Japan Summer 2024 • Two off days in Kyoto

Japan Summer 2024 Two off days in Kyoto
June 2 & 3, 2024

Kyoto was completely different from what I had expected. It's a big modern city located in a wide valley hemmed by-tree lined ridges. Much of the city is drab. It has a sleek downtown complete with a state of the art train station, enclosed street arcades, observation tower, glass hotels, and subway. It has bustling areas and quiet one-lane traditional neighborhoods with wood-framed architecture. The city is rife with history, from the ancient temples, shrines, and villas to the Edo period Nijo castle. 

My ryokan was traditional. Shoes needed to be removed at the entry and slippers worn in the hallways. My room featured tatami mats with a futon and a very stiff pillow. Sliding screens partitioned the room and also opened to the outside. Everything was low to the ground and I continually had to duck my head. There was an onsen and an incredible breakfast every morning. I greatly appreciated that my bicycle could be stored inside. 

I jam-packed the sightseeing and my bicycle proved invaluable. I was able to quickly dart from one site to the next. Some places required a fee for parking. The gardens were so Zen, focusing on little. It was a 180 degree contrast from the west. Wooden architecture versus stone. Natural versus man-imposed. I got caught in the rain twice, and relished sitting under temple eaves to just sit there and wait.

Fushimi Inari completely blew me away, as I suspected it would. I had amazing food, Men-ya Yukou ramen the first night and Kikkoya then second. I packed it in and couldn't do it all. I left with a much better yet totally incomplete understanding of this incredible historic city. 

My accommodations at Yamamoto Ryokan in Kyoto

My accommodations at Yamamoto Ryokan in Kyoto

My accommodations at Yamamoto Ryokan in Kyoto

Breakfast room at Yamamoto Ryokan in Kyoto

Breakfast at Yamamoto Ryokan in Kyoto

Garden at Jishō-ji (Ginkaku-ji) Temple

Workers manicuring the moss at Jishō-ji (Ginkaku-ji) Temple Garden

Kōgetsudai (moon viewing platform) at Jishō-ji (Ginkaku-ji) Temple Garden

Entrance to Hōnen-in Temple

Antique glass windows at Eikando (Zenrinji Temple)

Exterior screens at Eikando (Zenrinji Temple)

Jizo stones at Kiyomizu-dera Temple

Bicycle parking lot in downtown Kyoto

Kyoto Station Daikaidan (Great Staircase)

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Fushimi Inari Taisha

Five-storey Pagoda at Tō-ji Temple

Location: Kyoto, Japan

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Table of Contents

• 前置 • Table of Contents   • Introduction • Exploring Tokyo   • Day 1 Tokyo to Fujiyoshida • Day 2 Fujiyoshida to Fujimi • Day 3 Fujimi to Nojiri • Day 4 Nojiri to Minokamo • Day 5 Minokamo to Maibara • Day 6 Maibara to Kyoto • Two Off Days in Kyoto • Day 7 Kyoto to Nara • Day 8 Nara to Koyasan • Day 9 Koyasan (Honshu) to Anan (Shikoku) • Day 10 Anan to Meotoiwa • Day 11 Meotoiwa to Kochi • Day 12 Kochi to Nakatosa • Day 13 Nakatosa to Ohki Beach • Day 14 Ohki Beach to Ainan • Day 15 Ainan to Shimonada • Day 16 Shimonada to Imabari • Day 17 Imabari to Kami-kamagari Island • Day 18 Kami-kamagari Island to Matsuyama • Day 19 Kitakyushu (Kyushu) to Kunisaki • Day 20 Kunisaki to Yufu • Day 21 Yufu to Minamiaso • Day 22 Minamiaso to Kumamoto • Day 23 Kumamoto to Takachiho • Day 24 Takachiho to Hyuga • Day 25 Hyuga to Nichinan • Day 26 Nichinan to Kushima • Day 27 Kushima to Nejime • Day 28 Nejime roundtrip to Cape Sata • Epilogue • Stats • Gear Review • Other Tour Logs ⥢ prev   -home-   nex
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