Yes No Maybe: What (Not) To Do In Kyoto

Remember that I went to Japan in April? Well, if you did or didn’t I still have hundreds of stories to tell and tips to share. After a few days in Tokyo we took the Shinkansen train to Kyoto, which would be our base for the next few days so we could take some day trips and see more temples then you can shake a stick at.

YES

Gion is the geisha district of Kyoto. Though nowadays you won’t see too many Geisha or Maiko (young Geisha in training) outside, it’s still worth seeing if only for the architecture (of course traditional, but also modern influences too). Gion is also nearby to Maruyama Park, known for its weeping cherry tree – don’t worry it’s not a sad tree that’s been bullied by the other trees or lost its partner, it’s just a description of its branches! The main route to reach the park is via Yasaka Shrine – which hosts the Gion Matsuri festival – we’re talking one hell of a procession originally organised to appease angry, vengeful gods.

Talking about temples…temple hopping is a must if you are in Kyoto and I know this comes up in pretty much every guide, but really. And by temple hopping I don’t mean to go to EVERY temple since there are a ridiculous amount of them and you’d problem overdose and see temples everywhere you looked, even in your dreams/nightmares/cereal bowl.

You know that signature picture postcard shot of Japan with the red shrines? It’s most likely taken at Inari, or Fushimi Inari-taisha to be more exact. One of the most iconic sights of Kyoto, the shrine is well-known for the red-orange tori (gates) that are great for photos, but if you are pale like me it’s more likely to colour clash and make you look very ill and no filter magic can hide that. There are a lot of steps, so this might be a no if just had a hip replacement, are wearing your 10 inch heels or a bit lazy.

After a long day of walking around we ended up on a street with hundreds (I might be exaggerating here a bit) of restaurants offering so many delicious things that made it hard to pick, plus we were hangry (the phase that comes after hungry and just before angry) we settled for Zuzu in Pontoch dori as the menu + price rate was within our range. It was a good choice as we had the best Japanese style tapas there. I found the best option for when you are not sure where to go was ramen. This dish is present on every corner, from the aisles of 7-Eleven to mall food courts and little neighbourhood joints. A bowl of these heavenly noodles is super satisfying, and they taste is even better because they are so cheap. If you want a long, drawn out meal they might not be the best option as you order, slurp it quickly while the soup is hot and before the noodles get all soft, and then get out.

NO
A day trip to Nara Park wasn’t for me. Bizarrely enough it was due to the deers (a sentence I don’t think I will never say again). It is a nice park really, with lakes and ponds and some famous temple with the largest wooden structure in the world, which houses a huge Buddha. I knew there would be deers wandering around, but I didn’t expect hundreds of them in such a bad environment: in the part we visited there was more stone then grass which can’t be comfortable for them, there was a road in the middle of the park where cars drove by constantly which can’t be good for their stress level and the deers looked like they were high on the special deer crackers that were sold in the park. But if you like the idea of posing with Bambi on speed in a car park then this might be up your street.

My friends and I have an unwritten rule that we have to try Mexican food in each country we travel to, and Japan was no exception .Sadly, the one we spotted this time, Avocado was too pricey and the food was a let down – and that’s being polite. I wish we’d discovered the much better Zuzu earlier, so kids…the lesson here is to read reviews before you go to a place, especially if it’s a bit over your budget – it may not be the ‘amazing find we stumbled upon’ you hoped!

MAYBE
While I don’t have claustrophobia, I wasn’t hugely keen on staying at a capsule hotel – until I stumbled upon the Nine Hours on Pinterest, that is. It looks like something from a dystopian young adult film. Apparently when check in you a receive a packet with towels, a toothbrush and a pajama gown. Then you got to a white room with lockers where you undress into the gown and leave the rest in lockers. After that you go into the bathroom and once you’ve washed away your worries you go to a black room where you’ll find your pod. The place was unfortunately all booked up otherwise I definitely would have spend a night there to get my futuristic Gattaca, Alien, or The Mazer Runner vibes on.

Tetsugaku-no-michi or ‘ Philosopher’s Walk’ (nothing to do with the Philosopher’s Stone sadly) is a path it’s well worth a visit in the spring when the sakura start to bloom and in the summer when the fireflies start to glow. I’ve always wanted to capture a firefly in a bottle for the fairy tale magic, but I’m not sure if the wildlife protection people would find out and imprison me. It’s worth nothing that this place might not be as interesting in the winter months.

Have you had any heartbreaking tourist related animal encounter?