Kyoto served as the capital of Japan for more than 1,000 years (from 794 to 1868). It is the center of Japanese culture and Buddhism.
We left early for our day trip to Kyoto, Japan.
From Osaka to Kyoto, we took the Hankyu Umeda line to Hankyu Arashiyama Station with a travel time of 40 minutes. We saw a lot of tourists dressed in traditional kimonos – a similar experience we tried during my Asakusa, Tokyo trip.
From the Hankyu Arashiyama Station, we walked around Arashiyama. We had a very relaxed exploration and just enjoyed the view letting our feet take us to different places.
Here are the things we did in Kyoto
Lunch at Kawaii Cafe: there are so many cute cafes in Japan and we didn’t pass on the opportunity to try one in Kyoto.
Enjoy a Cremia Ice Cream: the smoothest and richest soft-serve ice cream I ever tried. Cremia is also hailed as the best dessert in Japan.
Walk through the Sagano Bamboo Forest: walking through the forest reminds me of the soft Bamboo bedsheets I have at home. It was crowded when we visited but it is included in the Ministry of Environment’s 100 Soundscapes of Japan – an innovative effort meant to combat noise pollution across the country.
A visit to the Kiyomizudera Temple: the most popular temple in Kyoto for its wooden terrace. It offers a stunning view of the sunset overlooking the city.
Try the Glazed Sweet Potato: we saw these sweet potato skewer around Kyoto and we had to try it! Kyoto has a lot of interesting streetfood offerings that you can even try for free ( free taste for packed snacks).
Have coffee at Starbucks Kyoto: the most popular Starbucks in Ninenzaka Yasaka Chaya is housed in a 100-year-old traditional Japanese house. I enjoyed my iced coffee sitting Japanese style. The second floor has traditional tatami Bamboo mats.
After our caffeine fix, we headed back to Osaka for dinner. In Dotonbori, we were welcomed with flashy neon lights, gigantic signages, and lively restaurants. It was a very busy night and we had to line up for a few minutes to get seats in a sushi train restaurant.
Before heading back to the hotel, I took a photo with the popular Glico Running Man signage. The first Glico sign was installed in 1935 and over the years it has become a famous landmark of Osaka and a favorite spot for tourists.
The view on our walk back to the hotel.
I remember feeling so tired that night and I wanted to crawl back into my bed back home. But now that I am home and comfortable, I missed that feeling after a day of exploration.
To be continued…
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