Japan Honeymoon: Day 4 (Gion to Nara via Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train)

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to fill a whole day with old stories, fun meetings, and amazing sights, all while traveling between two famous Japanese cities? Come with us as we share one of our most special trips. Our adventure began early in the morning in Kyoto’s Gion area. From there, our journey took a fun turn, leading us on a special ride to the lovely city of Nara through the Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train. As evening came, we found ourselves back in Gion, ending our day with a truly magical time under the bright autumn sky. Get ready to find out about the beautiful places, the laughs, and the pure wonder of a day that mixed old traditions with amazing nature!

The day’s itinerary with time stamp:

8:00 AM: Komeda Coffee
9:30 AM: Yasaka Shrine
10:30 AM: Maruyama Park
10:45 AM: Kodai-ji Temple
1:00 PM: Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train bound to Nara
2:00 PM: Kofuku-ji Temple
3:00 PM: Nara Park
3:45 PM: Todai-ji Temples’ Nandaimon
4:00 PM: Todaiji Kagami-Ike Pond
5:00 PM: Nara Kamaiki (to try their Udon)
8:30 PM: Kiyomizudera Temple

Komeda Coffee Giving Glimpse into Kyoto’s Mornings

Going into Komeda Coffee near Shijo Omiya station at 8 AM was a really nice surprise. It was a busy place in Kyoto, full of both local people and visitors, and the warm smell of coffee mixed with quiet talks. Old local people met up, some read newspapers alone, and groups of tourists and couples (like us) got food to start their day. It was a perfect mix of daily life and excited travelers, making the morning feel warm and real in an unexpected way. Their breakfast menu ranges from ¥800 to around ¥1,000. Their morning toast is so filling! My husband commends their coffee, so we promise, dining at Komeda Coffee won’t disappoint!

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Unexpected Beauty and Tradition at Yasaka Shrine

Right after our breakfast at Komeda Coffee, we took just one bus ride to Yasaka Shrine. This very old shrine, first built over 1,350 years ago in Kyoto’s Gion area, is well-known for its big summer festival. Our visit was quick, but it still felt very rich in Japanese culture. While we were there, a special ceremony was happening. We weren’t sure what it was for but we stopped for a short while to watch. We found out that we were not allowed to take videos while the ceremony was going on, so we just watched quietly. Even though it was a fast visit, it gave us a wonderful taste and feel of local tradition.

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Quick Stop Turned into a Photo Wonderland at Maruyama Park

Just a short walk from Yasaka Shrine, we found Maruyama Park. This park is actually one of Kyoto’s very famous spot during cherry blossom season. We planned to stop there quickly on our way, but our short visit turned into about half an hour of taking lots of pictures! It was a truly beautiful park. Many of the plants were just starting to show touches of red, making it a wonderful sight to see. We were so glad we took the extra time to explore and enjoy this lovely space.

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Our Honeymoon Connection: Finding Love and Fall Colors at Kodai-ji Temple

After our walk through Maruyama Park, we made our way to Kodai-ji Temple, a place that quickly became one of our favorites in Kyoto. This temple has a special story: it was built in 1606 by Nene, the devoted wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan’s most important historical figures. She built it to remember him after he passed away, making it a beautiful monument to their love and her dedication. Because this trip was our honeymoon, we felt a deep connection to this very reason, adding an extra layer of meaning to our visit.

We were absolutely enchanted by the foliage here; the plants were just stunning, and we could imagine how truly breathtaking it would be when the autumn colors are at their peak. Kodai-ji is famous for its beautiful gardens, including a bamboo grove and a traditional rock garden, offering peaceful spots for quiet reflection.

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Our Unforgettable Aoniyoshi Sightseeng Train Ride: Scenery, Snacks, and Souvenirs!

We knew our trip to Nara had to start with a special journey, so we booked tickets for the Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train three weeks before we even left home! Reviews warned us that seats sell out super fast, especially for trips from Osaka to Nara, and they were right. So we secured our spots while we were still in Kyoto. On the day of our ride, we rushed to Kyoto Train Station, looking for the B01/Kintetsu Line, where we needed to show our booking to get our actual tickets and find the right platform. Luckily, a very helpful person at the ticket booth guided us, and we hopped onto the beautiful Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train just ten minutes before it left.

The train itself was a dream! We took so many photos of its lovely interior, the comfy seats, and the amazing wide glass windows that gave us sweeping views. Even though it was 1 PM and we hadn’t eaten lunch, we were excited to try the treats from the sales counter in car number two. We got the Nara Kakinoha sushi for ¥500, which was incredibly delicious – the savory taste was heavenly! We also tried the pork buns for ¥300, which were super filling and had a great texture, plus refreshing drinks. The 35-minute trip was filled with beautiful countryside views, just like something out of an anime! To remember our special ride, we even bought a metal keychain of the Aoniyoshi Sightseeing Train for ¥850. For just ¥1,460 for both of us for a one-way trip, it was an unforgettable start to our Nara adventure.

