12-Minute Walk: From Kiyomizu-dera to Kodai-ji Temple ~With Warabimochi and Kyoto Souvenirs~

According to Google Maps, it is a 12-minute walk from Kiyomizu-dera to Kodai-ji Temple.
Along the way, you will pass through Kiyomizu-zaka and Sannenzaka, so you should be able to fully enjoy the atmosphere of Kyoto in a short time without getting tired!
I, who have no stamina and a terrible sense of direction, tried out this easy Kyoto stroll.

Start: Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Perhaps thanks to the light rain, Kiyomizu-dera wasn't too crowded.
I was able to enjoy it from many different angles.

With my poor memory, I tend to get temple landscapes mixed up. But Kiyomizu-dera is unmistakable. Having a distinct character is truly important.
Even though it has been a while, I have visited many times, but I still sigh at its majestic appearance.

I was prepared to wait for a goshuin (temple seal), but the wait time was zero.
I found myself staring intently at the smooth, confident brushwork.

At Kiyomizu-dera, there is the 'Otowa Waterfall,' where it is said that your wishes will come true if you drink from it.
Three streams of water pour down from above, and each is said to bring blessings for health, beauty, and academic success, respectively.
You can only choose one. Drinking too much is not allowed. Being greedy is not allowed. Wait, isn't that quite difficult?
Feeling like I was being tested by the gods, I gave up on making a wish. I just enjoyed the sound of the water.

Many people were lined up. May everyone's wishes come true.

Break

The joy of warabimochi at Fumon Chaya

There are many shops near Kiyomizu-dera where you can eat warabimochi.
After doing some research, I decided to go to Fumon Chaya.

The warabimochi was so soft it almost slipped off my chopsticks. The gentle sweetness of the brown sugar syrup and kinako (roasted soybean flour) blew away my fatigue.

You can even make your own warabimochi monaka (wafer sandwich) to eat. This is why I chose this shop.
I also sandwiched red bean paste and ice cream in it. The crispy, crumbly texture of the wafer combined with the cool temperature of the ice cream.
It was the most delicious monaka I have ever eaten!

For my drink, I had Kyoto lemonade. It refreshed my mouth after the sweetness and gave me a boost of energy.

Kyoto Souvenirs

More warabimochi at Fumon-an

My love for warabimochi comes from my father's influence. In the summer, he would often make it at home for us to eat. You dissolve the bracken starch in water and keep kneading it while heating it over the fire. You end up drenched in sweat. (Well, my father did.)

This is a souvenir for warabimochi lovers who don't mind that kind of effort.
I had to buy it here, where I knew for sure it was delicious!

Thanks to you, they were delighted, saying, 'Oh, this "droop"! It barely holds its shape. This is what warabimochi is all about.'
Thank you, Fumon-an.

Sparkling sweets from Kyoto Marun

Kyoto Marun is filled with sparkling, cute-colored sweets.
It was bustling with girls on their school trips.

It felt a bit awkward mixing in with the younger crowd, but I bought the star-shaped ramune and Mellow Konpeito I had been asked to get in different colors.

If it weren't so crowded, I'd love to visit this shop at a more leisurely pace.

Soothed by the scents of Shoyeido

I splurged a little on some incense to offer at home and at my parents' house.
I went to Shoyeido, which has a spacious layout where you can properly check the scents.
With the help of the staff, I purchased two types of incense with gentle fragrances.

This incense has a scent that you notice softly when entering a room, and it lasts for a long time. It doesn't interfere with meals and is easy to use daily. I'm very satisfied.

Fans with a soft breeze from Washi Club

Washi Club near Kodai-ji Temple.
Drawn in by the fans covering the window, I found myself stepping inside.

They are made by finely splitting bamboo, so they have a nice flexibility. They are on the smaller side, but the soft breeze they create is so soothing.
It was love at first sight(?), and I ended up buying three: one with a Chinese lantern plant pattern for home, one with a red Mt. Fuji for my parents' house, and one with a sudachi citrus pattern for my daughter.

It seems my daughter even takes hers to university. Wait, isn't it in the way?
She said the fan surface is about the size of a notebook, so it fits well in her bag. I'm just glad she likes it.

At Washi Club, they gave me a sudachi-pattern money envelope as a gift. Thank you very much.

Goal: Kodai-ji Temple

Finally arrived at Kodai-ji Temple.
There is a set route for visitors, allowing you to fully enjoy the scenery of the temple grounds.

A peaceful temple that suits light rain better than strong sunlight.
I also find the meticulously crafted gardens to be quite charming. It was a wonderful place that makes me want to visit again in a different season.

Looking at the clock, it's past 3:00 PM. It seems a leisurely walk from Kiyomizu-dera to Kodai-ji takes about 150 minutes.

Bonus: Before and after the walk

The crowded bus to Kiyomizu-dera

I took a bus from Kyoto Station to Gojo-zaka, near Kiyomizu-dera.
It was so crowded that I felt sorry for the people at the bus stops along the way who couldn't get on.
It must be tough for those who have to deal with this in their daily lives...

Visiting the grave at Otani-san after the walk

I always visit the grave at Otani Sobyo, next to Kodai-ji, during the Obon season.
I stopped by since I was in the area, but there was absolutely no one around, making it feel further away than usual... The endless slope was quite a burden on my exhausted body.

But, taking advantage of the fact that no one was there, I prayed slowly. I put my hands together and gave a long update on my family's recent news.

Passing through Yasaka Shrine on the way

To head toward Kawaramachi Station, I passed through Yasaka Shrine from the adjacent Maruyama Park.

At Yasaka Shrine, it seemed they were offering a limited-edition Goshuin for the Gion Festival, but I no longer had the energy to wait, so this time I requested the pre-written Seiryu (Blue Dragon) Goshuin.

Summary of the 150-minute walk

The walk from Kiyomizu-dera to Kodai-ji took two and a half hours. Yes, the 12 minutes was a lie.
Google Maps doesn't account for sightseeing or breaks, so that's to be expected.

It was a route with many slopes, but since there was so much excitement to see, I didn't feel the strain. It's a fun walking route that kept my unmotivated self going.

However, once I left Kiyomizu-dera and the path became flat, there were fewer interesting things to see, and my steps suddenly felt heavier. It might be important to choose a path with more sights, even if it means taking a slight detour.

Including the bus ride before the walk and the visit to the grave and travel to the station afterward, it was just under four hours. I walked about 10,000 steps after arriving in Kyoto. My legs feel like lead...
Still, I am grateful to the city of Kyoto for giving me the motivation to walk.