Kyoto Gratitude

There are so many things to see and do here, that I cannot disagree with those that consider Kyoto to be the cultural hub of Japan. This Unseasoned Traveler is grateful to have gotten to experience just a small portion of what Kyoto has to offer. One could visit here for months and not scratch the surface.

Kyoto has its fair share of cherry blossom trees, and….

the trees are even more beautiful at night.

But, please, let me say, that the Bamboo Forest offers some strong competition to the cherry trees. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is an approximately 400 meter road that runs from Nonomiya Shrine through the north gate of Tenryuji Temple to Okochi Sanso. The forest is on both sides of the road. The bamboo stalks are immense. If it is a sunny day, the sunlight filters through the bamboo; if it is a cloudy or rainy day, it gets dark even during the day.

A totally different kind of forest is the Kimono Forest located not far from the Bamboo Forest. The Kimono Forest is a collection of cylinder-shaped pillars that frame a variety of fabulous fabrics that have been used and are still being used to make kimonos. This attraction is free to all, and is a particular delight for those using the train station where the exhibition is located.

The Fushimi Inari Shrine is an important Shinto Shrine in southern Kyoto. It is located in a heavily wooded forest, and the caretakers of the grounds warn visitors about the presence of monkeys and wild boar. The shrine is open all day and all night. The trip up to the shrine is difficult. Hikers have a choice of two trails, but neither is easy, and the trails converge at a certain point. This Unseasoned Traveler only finished 75% of one of the trails. The steps are unrelenting and seemly multiply out of thin air. Vibrant orange gates line the steps, one right after the other. Lights help visitors hike after dark by creating a strange orange glow.

There are soooo many more things to recommend Kyoto. The district of Higashiyama is an delightful combination of devotion, quiet spaces, stunning vistas and crazy shopping for vintage kimonos.

Shoppers get to work their way through rows and floors of garments. Racks and racks of kimonos make selections challenging even for the most experienced shopper as it is easy to become enticed by more than one beautiful piece.

Japan is a nation of snack lovers. There are snacks for sale all over the place, but in downtown Kyoto you can find a large selection of freshly formed rice triangles….in ohhhh, so many flavors. A popular time for purchasing onigiri is on the way home from work in the evening….

Pick up a dozen or so to take home to the family. The onigiri are continuously made fresh …you can see them being made….delish and so much fun…..sometimes the lines are long, but no one seems to mind.

Kyoto is clean; you won’t find littering here. There is no jaywalking at all. Life bustles in Kyoto, but life is not frantic. People are courteous and polite and love to get dressed up in traditional clothing. Tourists are encouraged to try the clothing as well. I see the wearing and sharing as a measure of pride in heritage and nation.

Next time….Tokyo….The Unseasoned Traveler