Kyoto Travel Guide Vlog | Best Things to Do and See in Japan

Kyoto Travel Guide Vlog | Best Things to Do and See in Japan

[Music] it’s no surprise that Kyoto has earned its place as one of the world’s most treasured travel destinations Visitors from every corner of the globe are drawn here Eager to step into a living postcard where history and beauty collide we came chasing one of those iconic bucketless dreams to stand beneath Kyoto’s famous cherry trees and watch the blossom swirl down like soft confetti We’re John and Bev and we are the retirement travelers If you’re just finding us we are an American senior travel couple who are on the adventure of our lives We’re traveling China Japan and South Korea on this leg So hit subscribe and follow along on our little travel log We are a few weeks ahead of our videos so if you’re wondering where we are in the world we keep our Instagram updated to our current location so follow us there In a recent video we wrapped up our incredible adventure through China ending in the colorful city of Shanghai our ninth and final stop on our high-speed rail adventure Leaving China was bittersweet We had hearts full of memories and phones bursting with photos but we knew it was time to trade red lanterns for pink cherry blossoms and chase our next exciting adventure We boarded a China Eastern flight to Tokyo Upon landing we did what we always do headed straight for the subway station But coming straight from China’s very easy to navigate metro system to Japan’s unbelievably confusing network threw us a curveball we didn’t see coming Our first surprise the Tokyo Metro isn’t just one system It’s a confetti explosion of companies each with their own maps ticket machines and mysterious color-coded systems And listen we’re Metro people We’ve zipped through more cities than you can imagine without breaking a sweat But Japan Japan humbled us We decided to base ourselves in nearby Yokohama for a few days before making our way to Kyoto Yokohama turned out to be a perfect choice for some jetlag recovery for our daughter son-in-law and our sweetie Eevee When the kids arrived at the hotel Eevee delivered her best hugs brightest grin and that special sparkle reserved for Papa who teases her endlessly and lovingly The next day once everyone was semihuman and had at least one coffee or juice box in hand we wrangled our luggage and boarded a train bound for Coyoto Naturally the first challenge was once again deciphering Tokyo’s subway system to locate the right platform for our high-speed train But eventually we emerged victorious and found our way on board That was too easy We We still have 10 minutes We booked first class a small luxury for our crew of weary travelers and soon everyone was nestled in their plush seats snacks in hand watching the countryside zip by at lightning speed We checked into the Hyatt Place Kyoto which was conveniently located right next to a metro station One door not one block one door and we made it to the high flows Our first night in Keyoto greeted us with rain the kind that politely tells you to seek soup So we wandered umbrellas in hand to Wagu Ramen Showman a cozy neighborhood spot where you leave your shoes at the door and let the broth work its magic The noodles were chewy the beef was rich and the whole place smelled like comfort It was the kind of meal that quiets a table at least until the slurping starts The next morning we braved the metro once more and set out to see one of Kyoto’s most iconic spots Fushimi Anari Tata So a few years ago we were hiking in Chinua in Italy And on the video we said we were hikers Okay let’s do it We can do this We can do it We’re hikers these days you know We’re hikers these days you know That’s right And our granddaughter who was about 5 years old at the time maybe four she came around the corner She heard it on YouTube Our daughter was watching it and she said “What they’re hikers now?” And so it’s kind of funny Here we are with her hiking today You’ve probably seen it on Instagram The tunnel of fiery red orange Tory gates that seems to stretch into infinity This Shinto shrine dedicated to Anari the deity of rice business and foxes Yes foxes was founded in 7-Eleven AD and is known for its thousands of Tory gates donated by grateful businesses hoping for good fortune We joined the slowmoving stream of pilgrims and tourists and made our way uphill This is like Instagram heaven here on this walkway This is the Instagram capital of the world right here I see this on Instagram all the time These columns these orange columns at this temple and this hike And you know I just didn’t realize they just go on and on and on I just thought they were one little section Short section Yeah But this is a long walk and it’s beautiful What a beautiful place We knew there would be a lot of gates but 10,000 It felt like a time loop with better scenery It was so beautiful and it’s a memory we won’t soon forget Certainly our favorite experience in Kyoto Okay the final push I mean literally John’s pushing me I’m giving her a little hill assist There’s a big long hill to the end I love hill assist If your man isn’t giving you hill assist you’re missing out If you look really carefully you can see the steam coming off of our bodies It is so humid up here Very And we’re hot and tired Oh my gosh But we’re almost there This is the last bit I wonder how did it get the name the mountain trail cuz somebody was clever Very clever Wow I don’t know how many steps We got a lot of steps Hold on honey Slow down the gears Running into people It’s