Silver Pavilion and Animate Cafe Kyoto!

I didn't really know how I should write about this day and I was busy on other things, and now when I finally got the time to write, I'll just write however my muse wants me to uwu

So on my second last day in Kyoto, I went out with my dear friend Komori from Osaka! To think that it's the second last day, I've been really grateful that I have a very, very soft pillow in my guesthouse. It's so soft that I wanted to carry it home so badly but I can't _(:3J

I named the pillow as mochi because it's green and it is so soft and so round and ahhhh basically a piece of mochi - except that it isn't sticky. 

Meet mochi!

Upon having a light breakfast and a short chit-chat with my dorm-mate that is checking out today, I hopped onto the bus to Shijo Matsubara to meet Komori! He came all the way from Osaka, so he arrives in Matsubara station via Hankyu line so that it'll be convenient. :)

We then hopped onto a bus from Shijo Matsubara, all the way to Ginkakuji (or Jisho-ji). We were dropped off a few metres away from the Philosopher's path and took a nice photo of it. It doesn't have much leaves on anymore, since the winds were strong on these few days, but it's still a unique scene. :)

Leaf-less Philosopher Path

The philosopher's path was not as long as I've anticipated it to, or maybe it was also because we were talking that the walking doesn't feel like it's going to take forever. One of the perks when you aren't travelling alone, I suppose? :D

Okay there're actually some leaves on the tree

After walking through the philosopher's path, we walked a little more to enter the silver pavilion! The entrance fee to Ginkakuji was 500 yen, and upon the entrance, you can go to a corner to buy omamori. If you like to collect stamp prints, there are many temples that offers to stamp your notebook with a stamp from the temple with a fee of approximately 300~500 yen, depending on the temple you are visiting. 

Because my stupid brain was thinking that the building will be covered in silver like how Kinkakuji (golden pavilion) would be covered in gold, I was wondering why I'm seeing a wooden building upon entrance...

The kannon-den itself

Then later on, we saw this grey area, which is a uniquely beautiful sand garden and I was pondering so much until I realized that there's a label saying that it's Ginsadan, which literally means silver sand and I was like, OHHHH OMG SO THAT'S HOW IT'S CALLED SILVER PAVILION and later on I realized that it's also because the initial plans for the building is to have the kannon-den covered in silver foil on the exterior, something like Kinkakuji. 

#okayiamstupidindeed

The silver sand garden with the Kannon-den

As you walk along the path you'll see building structures that looked like a house, that's actually because there was a shogun named Ashikaga Yoshimasa initiated the plans in construction as a villa and had plans for the place to be used as a Zen temple after his death. According to what I've later read online, he only acted as a shogun for three years and died because he fell off from a horse. (Ouch...)

And later on we also walked up to a path of trees and looked around the scenery while I was trying to see if Kyoto Tower would be in the sightings but the answer was NOPE (You can see it from Kiyomizudera though!) so we took our time walking down again, only to realize that there's a stone torii that I wanna take a silly photo at so we kinda walked back to where we entered and Komori helped me to take my silly picture. (Thank you so much ♡)

(Y)

Oh, and about the silly picture? Ain't letting you to see it here. Leave us some privacy, please. X'D

After visiting the Ginkakuji, we took our time deciding what to eat, because I'm not too certain about what I'd like to eat because Japan has so much of nice food and my inner Libra would not allow me to choose in a short time, I allowed Komori-san to take his pick. He said that he likes soba a lot, so we decided to head to a soba noodles house and I childishly suggested that I wanted to eat noodles on a tatami so... we did! :D

Lunch of the day

Back in my home I'd have places where I can buy hot noodles, so I ordered cold soba with two onigiri that costs about 950 yen, it also comes along with tea. I actually took a photo of our food but phone decided to troll me so hard that I lost the other photo and all I could remember that my dear friend ordered hot noodles with rice, which also comes with tea. It was something something teishoku and I don't remember the full name ;w;

