After Tokyo, we stayed a couple of days in Kyoto. Culture and food were the main subjects each day. This article made me ‘homesick’ and hungry hihi. Enjoy my little adventure in Kyoto in this photo diary.
ARISHIYAMA
On our first day in Kyoto, we went to Arishiyama to visit the bamboo grove. It sure is a beautiful hike between these gigantic bamboos. As it is a must-see in Kyoto, it was super crowded with the few tourist busses that had made their stops here as well.
We went to the Tenryuji Temple next to this place. You have to pay a fee to get in, which was totally worth it to escape the crowd.
FUSHIMI INARI
Kyoto’s number 1 attraction: Fushimi Inari. More about this place in a previous article I wrote –> here.
NISHIKI MARKET
Nishiki Market is a narrow, five block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. I LOVE these kinds of markets as I am always eager to try out new things!
NINJA CAFE
In Japan they love the fantasyland and that doesn’t stop with their extravagant style. When in Japan, you should definitely visit at least one theme restaurant where everything from the food, surroundings to entertainment is tailored to fulfill that fantasy. In Tokyo we already went to the maid café. This time we took it to another level at the Ninja café.
We were met by a ninja at the entrance who led us to a small labyrinth that suppose to be a secret path to the ninja cave where at the end of this path a ninja jumped out of nowhere (I hope I am spoiling this for you now :D).
This ninja guided us through the labyrinth to our little cave where we had our themed dinner. Everything you can eat is in theme, from ninja star crackers to bonsai ice creams. Everything looked soooo amazing and it was really delicious too!
Between the courses there is a ninja magician to show you some tricks at your table. We really had a great time here!
KYOTO PREFECTURE
Temples are required to visit if you are in Kyoto. Unfortunately we couldn’t make it to visit the Golden temple Rokuon-ji, but we did visit one of the biggest temple in Kyoto the Kiyomizu-dera. Love Kyoto for its deep-rooted heritage. It’s like you are traveling back in time when you wander around the temple and the surrounded area.
KYOTO STATION
Kyoto has a huge public transport station, incorporating a shopping mall, hotel, movie theater, department store Isetan etc. Our hotel was centrally located across from this station. We went to Katsukara in this building to have the best tonkatsu where everyone is raving about. They were right though, the best tonkatsu I have ever had. Craving it right now!!! Not expecting the same quality, but is there a place to have proper tonkatsu here in The Netherlands??
SAMURAI FESTIVAL
It was our luck that the annual samurai festival took place when we were in Kyoto. Even more of a coincidence is that a friend of mine from NYC was there as well! It was the perfect way to end our travels in Kyoto.
OFF TO OSAKA
Sad to leave Kyoto already, but excited for a new city in Japan, Osaka! I was so exhausted by this time, from getting the most out the days in Japan, that I actually fell asleep on the suitcases when there was no place to sit down.
Oh and this is another thing I miss about Japan, my favorite drink overthere: Calpis.
The next episode will be in Osaka!
