Evening all Cj here, with my round up of Kyoto so far...
So we finally arrived in Kyoto city after 8 hours on our glamorous night bus from Tokyo. Fully rested, on what felt like a few hours sleep, we headed to our hostel.
A cracking location in the heart of the city was our first stop in 'Ayado Inn'. A fully stocked fridge of beer at only 100yen a can is right up my street! Hostel is strange as each bunkbed has a hospital curtain around it, very secluded. My bunk is opposite a geisha house and I can see them eating as they witness me putting on my shorts every morning! Lovely.
So I've heard a lot of good things about Kyoto and I wasn't dissapointed. Culture staring you in the face around every corner. Our first stop was in Arashiyama where we hit up the Tenryui Temple; set in the mountains and along a river this small part of town looked like something out of "crouching tiger hidden dragon" especially on the bamboo walk, with bamboo shoots in every direction creating an arch of parellel lines as far as the eye could see. To finish the day off we swung by a monkey temple up in the hills to take in the view of Kyoto. A cracking view across the summer haze. Today had been the hottest on the trip so far, so i was looking suitably Western with my sweat patches and trusty Japenese fan!
Next on the list was Nijojo Castle and Imperial Palace, hugely impressive buildings built from wood and stone to house and protect royalty and visitors. The Nijojo castle had an impressive moat the colour of lime green. Both these sites and almost every temple has a cracking garden. Titmarsh eat you heart out, these gardens were hand groomed with the ultimate presicion. From the trees being cut and trimmed to the waterfalls and ponds being crisp and clear with huge Carp swimming amongst the surfacing turtles.
Not one to do on a hangover is the Nishik food markets. Set in several industrial sized alleys is a host of local food stalls selling everything from your local tuna to a mini octopus on a stick. Not being one to turn down free food means the tasters are a gamble. I generally don't have a clue if I'm eating meat or veg, cooked or raw. What I have mastered is the poker face of "mmmm thanks, gag, smile" One thing I am proud of is the size of the fruit here. Oranges and apples the size of small melons definately a bargin.
One of the huge attractions here, and I'm sure you've all seen the pics, is the Fushimi-inari taisha Shrine which is home to the Tunnel of Torii Gates. The large red wooden arches paint a red brick road past 15 shrines up a hill encompassed in a dense forest. Quite a trek in the humidity and flip flops. Safe to say I looked a right state once I got to the top! Watch out for the monkeys a rare sight!
Right that's the culture done, now onto the important bit...
The food and drink is pretty good here. I've found the prices cheaper and the local brew of beers impressive, more importantly it is served at breakfast. Great way to start the day, when a lot of walking is involved. I can also safely say I've had the best Yakisoba of my life in this town, so good I've gone back again, twice.
In the evenings a beer down by the river is pretty chilled, people set off sparklers and a random dj brings his decks down, as you do.
Only a few more days in Kyoto before we head back up to Tokyo for a flight to China. Need to get planning the next part of our trip, any recommendations for Beijing do let me know!
The good, the bad and the ugly pics are too follow of Japan in the next few days. I will send out a dropbox link.
Cheers
Cj
