Kyoto.... Part 1

Awwww man. Where to even start… Ill keep it simple I suppose, especially since I included so many pictures! ;)

Kyoto Japan.

It has been on my Bucket List for years, grouped in with that ever nagging feeling of “unfinished” when we left Japan 5 years ago… I had dreams of walking the cobblestone streets of the Geisha District, seeing shrines that date hundreds of years back, strolling along the Oi River, imagining what this land looked like 500 years ago. I am so so happy Dear Husband and I made this happen.

We were only in the town for a few days, driving up in a rented mini van from Sasebo, about 9-10 hrs along the toll roads. We rented an Air BNB right in the center of the small city, which although very plain, came with a view of nearby Pagoda and cruiser bikes we could use at our leisure! (Husband and I took an evening off to ride around and hit up a Pub!)

We arrived at about 3pm, so had just enough time to check in, change, hit up our first Shrine on the list and grab some dinner! We had a very very flexible itinerary for such a short trip, highlights of what we really wanted to try and see, yet ended up just rolling with the weather and ebb and flow of traveling with 4 kids!

Fushimi Inari Shrine is probably the most famous Shinto Shrine in Kyoto… Dating back to the 1500’s. it is home to the God of Rice, thousands of Tori Gates, and trails running up through the mountain, known to be protected by the Fox… We arrived late in the day, and although still very filled with tourists at the beginning of the gates, we found the higher we hiked up, in the dark, the less we saw people… We didnt make it all the way up, again, it was pitch black, but had a nice view of the City Lights! Our tummies pulled us back down the trails, and we went in search for Dinner… Vegan Ramen and was delicious!!

The next morning started, well gloomy, and early! Yep, it rained, pretty much the whole trip… We are not ones for it to get us down tho! It is common Japan Weather. We grabbed coffee at an awesome stand, you can find these Arabaic Coffee Shops throughout Kyoto, this one situated right across from the Oi River, where we took a boat ride before heading over to the Bamboo Forest… We spent a big part of the day exploring the Arashiyama area, it was so beautiful there! Gardens and old Buddhist temples, and a shopping//street market where we had cart pickles and roasted chestnut rice on sticks! NOM NOM.

After hours of walking and navigating through thick crowds of tourists, we headed over to Vegans Cafe and Restaurant… a tiny place known for their Organic ingredients, Pizza, and BBQ Tofu Rice Bowls… We ate everything!!! It was so so yummy, and fantastic to find great Vegan// non gmo food in Japan… We spent a couple hours here resting and listening to the rain, before heading out to the Golden Pavilion, Kinkajuji, a Zen Buddhist Temple…

We crashed hard after such a full day, and well a glass of Gold Sake we bought from the temple for me and Dad to celebrate;) Day one and two, total success!

Stay tuned for Part 2… This really was a memorable trip… xoxox