hard to stop pushing Sometimes I think hill assist is just a way for him to rest his hand on my back No it’s actually delivering results It is needed results Is this a top i I think this that is down We’ve been coming up This is the top Oh this is a top already We already here You’re here Congratulations Yes we made it All the way to the top Say hi Hello Hello Hello So nice to meet the retirement travelers from After working up an appetite we made our way to the Ponto District a narrow alley along the river filled with restaurants charm and the occasional geisha sighting We landed at a Wagu beef house which delivers everything we hoped for Perfectly marbled steak cooked to a buttery bliss We’ve learned that traveling with a seven-year-old requires us to stop and allow some playtime And what better place to make memories than in a park surrounded by cherry trees in bloom [Applause] That was awesome Afterward we wandered into Gillon Kyoto’s geisha district and possibly the most photogenic neighborhood this side of the 18th century Picture wooden tea houses lantern lit alleys and cobblestones that practically hum with history While poking around a tiny shop tucked between two timeless facades we stumbled upon a childized kimono Evie’s face lit up at the thought of something so beautiful Naturally she chose pink because pink isn’t just a color it’s a lifestyle She asked for a fan to complete the look and I said yes without hesitation What Evie didn’t know is that her grandmother holds the title of the queen of frivvality And if she hangs out with Grammy enough she might just be the next in line to the throne The shopkeeper clearly a savvy entrepreneur suggested a sash and a hair pin Before we could blink Eevee was decked out head to toe faster than you could say imperial makeover And that is how Gon gained a pint-sized empress on a royal parade I’m going to bring this to school You’re going to bring it to school i first Yeah You look so gorgeous Evie While in Gueon we also visited Yasaka Pagota a towering wooden structure from the 15th century It’s five elegant stories of Zen era craftsmanship [Music] Our hotel was just a stones throw from the Kyoto Imperial Palace the former home of emperors back when Kyoto ruled the royal roost While most of the palace structures are reconstructions the grounds themselves are the real showstopper Immaculate gardens and serene koi ponds Not seeing any fish here today It seems that they’re being koi I’m sorry I can’t help myself Every day I hear a little dad joke or 10 dad jokes or 20 dad jokes He just doesn’t stop You don’t stop do you i don’t stop It’s the secret to a happy marriage Marry someone who makes you laugh That’s right You make me laugh Do I ever make you laugh uh yes All the time I laugh at her all the time That’s awful I can be funny too you know Yeah she is Eevee discovered yet another park to conquer Her personal mission it seems While Bev wandered off in pursuit of cherry blossoms camera in hand and creative gears turning And then came one of our favorite meals kiten sushi or conveyor belt sushi If you’ve never done this imagine tiny plates of sushi gliding past you like a neverending food fashion show Pick what you want stack your dishes and settle up by color-coded plate It was fun fast and deeply satisfying Unless you’re a certain seven-year-old who loves salmon row but refuses to eat rice Go figure We ate until everyone was stuffed counted our plates and Tom and Ashley treated us all We’ve made it to the bamboo forest Apparently we’re not the only ones that knew about it I don’t think so I watched you guys You watch us Awesome Nice to meet you Nice to meet you Love you guys How are you california Awesome Watch your video No trip to Kyoto is complete without a visit to Arashiamyama bamboo grove We had heard that the secret to enjoying it is to arrive very early We did not We showed up just in time to join every other tourist in Japan All of us funneling through the narrow path like polite sardines Okay so we are have arrived in the main path and we along with many other people are walking on a beautiful shaded trail full of bamboos [Music] But to get a good Instagram we’ve been kind of bamboozled It’s hard to get a shot by yourself So that was Keyoto our first little bite of Japan It was tasty crowded beautiful occasionally wet and utterly unforgettable From here we’re hopping over to South Korea for the next leg of the journey but we’ll be back Our plan is to return to southern Japan and work our way north If this is what Japan serves up in the first act we can’t wait for the next Be sure to hit subscribe and follow along on our retirement journey around the world

Kyoto, Japan was our next stop of this Asian adventure. Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart and former imperial capital. It is a city where ancient traditions seamlessly blend with modern life. Renowned for its over 1,600 Buddhist temples, tranquil Shinto shrines, meticulously preserved tea houses, and centuries-old geisha districts like Gion, Kyoto offers a profound glimpse into Japan’s rich heritage. We strolled through the vermillion torii gates of Fushimi Inari, marveled at the golden splendor of Kinkaku-ji, and relaxed among the bamboo groves of Arashiyama. With its seasonal beauty—cherry blossoms in spring and fiery maple leaves in autumn—Kyoto captures the essence of timeless Japan in every season. It is a must visit when going to Japan.

Thanks for following along with us and happy journeys,
John and Bev

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