Kyoto
Nestled in a valley in the Yamashiro Basin, lies the beautiful city of Kyoto.
While preparing for our trip to Kyoto, we were warned that it is incredibly hot there during the summer (and equally cold during the winter). Being from Texas, we weren’t afraid even though people compared it to the sweltering humid heat of Houston. Unfortunately for us, that description was far too accurate.
When we got off the train, our hope were high and we were ready to start our “short” walk to our hostel. Little did we know that we had actually passed it a few times – down a small alley – if you blinked, you were sure to miss it. By the time we were checked into our small (and too small to be quaint) hostel, we were all gross and sweaty from the oppressive humidity outside. Instead of sightseeing, we all stripped down to our skivvies, hung our gross clothes up to dry and napped. I might venture to say that Kyoto is more humid than Houston. Impossible? I think not!
After getting a wee bit of rest, we started out on the balmy, humid, Kyoto summer night.
A traditional tourist destination in Kyoto are the teahouses in Gion. Here, if you are patient and lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a geisha (or geiko, as they call themselves) darting into a taxi or escaping back into the teahouses. Should you decide to try your luck, it is best to keep your eyes peeled for the chaperons. You will usually see them walk outside and flag the taxi down right before the geisha climb in and quickly drive off (or vice versa).
After waiting around for a few hours and feeling like unwelcome paparazzi (but when are they welcome?) we were quite lucky to not only catch a glimpse of two geisha without their chaperon, but they were nice enough to pose for a photo for our travel mate (which unfortunately, in the hubbub of trying to catch them, our friend graciously forgot to put his focus back on auto, thus making not so attractive pictures).
Even if you don’t have the patience or luck to hunt for geisha, the Gion district is a wondrous sight all its own. We definitely recommend going to Kyoto, although, we’d advise that you do so during the cherry blossom season when it is much cooler.
Excited and absolutely stoked that we were able to capture some of the very few geisha left in the world, we decided to go out for a drink. There is this awesome “Stand Up Bar” in Kyoto where – you can guess – you stand up while drinking your beer. Nothing can prepare you for the hearty “irasshaimase!” that is said when entering the bar. I felt at home. While standing can be particularly troubling when you had been walking around all day, the cold refreshing Japanese beer made everything alright.
During WWII, Kyoto was rarely bombed (and taken off the list of possible atomic bomb targets) because it was the intellectual center of Japan. Because of this, the once former capital of Japan has remained one of the most traditionally intact cities in the country. Known for its kimono weaving and sake brewing, Kyoto also boasts over 2000 temples and shrines- our favorite being Fushimi Inari Taisha. This was one shrine that we had to go to.
The head shrine of Inari (the god of business) is easily recognizable from the thousands of orange and black torii lining the paths. Each of the torii were donated by a specific business so that they may be blessed with wealth.
There was so much to see and we barely touched the surface. Next time we find ourselves in Japan, Kyoto will definitely be revisited.
My favorite city in Japan. Words cannot describe some of it’s beauties. Including some of the people.
Avery and I met an old woman and man climbing up to the temple Kiyomizudera. We took the back route somehow and walked among thousands of graves to find this little lady and her cat outside. We somehow started talking to her and before you know it, 3 hours had passed and she introduced us to her neighbor that owned a incense shop. He was a fighter pilot in WWII and we had the most interesting conversation. I looked up “sweet” in my little dictionary and accidentally told her that she was the taste “sweet.” She just laughed and gave us bracelets according to our Japanese sign. It was an amazing experience.
That is amazing! The woman who welcomed us to Hiroshima blew me away. We also had some awesome old ladies in Fuji that wouldn’t stop chatting our ears off (even though Shaun and I didn’t speak Japanese) and fed us cold green tea and snacks. Good thing Michael understood a wee bit! The people are so amazing.
Thanks for sharing your Kyoto experience and tips. I’m not sure I would last long at the Stand Up Bar. I hate standing! ha Gorgeous photos as well.
Thank you! I’m trying to get the South America trip together so I can have “on the job” travel photography training (along with my non-profit goals as well).
Believe me, if I wouldn’t have downed the beers so fast, I’m not sure I could have stood up for very long.
Oh yeah, I had to share this fun story too:
Avery and I could not find out hostel in Kyoto on Gojo-dori. We asked a guy in the front of the station and he said it was a simple walk away. So, we started walking in the direction he told us to go. We end up walking and walking while it starts to rain. So, we decide to go into this little stationary shop that a little woman owned. We asked her directions and she told us we were extremely far away from our destination. In no way could we walk there. So, she called out her husband and told him to drive us to our hostel. He was really not feeling it, but she was all smiles to us and business to him. It was rather funny. So, this wonderful random stranger takes in two foreign travelers and drives us to our hostel. It was another single act of kindness that made Kyoto among my favorite places to be. I just can’t get over how sweet she was and how trusting and cordial they were to do that for us.
It makes you think, in America, I don’t here about that happening ever.
Thanks for adding me to your site! Looks great!