Kyoto, Japan

Posted on by MG

Four wonderful days in Japan, and our lives were forever altered! We spent the majority in Kyoto, with one day in Hiroshima.

Kyoto is a city of temples, with one around every corner. In total, we walked over 20 miles trying to see and taste everything we could. The biggest things we noticed: no public trash cans, yet the streets were spotless! People are expected to keep their trash to themselves, rather than find a public trashcan (or goodness forbid, litter!)

The food was of course delicious, with our dishes ranging from convenience store sushi, wagyu beef, onion rings, sea urchin soup, and various mystery dishes.

A collage of wooden plaques, each displaying illustrations of various scenes, including figures in playful or intimate poses, accompanied by Japanese text. The artwork features a mix of humor and cultural commentary.

Decorations throughout the city are not ones you’d see in the States
A traditional Japanese street scene featuring decorative lanterns, a statue of a boy in a kimono with a dog, and a small Christmas tree. A wooden bench and floral decorations are also visible.
A traditional food stall in Japan featuring various dishes like matcha and sushi, with customers dressed in kimono examining the offerings.
Street vendor display selling fried rice cakes in Japan, featuring a tray of round fried items. Price list for individual and multiple pieces is visible, along with a sign inviting customers to try the treats.
A traditional shrine entrance adorned with hanging lanterns, surrounded by visitors. Wooden plaques with wishes are displayed on stands nearby, creating a serene atmosphere in an urban setting.
A person standing in front of a traditional Japanese shrine, with decorative lanterns hanging above and a wooden offering box visible nearby.
Kyoto Tower illuminated at night, featuring red, white, and blue lights against a dark sky.
Our first view upon stepping out of the train station – the Kyoto tower! There are restaurants both at the very top and very bottom. Both restaurants are delicious, but the bottom floor food hall was our favorite.
A night view of a lit-up pagoda seen through a circular lens, with surrounding buildings in the background.
View through the eye scope on the top floor of the Kyoto Tower
A panoramic view of traditional Japanese architecture with rooftops, featuring a pagoda in the background against a blue sky with fluffy clouds.
And from the opposite side of town, looking at that same building, with the toewr in the back right
A cozy café scene featuring a latte with a leaf design, a plate of cookies, and two glasses of water on a wooden table, with a view of trees and rooftops through the large window.
The actual view was from a coffee shop right outside a major shopping district
A traditional Japanese shrine entrance featuring hanging paper lanterns, wooden prayer plaques, and a decorative lantern post, with visitors interacting in the vicinity.
Traditional street in a historic area of Japan, featuring wooden buildings, a person in a kimono, and pedestrians walking along a cobblestone pathway.
A scenic view of a river bordered by traditional and modern buildings, with mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A plate of okonomiyaki topped with seaweed and various ingredients, served with chopsticks on a red table.
Entrance of a steak and wine restaurant with illuminated signs and a menu feature outside. A staircase is visible on the left.
The most flavorful steak we found here!
A person holding chopsticks above a plate of raw meat and a small bowl of dipping sauce, with a stack of onion rings on a stand nearby.
A bustling market street featuring various shops and stalls, with colorful stained glass overhead and people browsing.
Interior view of a traditional temple featuring ornate wooden architecture, decorative carvings, a raised tatami mat floor, and a central altar with flowers and candles.
A narrow shopping street with Japanese architecture, featuring shops, clothing displays, and a traditional torii gate at the end.
This temple was in the middle of a huge shopping mall
Interior view of a subway train with passengers seated and standing, some using mobile devices, others engaged in conversation, showcasing a typical commuting scene.
A peaceful traditional Japanese garden featuring a stone pathway, wooden shrines with colorful lanterns, and lush greenery.
Wooden dining table setting with chopsticks and a plate, featuring a glass of water and a beer bottle. In the background, a kitchen area and a serene outdoor garden visible through a glass wall.
We were on the hunt for Japan’s legendary kobe steak, and stumbled into this beautiful restaurant
Counter view of a restaurant kitchen with a chef in the background, featuring a wooden table set with glasses, a bottle of beer, and utensils.
The chef cooked teh meal right in front of us, the restaurant only having about 10 seats at a giant wooden bar
A bowl of rice topped with sea urchin served in a small dish on a decorative tray with a spoon and chopsticks, accompanied by a side plate of sliced tuna and pickled vegetables.
Sea urchine soup and rice as an appetiser before the steak
A plate featuring a portion of seared beef steak accompanied by roasted potatoes, colorful vegetables, and a dollop of sauce. A glass of drink and a napkin are visible in the background.
Melt in your mouth kobe beef steak
A vintage steam locomotive releasing steam at a train station, with spectators nearby and cloudy skies in the background.
Train museum in Kyoto
A city street view featuring a mix of modern and traditional buildings, with a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk and traffic lights in the background.
We did significant sight seeing in downtown / historic Kyoto, but it’s still a normal city after you leave the historic districts. We loved walking along the roads and modern store fronts just as much as in the city center.
A woman in a pink kimono preparing tea in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony setting, kneeling beside a black tea pot and surrounded by utensils on a tatami mat.
Tea Ceremony
A person standing in a gravel courtyard in front of a traditional Japanese temple with ornate wooden architecture, and the Kyoto Tower visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

We adored Kyoto, and highly recommend it for anyone traveling to Japan. We scheduled a tea ceremony, but otherwise we wandered around the city on foot, doing our best to cram everything we could into one weekend. One of our favorite places we’ve visited!

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