After spending 1.5 days in Shiga prefecture at the beginning of our trip we took a 2.5 hour drive  up to Northen Kyoto to see one of Japan`s top 3 most beautiful views-- Ama no Hashidate .  On our way to this area we stop in Uji area of Kyoto city to see Byodoin Temple-- which was built by the son of Fujiwara no Michinaga who was one of the regents to the emperor during the Heian period. ( see Main Photo)-- Michinaga is mentioned in multiple stories in the Pillow book ( Makura no Soshi) by Sei Shonagon. 

When we arrived we only had a chance to have onsen and spend the rest of the day in the car as it was a downpour of rain for the rest of the day. So, on the morning of day 3 we woke up and began our day of exporing this small town. 
 

We took a cable car up to the view point to see Ama no Hashidate from the near by mountain and looked at the view through our legs as well so that it looks like the sand bar is in the sky. 

 

Me, peeping though my legs — Matanozoki — where the Sea and the sky are reversed— like a floating bridge to heaven.

 

The myth says that a long time ago Ama no  Hashidate  was formed when the Kuni-umi - god Izanagi came from heaven to meet the goddess of the land Iwanami using God`s floating bridge. 

We also walked the sand bar to the other side 50 min walk and then took the farry back to the starting point ( 12 min boat ride) .

After this we explored the town and found that there is a unique section where the houses have a front car park and a back boat park as their houses are built directly into the ocean! Crazy! 

 

I hope you have enjoyed blog #3 of our Kansai area trip ! to see more check out blog #1  The Pillow book adventures and blog #2 Shiga Prefecture.  Stay tuned for another blog post in the near future for our side trip to Nara ! 

See you soon!

Kindly,

Stephanie