on my must recommended bucket list attractions because of its photogenic looks but also because of the amazing experience I had visiting there. Kinkakuji aka Golden Pavilion is one of those places you shouldn’t miss when visiting Kyoto!

So let me make sure you will fall in love with Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion and add it to your Japan bucket list! It may seem too expensive to visit and there isn’t a lot of things to see. However, if you want to brag in social media using amazing photos from your Japan trip this golden temple is the must place to go in Kyoto. The selfies and photos you can take when visiting Kyoto’s Kinkakuji are just simply breathtaking.

Golden Pavilion

Other Names: Kinkakuji

Where? Kyoto, Japan

How to get there? Direct buses leave from Kyoto Station

When to go? I think the prettiest time of the year to visit Kinkakuji is when there are autumn leaves. However, this Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion is worth to see all year round. Kinkakuji is open from 9AM to 5PM. Go early so you have enough time to get charmed by Japan’s golden wonder.

How much does it cost? 400 yen

Why should you add Kinkakuji to your Japan bucket list?

Like I mentioned already Kyoto’s Kinkakuji Temple is the right place to take your best travel shots. Or well probably just that one photo with you standing in front of the water and golden building. Finding Instagram photos spots in Kyoto won’t be hard but Kinkakuji is definitely one of the best photo spots. If you are lucky there are no photobombing tourists next to you.

I could keep making fun of the Golden Pavilion because of the insane amount of tourists visiting there. However, Kyoto’s Kinkakuji did impress me. I would not recommend it as a thing to add on your Japan bucket list if it was just for that one selfie. I have to admit that I had never seen anything quite like Kinkakuji. Beautiful gold pavilion. Isn’t that enough of reason to visit this Kyoto’s tourist hot spot?

My Visit to See Kinkakuji in Kyoto

I had some challenges trying to find the entrance. There was huge construction site between the bus stop and line for Kinkakuji. Finally, I found the right place following group of students. The closer I got the more students I saw. Apparently, there was field trip going on.

I walked confidently to buy my ticket, saw how much it costs and ran away in panic. 400 yen to see one building. Why would anyone pay that much? With that money, I would pay dinner of the day. I didn’t know what to do so I kept walking back and forth among the students.

In the end, I decided it was just money and walked again confidently to buy my ticket to Kinkakuji and went through the entrance. There was a lot of tourists and I was starting to regret my decision. Until I saw the Golden Pavilion. How can one building be so beautiful?

I took some photos and probably appear in dozen holiday photos others have taken. It was crowded in the perfect photo spot and guards were making sure no one stood on the walking path but rather in the photography area. That one not so perfect selfie with Kinkakuji was quickly taken and I walked ahead.

There was some other buildings and things to see but nothing would be worthy of mention after seeing the main sight. In the end, there was some small shops (and a lot of free food samples…)

The other things to see in the area were nothing when compared with the golden building.

It was a hot day so after exiting the park I bought ice cream from vending machine. I had just eaten it and decided to leave when a group of students (probably under ten years old but I’m really bad at guessing ages) approached me. Behind them stood their teacher who smiled warmly at me.

“Hello, can we ask questions from you?” one of the students finally dared to ask me. Their teacher explained that they were English language students and had this mission to ask one tourist things about them. Of course, I agreed.

They asked shyly about my name, nationality and other things. I gave Moomin pins for them because I used to always carry them with me in the case I met someone special. After they had asked all the questions I, of course, got sticker decorated business cards from them. So Japanese and extremely cute that I had to keep myself from laughing.

It was a fun experience and I got really surprised how good English they spoke. Perfect ending for my Kinkakuji visit.

My second time visiting Kyoto’s Kinkakuji

After visiting Kyoto for the first time in 2015 I couldn’t get this beautiful city out of my head. It wasn’t surprising for anyone when I decided to return to Japan for the second trip in 2018. The only difference was that this time my cousin and sister were sticking along because apparently, my stories of Japan, Kyoto, and Kinkakuji had made them curious.

And so we ended up visiting the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto for their first time and for my second. Let me tell you that even after seeing it already once the charm of Kyoto’s Kinkakuji hadn’t faded. Would I pay for the ticket again? Yes, probably. Visiting Kinkakuji won’t take a lot of time out of your day in Kyoto but at the same time, it’s one of those places everyone should add on their Japan bucket lists or must to do things in Kyoto.

