This Kyoto Day Trip Didnβt Suck! πππ΅
Right on the edge of Gon, one of the busiest districts in Kyoto is Kenji Temple. And somehow once you step inside, everything slows down. It’s the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, founded in 1202 by a monk who also introduced green tea to Japan, which makes him something of a national treasure. The temple grounds are classic Zen. Wide open spaces, perfectly rad gardens, sliding doors, and not a single decoration out of place. The architecture is calm without being boring. Inside the main hall, there’s a massive ceiling painting of twin dragons added for the temple’s 800th anniversary in 2002. It’s dramatic, yes, but somehow doesn’t ruin the vibe. Even the dragons are contemplative here. It’s very, very quiet. There’s nobody here. Just us. Yeah. Yeah. This is the bus or it’s just quiet people. Yeah. Okay. Bye-bye. Just a short train ride south of Kyoto is Uji, a small riverside town with two main claims to fame. Matcha and the temple on the back of the 10-y coin. Dave thinks we need bear bells. We’re literally in the middle of town. I mean, in case there’s any little bears, you know those city bears that you have. You’ve not seen them clearly. You don’t see them in cities cuz all the bells. So, the mermaid. Compared to the tourist heavy districts in Kyoto, Uji felt calm, walkable, and more connected to everyday life. The riverside walk along the Uji River was easily one of our favorite parts of the day. Fewer crowds, fewer shops trying to sell you Kyoto branded socks, and more space to just exist. Quiet, treelined, and with little bridges and walking paths that meander through pockets of park and past shrines you probably won’t find in any guide book. Tallest one in Japan, apparently. Tallest stone one. Oh, it’s a 13 stone pig, not 13tory. [Music] Bodto in Temple is Uji’s big claim to fame and dates to the 11th century. The main hall, known as the Phoenix Hall, thanks to the bronze birds perched on its roof, is one of the few surviving pieces of Hyen period architecture. The entire layout, including the pond and the gardens, was designed to represent a Buddhist paradise and makes it feel like it’s floating. Inside is a statue of Amida Buddha that’s more than 900 years old and still looks incredibly composed, especially considering how many school groups pass through here every day. We didn’t film inside because photography isn’t allowed. Entry is in small timed groups with a Japanese speaking guide, but brochures in English, Chinese, and Korean are available so you can follow along. Uji itself is a nice break from Kyoto’s intensity. You can walk along the river, visit quiet tea shops, and taste matcha in just about every possible form, and even some things that shouldn’t work, but do. If you’re spending more than a couple of days in Kyoto, Uji makes for a perfect half-day trip. It’s quiet, scenic, and refreshingly normal, which is something Kyoto doesn’t always do well. Thanks so much for watching and if you liked this one, give it a like, a subscribe, and check out some of our other travel videos.
Found: Kyotoβs Quiet Side (It Still Exists)!!! Kennin-ji Temple and Uji: A Zen escape in Kyoto β oneβs got dragons, the otherβs got matcha, and neither tried to sell us a selfie stick!
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1 Comment
Can't believe I missed the notification, this looks amazing!