My Kyoto trip was five months ago and I still miss it every day. I don’t know why but ever since I traveled to Kyoto for the first time with my family, I always have this perception of Kyoto being a small, cultural town. It’s true that Kyoto is probably less of a city than Tokyo or Osaka, but definitely not small. After spending seven days in the city, now I know why most people are putting this city on top of their bucket list. By the way, I’m not gonna elaborate much in this blog post as I was traveling in a relaxed pace. I was also got into an accident, in which I wasted two precious days not traveling. So, think of this as an inspirational Kyoto post to motivate you to travel more :).

Kyoto

Hmm… What should I say first thing first about Kyoto? It is a touristy place where you can find people from all over the world and I’m not even exaggerating here. The moment I arrived in Kyoto Station, I saw people bringing big luggages and tour flags waved here and there. I wasn’t into street photography so I didn’t take pictures of how crowded it was. As lucky as I can get, I’m still greeted by nice, warm weather in Kyoto. A friend of mine told me the weather was horrible just a week before I arrived. Same goes when I was in Seoul. I was also fortunate to have friends living in Kyoto and show me around (Thanks Sonya & Nadya <3).

Kyoto was the capital of Japan for a thousand years (long time ago) and that influences the city in term of culture, infrastructure and history. You want to know how big the city is? Try to stay in for a week and you probably see only quarter of Kyoto.

Buildings in Kyoto

Kyoto Tower | Park in between streets

Streets

Tourist-less

Railway | Little shop near Ginkaku-ji

Autumn feels in Japan

Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine

Bet you’ve seen orange shrine temple where everyone posted on Instagram right? But I wasn’t having the best time when I was in Fushimi Inari Shrine. It was just any normal week day, but the amount of people was too much for me where I was at the point I had to leave before I suffocate myself. There were school trip students, tourists, and local people. And then I found out why it was super crowded that day. Fushimi Inari Shrine was doing a ‘ritual’ and this one is not for show or anything like that. This one is legit sacred ceremony like the one in Kimi No Nawa movie (btw, who loves that movie? I’m a huge fan).

I did climbed a bit of the orange temple, but had to leave because I couldn’t handle it no more. It’s not the atmosphere that I want in a sacred shrine/temple, where I didn’t feel peacefulness at all. Truly interested in the culture and history, but I honestly can’t do it with a crying babies, people chattering, and you get what I mean. That’s also why I decided not to go Kiyomizu-dera.

Ceremony in Fushimi Inari Shrine

People in Fushimi Inari

Ritual in progress

Unlucky fortune | Tunnel of Torii gates

Fushimi Inari-Taisha in Kyoto

Nijō Castle

Nijo Castle is not like those typical castle in Europe or your fairy tale. Even my perception of castle still can’t believe this is a castle. I don’t know much about this castle as I didn’t hire a tour guide and started to search about it when I’m writing this blog post. What I do know is this castle has history way back from 17th century.  If I see the Nijo Castle just from the buildings itself, I might say it’s not as grand as European castles. But if you combine it with the garden, entrances, small river and pond, it became one beautiful complex. Nijo Castle is different with the Imperial Palace, which is just several blocks away (still in Central Kyoto). It is worth to visit because Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beware of the long queue, especially when there’s lot of tour group.

I went here with my friend and got lucky to see a rainbow above the Castle. It was drizzling and quite sad about it, but then a beautiful rainbow showed up. Traveling really is half preparation and half luck. You can also eat in Nijo Castle Complex, there’s a restaurant almost nearby the exit. Also, I saw a traditional marriage (if I’m not wrong) held in Nijo Castle, although from very far away and I had to use my camera lense to see what’s going on.

No pictures inside Nijo Castle, so just exterior pics

Ninomaru Garden

Ninomaru Palace, One of the areas in Nijo Castle

Rainbow above Nijo Castle

Dessert in Nijo Castle

They take garden landscaping very seriously here. Do you see the bride? (on the left)

Kinkaku-ji, The Golden Pavilion

The main star of Kyoto. Or at least, that’s what I like to think about. Kinkaku-ji or The Golden Pavilion is a UNESCO World Heritage Site too and visited by millions of people around the world. Kinkaku-ji is not in Central Kyoto, you have to take public bus (around 1 hour) if from Kyoto Station. I’m not gonna explain to an extend because I made a blog post about Kinkaku-ji.

Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto

 

Arashiyama, Bamboo Groves

Again, I experienced the same thing like Fushimi Inari Shrine. The people flowing in Arashiyama is truly amazing. I experienced people traffic, not vehicle but people. When I saw the reality, I wonder how people on Instagram can get pictures with no people at all but just themselves in the middle of the road? I was researching about Arashiyama more after I got back to Indonesia (I know, I was stupid). Arashiyama is more than the Bamboo Groves, it has the Sagano Scenic Railway, seven smaller temples (but probably less people too) and you can see more in Japan Guide. It made me desperate to go back!!! The recommended season to go to Arashiyama is autumn, where you can see the autumn foliage throughout the forest.

Kyoto

Katsura River, Kyoto

Autumn in Arashiyama, Kyoto

Togetsukyo Bridge

Coffee Shop Crowd

Katsura River

Arashiyama Bamboo Groves, Kyoto

Yukata in Arashiyama

Bamboo Groves

Daimonji

To me, Daimonji is the most memorable part of my Kyoto trip. Daimonji is a mountain overlooking Kyoto city. Daimonji is actually a festival where the mountain will lit five bonfires surrounding Kyoto. You can start hiking to Daimonji from nearby Ginkaku-ji. It took me around 30-50 minutes to reach the top (not really the top but it’s where you can see Kyoto). My friend and I were lucky enough to be guided by a Japanese old man who apparently hike almost every day to Daimonji. We were ashamed and amazed (at the same time) of how we got tired in the first 15 minutes and he still walks like it’s nothing! Once we reached to the point where we can overlook Kyoto, the old man still continues hiking because his final destination is the top of Daimonji.

What to do in Daimonji, I’d say go see the sunset. Because Daimonji is located on the east side of Kyoto, it’s not possible to see the sunrise (from the mountain). It was partly cloudy and had limited light, however it gave such a dramatic scenery in the sky. You can also see how huge Kyoto actually is. I was so surprised because I never expect Kyoto being that vast and full of buildings (although not skyscraper). Another thing that I love about Kyoto is the landscape (like how I love Seoul landscape), in between and surrounded by mountains. No pictures of the hiking process because we were catching sunrise, but here’s the picture of Kyoto from above.

Once we reached Mt. Daimonji

Surrounded by mountains

Autumn foliage in Daimonji

Sunset in Kyoto

Kyoto from above

Can you spot the Kyoto Tower?

Goodnight from Daimonji

Map Itinerary