I even learned new things this time around! When you walk the path through Kinkakuji garden there are these “cups” and statues where people throw money for good luck. Definitely must to do when visiting Kinkakuji, however, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

Like always feel free to comment below your thoughts. What are some of your favorite destinations on your Japan bucket list? Or maybe Kinkakuji in Kyoto is one of them?

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Have wonderful adventures!
Lost Viivi

Disneyland, Paris

Published on by LostViivi20 Comments

Welcome to our second Wanderlust Wednesday! Today’s destination is Disneyland because who doesn’t love to let their inner child out? If you didn’t read the first part of this series check it out HERE. And to put shortly this idea every Wednesday I will introduce new destination I have fallen in love with and recommend it or everyone.

But now back to today’s topic!

Disneyland

Where? Paris, France

How to get there? Take train from center Paris.

When to go? Check out the official website for what is happening in park. There is different themes depending on when you visit. (For example Halloween.) Go at morning because you will spend whole day but don’t leave the park too early because they have amazing firework show at the closing time.

How much does it cost? If you have time and want to safe money, try to find perfect deal for you. The prices are changing a lot but usually it’s about 50€ or more for one day.

Why to go?

Well, it’s Disneyland. Do you need other reasons?

I have always been the girl who loves stories and fairy tales. Disney movies were the start of everything so when I got to visit Disneyland year ago I was totally thrilled. My three years younger sister was almost as keen to see the magical land of happy endings as I was.

My younger brother instead wasn’t that into it. He was complaining and following behind us with my dad when we explored the huge park. So maybe not good place for teen boys but I recommend Disneyland for families with young children and all ages of true princesses.

8 Reasons to Visit Disneyland

1.Time to return back to your childhood! My childhood was full of Mulan, Pocahontas and Mickey Mouse. Even now years later my inner child was screaming from happiness when I saw in real life all the characters I used to love. So many memories came back to my mind.

2.Perfect photography material. Don’t we all want to brag about our amazing experiences? Taking cute photos with Disney characters or crazy photo in front of the scary rides will be guaranteed social media hit among your friends.

3.Shooting game rides. I don’t know if there is official English name for these (please inform me if you know…) but I mean the rides where you sit in small moving car and have laser gun to shoot targets. You get points depending how many/what targets you hit.

Well whatever the name is I loved these. My sister is super good at shooting (scary right?) so we competed which one of us was better. I can’t recall who won so it was probably my sister. My brother and dad didn’t have a change against us.

4.Alice in wonderland Labyrinth was my favorite place in whole Paris Disneyland. I used to think this was boring movie when I was child. But I always identified myself with Alice. (Fun fact: Alice’s name is Liisa in the Finnish version of this story!) You will not get lost in this labyrinth but there is change of finding interesting paths and corners.

5.Cool Rides (aka the ones where children aren’t allowed) are one side of Disneyland. I’m not friend of them so can’t really tell you if it’s good reason to visit. I listed it here because the people coming out of them seemed happy. Roller coasters are scary…

6.Fireworks. One word: fireworks. Every day ends with amazing show in Disneyland. At the closing time you should try to find good place to see the princess castle. There will be light shows, story time and firework show beyond compare.

7.To buy souvenirs and hunt for the perfect stuffed animal. There is souvenir shop in every corner of Disneyland. You can’t even exit some of the rides without walking through one.

8.To end up in crazy ride you didn’t want to go… And hate it but feel like you will survive from anything after that experience. Some of the rides in Disneyland are crazy. Or maybe it’s just because I hate theme park rides?

Well however if you are as scared of dying when the ride accidentally breaks down just when your ride it (very likely…) don’t go to the big tower where someone is screaming constantly. Because I’m dummy we went there with my sister.

There was today’s Wanderlust Wednesday! Have you visited Disneyland in Paris or elsewhere? Or is it on your bucket list?

I’m currently traveling around Finland and even traveled to Estonia. Those stories will be out this weekend and later on. And of course new Wanderlust Wednesday is going to come out in week. So see you soon!

With love,

Viivi Severina

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Published on by LostViivi31 Comments

It’s time for first Wanderlust Wednesday! This is new blogging series that will have new post every Wednesday in my blog. (This is mostly for me to keep writing something every week… But don’t worry! I will still publish a lot of travel articles in other days too.)