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Kofuku-ji Temple: Our First Glimpse of Nara’s Ancient Beauty

As soon as we arrived at Nara Station, our very first stop was Kofuku-ji Temple. This famous temple has a long history, going all the way back to the year 669! It was once one of Nara’s most important temples. We didn’t go inside this time, but we really enjoyed looking at the amazing buildings from the outside. Sadly, the tall, beautiful five-story pagoda, which is one of Japan’s tallest and a symbol of Nara, was under construction and covered up. Even with the scaffolding, we could still feel the history and beauty of this special place.

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Bowing Deer and Bitten Maps: A Nara Park Adventure!

After visiting Kofuku-ji Temple, we walked over to Nara Park, and guess what? We were greeted by so many deer roaming freely everywhere! Of course, we bought some special deer biscuits for ¥200. We were lucky to find some, as a few stalls had already sold out. It was a bit tricky to feed the deer during our visit because it seemed like they were already full! Many of them just sniffed and walked away from the food we offered, but a few still came up to us and did their famous bowing gesture, which was so much fun to see. One deer even got a bit too eager and ate our Nara map! It was a scary moment, but it gave us a good laugh afterwards. Overall, it was an enjoyable place! If you’re hoping to feed the deer when you visit, we suggest going in the morning when they might be hungrier!

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The Mighty Nandaimon Gate of Todai-ji

After taking numerous photos in the Todaiji Kagami-Ike Pond, we walked towards the grand Todai-ji Temple, and our next stop was its huge main entrance, the Nandaimon Gate. This gate is truly ancient, dating back to the 8th century, though the one we see today was rebuilt in the 13th century after a fire. It’s famous for being the largest temple entrance gate in Japan. As we stood before it, we were completely amazed by the two humongous wooden sculptures guarding the entrance. These are the Nio Guardian Kings, fierce protectors of the temple, and they are incredibly detailed and powerful.

We spent a lot of time just looking up at these massive figures, feeling very small next to them. Their size and the way they were carved were truly breathtaking. It was incredible to see such old and important artworks up close, standing guard for centuries.

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Peaceful Moments at Todai-ji’s Kagami-Ike Pond

After our fun time feeding the deer in Nara Park, we found ourselves at the beautiful Kagami-ike Pond, right in front of the famous Todai-ji Temple. This pond has a bit of history too; it’s thought to have been part of the original temple grounds when Todai-ji was first built way back in the 8th century, a time when Nara was Japan’s capital. The name “Kagami-ike” means “Mirror Pond,” and it truly lives up to its name, often reflecting the grand temple and surrounding nature perfectly.

We spent quite a while here, taking many photos because the pond was incredibly picturesque. The water was calm, and the trees around it were just starting to show hints of red, adding beautiful hints of color to the scene. It was a peaceful and lovely spot, offering a moment of calm beauty after the lively deer encounters, and the autumn colors made it even more special.

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Our Delicious Udon Discovery at Nara Kamaiki

After our adventures exploring Nara’s temples and parks, we were ready for early dinner and decided to try Nara Kamaiki, a place with really high ratings on Google, especially for its udon. This restaurant has a cool history: it’s known for making its udon noodles in a special, traditional way, focusing on the texture and flavor of the wheat. What makes their udon so special is the freshly made noodles, which are thick, chewy, and perfectly smooth. They often use a unique method of kneading and aging the dough to get that perfect bite.

We were so excited to try it, and it did not disappoint! We ordered the Rolled Egg (¥600), Chicken Tempura and Soba Noodles (¥1,100), and Shrimp Tempura Topping (¥1,400). The noodles were amazing, and the broth was rich and flavorful. The tempura was so worth it! It was the perfect warm and comforting meal after a day of walking around. Finding Nara Kamaiki was a great choice, and it really added a delicious highlight to our trip.

Nara Kamaiki Chicken Tempura and Soba Noodles

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Autumn Night Views at Kiyomizu-dera Temple

After our day in Nara, we headed back to Gion around 8 in the evening for a very special visit to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. This temple is incredibly old and famous, with its history going back over 1,200 years! It’s known for its amazing wooden stage that sticks out from the main hall, built without a single nail. We were there for their special Autumn Night Viewing, and it was truly a sight to behold! Even though it was raining, it didn’t stop us from enjoying the experience.

The temple grounds were lit up beautifully, and the autumn leaves, with their vibrant red and orange colors, looked magical against the night sky. It was a completely different and breathtaking experience compared to visiting during the day. We walked around, taking in the serene atmosphere and the stunning illuminated scenery. It was a perfect end to our day, filled with beauty and a sense of ancient wonder.