Our first day in Kyoto! Kyoto was both mine and Will’s favorite city. There’s so much history and it’s much smaller and easier to tackle than Tokyo but still full of great food, bars and things to do.
Things to see/do:
Fushimi Inari Taisha– this is a big orange shrine with a path of orange torii gates. I’m sure you’ve seen pictures of before. Quite crowded but truly beautiful and if you keep walking it gets less crowded.
Kiyomizu-dera– a stunning Buddhist temple with a backdrop of gorgeous tree filled mountain. It feels as if you aren’t in the city since it sits up on the hill with trees, is it weird if I say it feels very zen?
Insho– Domoto Museum of Fine Arts- we stumbled upon this museum as we were walking from one temple to another and decided to stop in. The museum is full of artwork by the Kyoto artist Insho Domoto.
Myoshinji Temple– this temple was very serene as it was less crowded than others, we were able to take our time and not feel rushed and also enjoy the gardens here as well.
Kinkaku-ji– this temple was my favorite! It’s painted gold and sits on water surrounded by beautiful gardens. Be prepared for lots of crowds though!
Places to eat:
Nishiki Market– I actually ended up liking this market better than the famous one in Tokyo. There were so many delicious vendors and food to discover. Truly something for everyone from fish to ice cream and everything in between.
Conveyer belt sushi– if you go to Japan, you have to try conveyer belt sushi! It’s such a fun experience, yummy and a super quick meal so you can get in and out and continue your day! They had American style sushi like shrimp tempura but also funky stuff like horse meat!! You can guess which type of sushi I stuck to…
Ramen– 60% of our meals in Japan were ramen! It’s the best and not like our American version. This place was quaint as you sit at a bar and watch the ramen be made right in front of you and so delicious!
Gion– this area is full of great very small bars and restaurants and sits prettily along the river. Plus, it’s known for geisha sightings (we saw a few)! Our last night in Kyoto we decided to check out this area. We ended up getting a drink at an upstairs bar with a view of the river and only 8 chairs. It was such a fun experience!
