Konnichiwa, friends. Kyoto was planned as the middle leg of our Japan trip and a chance to spend time away from urban centers. As much as I enjoyed the towering neon signs and the bustling subway system of Tokyo, I was quite looking forward to the change of pace it would offer.
We rolled in via Kyoto station, which is a marvel of its own, and a great spot to see impressive architecture meet the marvel of their many various train lines. The station contains enough hidden treasures (like a full-scale Lego model of the station itself) and beautiful sights to spend a day exploring.
Once I figured out how to leave the station on the proper side to reach our hotel, the city didn’t disappoint either.
We visited a handful of beautiful temples and shrines, learning about the country’s storied history and walking through their beautifully-maintained gardens. Each morning, we wandered out to a nearby bakery to sample different pastries like the melon cream buns that I’ll surely miss most.
A few other highlights include: Passing by Nintendo’s HQ building, finding an incredible family-run Udon shop, Kyoto aquarium, and taking a quick lesson in pottery from local artisans to craft myself a new coffee mug.
Our final stop of the trip is Osaka, taking us back into a lively metropolis and eventually to brave the crowd at Universal Studios Japan. Thanks for reading!