The food taste well! I forgot the restaurant's name, but it was just on the way out from Ginkakuji with a large panel of food display, so I'm sure that you can find it too :D

And after our meal, we walked on the opposite side of the philosopher's path and I saw peach-flavored ice-cream that I glued my eyes on it, so I tried excusing myself and buy the ice-cream, but Komori was so nice that he joined in and paid for my part too even though I have mentioned that I'll pay him back (he actually was the one that paid throughout the trip since the entrance tickets and I was trying to return the money I'm just- ;;;;) but he's all "It's my country, so I should treat you." and I'm just ｡･ﾟ･(´□｀*)･ﾟ･｡ｱﾘｶﾞﾄｫｫｫ and "Please visit my country so I can treat you too!"

Mixed flavored ice-cream: Peach, Matcha and Vanilla

We also tried waiting for the bus on the opposite side of the road, where it's filled with many ginko trees! Ginko trees are like, everywhere in Japan but they are really, really beautiful when it's autumn where everything turns yellow. There was this strong gush of wind that almost sent leaves to our ice-creams, though. Almost. (｡･m･)ｸｽｸｽ

Not being entirely sure if there was a bus delay, we walked further along the opposite side of the philosopher's path to take a bus back to Matsubara and we see each other off in the Hankyu station after I learnt about how to get to Osaka using the same railway on the following day (｡･ｗ･｡ )

Later of the day, I spent my hours shopping in Matsumoto Kiyoshi because there's an offer on cosmetic products and I tested on so many things on the back of my hand for hours because I was so indecisive on which blusher I should get and the orange ones look really nice on my skin, somehow, but there are so many of them around from different brands so my face was like (ﾟ口ﾟ; howdoIchoose

and later of the shopping haul I went to Kyoto station, but this time, to shop underneath the station itself rather than going upstairs. Under the Kyoto station, there are many places for food and also beautiful Christmas decors! I also looked around for souvenirs and my legs decided to send me a "I'm worn out, pls rest" message so I decided to rest around the giant Xmas tree in the Kyoto station.

One of the cute Christmas decorations under Kyoto station

I took some time resting in the staircase area  (where it actually gets a little wet if it rains) to find out that the staircase changes the colors constantly, and it also writes 'Welcome to Kyoto' but I lost all of the beautiful footage that I took, which was really sad for me. They also had a Kyoto eAR app that you can download and position it with the Christmas Tree or Kyoto Tower for the best effects, where it will deliver you a Christmas message! You can also video-record it.

Later on, I walked to Kyoto Avanti to visit an Animate branch, but I didn't really find things that interested me over there except for a few things that I could get as a present for my friends back in Malaysia. I also managed to adopt another Sousuke mini figure that my collection is one step closer to completion! Though there are a few that I didn't actually get because of space and design issues uwu

Hello Animate Avanti Kyoto

I also took some time walking around Avanti to realize that there are little shops that sell kimono and its accessories. I went to take a look with hopes to find something matching my current set, but my luck was bad. However, the store owner told me that they also have a branch in Osaka and gave me a 1000 yen coupon that I could use it in the Osaka branch if I had the chance to drop by, but somehow I didn't manage to get the time to drop by their Osaka branch because I was dead tired.

In Kyoto Avanti

Later of the day, the winds started to get stronger and I realized that I might be late if I don't get to Animate Kyoto, so I walked my way back to the Kyoto station and hopped on a bus back to Shijo Matsubara (yes I visit there very often I know too).

Kyoto Tower at night

Since it was also my last night in Kyoto, I thought of taking some time to look at their busiest areas after my slot in Animate Cafe. 

And apparently, I arrived 30 minutes before my given time slot. 

Animate Cafe Kyoto - Theme: Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru

The theme of the Animate cafe this round is for the online game series Touken Ranbu! It's recently animated and titled as Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru. Later on, it'll be another series for Touken Ranbu animated by Ufotable and Ufotable's PVs are just making me to cry each time because they are so beautiful ( ///////)

Because there are actually customers occupying the cafe space in another time slot, I was asked to come back 10 minutes before my given time. So I lurked around to look for kimono accessories (but once again low luck) and headed back to Animate cafe. 

