Kyoto With A Side Of Nara!

I've spent four days in this walking city and have averaged about 10+ miles per day on foot! Like any other "big" city I've been to, I didn't prefer it at first sight but give it a day of settling in and my perspective changes. Locals here are beyond nice, polite and helpful. The secret to Kyoto in my POV is leaving the big busy streets for the little side streets and taking the trains to areas outside of downtown Kyoto. While they may not provide you with the historical aspect of the many temples and shrines in Kyoto, these are the areas where you can really appreciate the beauty of this city and its culture and traditions. 

It took me about 2 or so days to adjust to Kyoto's transit system. The transit map had 

 more colors and lines connecting than my brain wanted to comprehend but once I got the hang of it, it was pretty smooth sailing. When in doubt, find your way to Kyoto station! Having said that, the transit system here is very traveler convenient. The city buses will take you to just about anywhere you want to go either on a $5 all day pass or $2 a trip. Lines are unavoidable but most folks are polite and follow the rules of engagement, however, I have come across two instances in which someone has tried to cut in front of the unassuming foreigner, me, in which they've met my elbow. 

Prior to coming, the two must visit spots in Kyoto for me was the Fushimi Inari Shrine and the Path of Bamboo in Arashiyama. The Path of Bamboo, while made for stunning photos, was a little under whelming because it's a short path. If you're coming out to this area, the autumn foliage in the Arashiyama park was pretty spectacular and made the trip more than worth it. The Fushimi Inari did not disappoint. I had really no concept of this shrine prior to coming other than that the red gates looked cool. I went early in the morning, it's an easy 10 minute ride from Kyoto station and was met by peace and quiet at 730am. Making the trip up to the top of Mount Inari will take about an hour and well worth the steps. Passing through 10,000 hand built red gates, at a cost of about $40k each, humbles you with a sense of peace and awe. By the time I made my way out at 10am, the place was a zoo. 

 I was on the fence about making day trips outside of Kyoto but very glad that I did. I chose Nara as my day trip destination. It's about a 45 minute trip on the rapid subway, as opposed to the 76 minutes it'd take on the regional train. The little town was a nice break from the hustle of Kyoto. Folks are enamored by the deers in Nara, known as the golden deers, but I see deers all the time at home. I was enamored by the thousands, as in 4,000, stone lanterns that line the parks on the way up to the Kasuga Takisha Shrine. If you're in Kyoto, this day trip is much recommended!  Lastly, for the best autumn foliage, aside from the Arashiyama Park, the Path of Philosphy near the Ginkaku Ji Temple is pretty ideal. I hear when it's cherry blossom season, the path is a sight to behold! For the idyllic narrow paths, head towards the Kiyomizu Temple area!

Food is always a highlight for me on my trips. After all, I'm averaging 10 miles a day on foot! I've been to the best place in Kyoto for tonkatsu at Katsukara thanks to a trip from my friend Ray. Also, a tip from Ray, I stood in line with a bunch of Japanese folks for the best udon noodles at Omen. And that was a long line! I've had my share of street food as well! My favorite so far are the sweet potato stuffed pastry fish. I've had my daily matcha lattes to start my mornings off. A good meal here will cost you about $20. What may seem like a subpar meal, but a good one back home, would go for no more than $8.

My home here in Kyoto have been spent at what the folks here call a capsule. It's all of 37 square feet, I paid for the upgrade from 21 square feet, that served as my room. I can literally touch the ceiling with my feet when I stretch and probably both walls when with my hands. I came with a half filled backpack so space is of little significance to me. I will attest that large suitcases have caused frustration for my fellow travelers. At least they can find relaxation in the awesome hot tub spa and sauna on the bottom floor!

Although Christmas music and decorations run the streets of Kyoto, today is Thanksgiving back in the US. I'm most thankful for the health of those close to me. Because of that, I don't have any big worries. Any other worries yields choices and ultimately, a path to resolution. Peace and love to my family and friends back home! 

Next up, on the Shinkansen bullet train to Tokyo!