Our longest stay in Japan was in Kyoto and that was a good choice. It was our favorite city in Japan and just had the perfect blend of size, connections, restaurants, and touristy stuff. We loved it and hope to return. Kyoto was Japan’s capital for over 1000 years until 1848, when Tokyo took over. It really is the center of what we consider traditional Japanese cultures and is a wonderful place to explore.
Gion is the most famous of Kyoto’s three Geisha (Geiko in Japan) districts. It is what most people think all of Kyoto looks like but there is more to it than thatI have had complaints about us not being in the pictures. I swear to you I am in Japan. Cool tour with two Canadians, a Frenchman, an Israeli, and a New YorkerThe trains are truly wondrous. Fast clean and cheapKaren has found her new way of travelling. An interesting thing about the trains is that the attendants bow whenever they leave a train carThe electrical towers look tasty but no GodzillaKyoto was our first trip on the bullet train and our first chance to see a Godzilla attackKyoto is centered around the Kamo river and is a thoroughly modern city with Kyoto Tower and giant crab signs on buildingsThe main draw is the Geiko neighborhoods and the beautiful old shrinesThis the only signage for the Starbucks in Gion. The lantern has the Starbucks symbol but that is itAncient pagoda – Refreshing drinkIzumo No Okuni, the founder of Kabuki. Ironically, women were later banned from performing Kabuki and to this day it is an all male castLike most of Japan, old and new mix fluidlyTeriyaki chicken like I’ve never had before. Oishi!Sugarhill Japanese Fusion. Our favorite of the tripCrema Catalana-Catelonian flan! So simple, so good. We had the best meal of our trip (certainly in Asia-Africa-UK) at a tiny place in Kyoto called Sugarhill. Japanese fusion restaurant. So dang good!Gyoza (dumplings) from store. DeliciousAnother beautiful shrineMatcha ice cream sundae. Chocolate would have been much better. One of the few fails food-wiseSo why did we love Kyoto. Little streets to get to places with small shrines and old buildings on the way (some with Cats). Really good food. Good day trip connections. Lots of history, shrines, temples. and old neighborhoods to explore. Geiko-Maiko spotting (we did spot both but it is very rude to hound them so we didn’t give chase)