The idea of this series is to recommend places for everyone to visit at least once in their life time. Kind of like bucketlist but destinations I have experienced and loved. The topics will be everything from countries to small attractions and even cozy accommodations. So follow my blog if you want more inspiration to travel!

Today I’m going to introduce one of my favorite places in whole world. If I could only do one trip before dying I would probably decide to go here. This place is beautiful, calming and full of secret trails. It’s full of tourists but also locals. So what place am I talking about?

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Other names: Fushimi Inari shrine, Mt. Inari, Mount Inari

Where? Kyoto, Japan

How to get there? I always walked because my hostel was only two kilometers from the entrance (and I had a lot of time). You can also use train. It takes about 5min and costs 140 yen.

When to go? Fushimi Inari is always open. I loved the autumn leaves but don’t know about other seasons. I recommend going on early evening and walking to the top when it is still bright. Then stop at the observation/restaurant spot and admire the sun setting over Kyoto. (PS. At dark the place is scary but magical.)

How much does it cost? Totally free! Just remember take water and snacks with you because the ones they sell are pricey. And you may end up buying souvenirs from here or crave for ice cream on your way to the top. So you should budget some money to do that.

Why to go?

If I should persuade someone to visit Mt. Inari I would just show them some photos of the Torii gates covering all the paths up. Why I fell in love with this place, is a much difficult matter. So let me tell you one of the many tales from my visits to Mount Inari.

My Story (To Get You Visit This Beautiful Place)

It was my second time on the top of Mt. Inari and it was starting to get dark. I knew the sun would be down before I would get back down. Fortunately the main trails have street lights so it was only a little scary to walk.

I was only one in sight but was able to hear other hikers somewhere far away. Everything glowed in green and red lights and big shadows came out of the shrines I walked past. There were no humans but several cats kept following me. If I tried to approach them they would run away and disappear to the darkness but soon after another cat would follow me again.

I was almost back to the main shrine and bottom of the mountain. There was more and more people around me, mainly locals at this hour. The cats were long gone because of all the talking, laughing and screaming. It didn’t seem so scary anymore. Then I decided to do something crazy that would either end up being catastrophe or once in life time experience.

There was small trail with weaker lights going steeply uphill and away from the way I was going. It took only seconds from me to decide and start walking there away from all the people. After me followed one family and two Japanese boys. We kept walking towards darkening forest and soon the family turned back because it seemed like this path would not go anywhere.

Then with flames that looked real fire lighted shrine came to our view. The boys behind me were laughing and having fun and probably wondering what I did here. I totally fell in love with the small shrine. Only for that my walk would have been worth it. The boys decided to walk ahead when I still admired the cozy shrine.

I had to do another bad decision. To walk more or to return back. The path going on didn’t have lights anymore. The forest was getting more and more dense and the only light I saw ahead was the phones of the two boys walking. Of course I decided to walk to the darkness.

I saw the boys turning and starting to walk towards me. I though maybe they decided it was too scary to go on. For me this trip was all about winning my fears so I took my phone and lighted  it up. At that point the boys realized I -the foreigner lost looking girl- had decided to walk more. They quickly turned and continued to walk towards.

Maybe it would have been embarrassing for them to turn back if I was going on? Well, whatever the reason was they kept walking and I kept walking. Sometimes their light would get lost behind the trees and at those moments the darkness surrounded me. Scary.

After a long walk I saw light getting closer and closer after every step. Soon the two boys walked towards me, said soft hellos when going past me and continued laughing and talking. I decided to continue towards the light even if it meant I would now be totally alone in the forest.

The light ended up being yet another shrine and small waterfall. My night walk was becoming more and more worth the scared feelings. I think this was one of the most beautiful and peaceful sights I have seen. There is no words to describe the beauty I saw and unfortunately no photos because of the darkness. But maybe that is just a good thing so I was able to fully enjoy the moment.

So then I walked back the dark forest path and didn’t feel that scared anymore. I got safely back to the hostel and have now memory to last forever. I hope I can return here one day in the future… I returned to that exact spot later on but when it was sunny and warm. In day light it wasn’t as magical but still beautiful.

This was my small story from Fushimi Inari. I would have hundreds of them to tell but we don’t have time for that. So instead I will just say that you should go and experience it by yourself.

Did I wake your wanderlust? Have you ever visited Fushimi Inari or is it already on your bucket list? I hope you enjoyed today’s subject.

With Love,

Viivi Severina