For this theme, the assigned timeslot is only 30 minutes. Sounds ridiculous, but it isn't really that ridiculous when the menu items are all drinks, except for Uguisumaru's, where his has a tiny slice of cake with gold foil on it. So you can definitely get them into your stomach (or at least, that was my case). 

Before your given time slot, you'll be lining up by a side, and you'll be requested to show your confirmation message on your Anicafe webpage (if you don't have internet then screenshot it or something) and if you are a foreigner, please make sure to bring your passport for identity identification. My Animate account name was in kanji, but somehow, because my passport only shows my English name, it does make the process a little harder but it is understandable so I got my number safely!

My given number

After getting a number, you will be given a brief explanation (in Japanese) about how the cafe works, where you will also be given a basket, and allowed to look at the merchandises and decide if you'd buy them (of course I'd grab some stuff duh lol) and pay at the register while ordering your food when you make your payment. If you are a member of Animate, be sure to show them your barcode or your card as a member to earn 5% of points from the merchandises! 

Basically, after your payment, you are required to sit according to your given number. Some of the seats require you to sit with other customers and thankfully it wasn't my seat because *can't converse* 

How could I not take a selfie when I'm here, though?

Also, on each food menu you'll get a coaster, and I actually ordered three menu items, 500 yen each. Throughout the thirty minutes you can just gulp them down or if you needed them to be taken away, please tell the staff before you make a payment so they can pack it properly for you behind the scenes. 

My Anicafe order

My order came very quickly, and I forgot to take a good picture before drinking Imanotsurugi's menu item, but his menu item is a grape-flavored yogurt drink with a small dango. 

Uguisumaru's menu item

For Uguisumaru's menu, it's a cup of green tea (not matcha but I'm not too sure what it is...) and it also comes with a small piece of butter cake with gold foil on the top. (It's edible, no worries). 

Hanamaru's Cappuccino

My nightmare: coffee. I completely forgot about the menu item being coffee and I feel really, really sleepy after gulping it down. My body works like it is building resistance towards caffeine. _(:3J

Oh and after eating our stuff, we can see customers starting to open up their blind boxes (I didn't get them, too risky for my wallet) and started trading around. I actually liked Uguisumaru a lot (Though my favorites are Taroutachi and Juzumaru, but they aren't in the merchandise series) so I changed my Yamabangiri with a girl that has a Uguisumaru coaster. 

I summon my sword men!

Above the cafe you can find yourself being in a store that sells everything TOUKEN RANBU. They had a torii, a place with lanterns, and also a place with the bell where you summon the swords to gather. There's also a place where you can get really creative and write to deliver your thanks to the anime team, which most of us actually drew something or gave up drawing. I had Uguisumaru chibi on my drawing and I've been lurking there to decide if I should get the merchandises ;w; 

Behind me contains lanterns with everyone's symbols

There's also a playing of voices where no recording or photo-taking was allowed near the area, where Kashuu and Yasusada would be welcoming you to the Touken Ranbu store and trash-talking about you being at home all the time and it's so rare that you are going out to buy stuff. I FEEL OFFENDED. Jks I love my swords okay maybe except one or two

I was pondering so hard and I could not decide which pattern that I'd like, and I started to think that if I'd get one my other sword babies would be sad because I didn't pick them so in the end... I did not get anything and fled. ﾋﾟｭｰｯ!≡≡≡ﾍ(*ﾟ∇ﾟ)ﾉ

And because I'll need to check out on the following day, I just looked around Matsubara for the illuminations and reminiscing how much I loved kyoto, and went back to my guesthouse to get drunk (jks I wasn't drunk) to get a nice sleep because...

3% alcohol, peach flavored and it tastes so nice

I had a roommate that snores. :'D

And that's all for my current update! Next post would be my visit to the Imperial Palace of Kyoto and Osaka! :D

Until next time! ★