Kyoto, Japan
After leaving Nara we headed to Kyoto.
We were staying very close to the city centre, this gave us good access to the trains, local Temples and castles.
Traveling from Nara we took a short trip to central Kyoto to the Pocket Hotel, Kyoto-Shijokarasuma, where we would be staying for two nights.
Once we checked into the hotel, we dropped off our bags and headed out to explore and get some food.
We didn’t have to go far to find the Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, a small Shinto shrine in the Nishiko Market. The shrine enshrines Michizane Sugawara, known as the god of learning, as its main deity.
The bronze nade-ushi (petting cow) has been wished upon so many times it’s head is a totally different colour to the rest of it.
We took a walk to the Yasaka Shrine in
Maruyama Park. We found a festival taking place, and a band playing on the main stage.
Bati-Holic are Kyoto's very own Taiko drum rock band, we stayed for a while and moved on to the park.
After matcha tea ice creams we had a walk around the Maruyama Park lakes and headed back to our hotel to rest before heading out for an evening meal.
We found an amazing restaurant serving great food, good prices and excellent staff and atmosphere. KASUMI izakaya + restaurant was one of the food highlights of our whole Japanese trip.
After a good night’s sleep and breakfast at Eggs 'n Things, we headed to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. There is a 5km long trail of 10,000 Torii gates leading up to the shrines at the top with tea houses about half way up.
The hike has an elevation of 230m
If you are in Kyoto, I would recommend taking this short hike
The Fushimi Inari Shrine shrine is where people pray for academic success. Students going through exams fold 1,000 origami cranes in hopes that their wish of passing is granted.
After hiking back down from the shrine we travelled to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. It was quite busy as we arrived at peek times but was worth a short visit before heading to town for some food at Katsukura Shijo Teramachi and getting some rest.
Our next destination would be Kanazawa
Overview
We Stayed at: Pocket Hotel, Kyoto-Shijokarasuma for two nights in Kyoto.
We visited: Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine, Yasaka Shrine, Maruyama Park, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
We ate at: KASUMI izakaya + restaurant, Katsukura Shijo Teramachi, Eggs 'n Things
Next Stop: Kanazawa
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