Steeped in history, Kyoto is known as the most beautiful city in Japan. If you have the dreamy world of “Memoirs of a Geisha” in your mind, you won’t be too disappointed.
After arriving by bullet train (awesome! and probably the best/cheapest way to get a ride on the train), we oriented ourselves and headed off on the metro in the direction of our ‘Love Hotel’, Fine Garden, Kyoto – Minami. Most people have head about the Love hotels in Japan, the places where couples rent out a room (usually elaborately decorated) for a small amount of time (a lot offer rates by the hour) to have some ‘private time’ – we were intrigued by the often fancy rooms. We found one that booked for whole nights but wished we’d stayed longer! It was incredible! With features like a massage chair, playstation, projector screen and choice of DVDs, Karaoke machine, arcade games, jacuzzi bath and very reasonably priced, efficient room service, it was the kind of place where you wished the weather was horrible outside so you didn’t feel guilty about staying in!
The next day we headed to the next place to stay, closer to the main attractions of Kyoto, Santiago Guest House. A lovely backpackers hostel that had little curtains on each of the bunks (the Japanese really appreciate privacy and so did we, you wouldn’t think a little curtain would make so much difference!)
Anyway, we were now in the heart of the city, just down the street from Gion corner (where the Geisha’s and Maiko (apprentice geisha’s) hang out). Geishas are known as Geiko’s in Kyoto dialect.
During our stay we…
…had a bit of an explore and found a beautiful cemetery and Gion corner…
…visited some magnificent temples and met some polite friendly school children that were practicing their English…
…visited Arashiyama and the stunning bamboo forest in the Sagano area (and the beautiful Tenryu-ji Temple that had amazing toilets!)
…and the elegant Golden Pavilion…
…managed to watch a Judo tournament at Budo sports centre followed by some archery…
And we spent an evening watching GEAR, a fascinating, thoroughly entertaining performance combining mime, break-dancing, juggling and magic in a moving show telling the story of a doll that comes to life in a factory. It sounds strange and silly but it was truly mesmerising, a great performance by all involved.
On our last day in Kyoto, we visited the Fushimi Inari shine (the famous orange Tori gates), with thousands of gates stretching over about 4km, it was a fun hike up and down shallow steps…
And of course, in Kyoto we enjoyed some amazing food…
Particularly a little place called ‘Kyo Kiyomizu Abura Soba Nekomata Restaurant’ that specialises in Abura Soba noodles, and provides you with a little instruction sheet to tell you exactly how to eat them to make sure you taste them at their very best (note on the instructions that if you stir in an egg it gives it a taste more like Italian carbonara – yum!)
We had a Chirimen Sansho Rice set and an original soba noodles – delicious doesn’t even begin to explain!
This place is a MUST VISIT for anyone that goes to Kyoto [Open: 11:00-21:00 (L.O. 20:30), Closed on Wed.; Tel: 075-551-5088; On the east side of Higashioji, south of Kiyomizu-zaka.]
There is only room for about 15 to 20 people but it’s definitely waiting around if it’s full.
