Fall in Kyoto | Day Trips to Arashiyama and Uji, Philosopher’s Path Temples | Japan Travel Vlog
Starting in Tokyo Station, we are setting off on a weeklong journey to Japan’s former capital of Kyoto Many aspects of traditional Japanese culture originate from this city filled with shrines and natural beauty Lets start off by gathering some snacks and drinks for the 2 hour and 15 minute Shinkansen ride This looks like one of those cool coffee and matcha vending machines that shows you how its making your drink on the spot Lets give it a try! Freshly hot and tasty matcha latte No Shinkansen trip is complete without a bento box or three A yakiniku bento is always a good option because you can taste grilled meat without smelling like smoke Beautiful view of sunshine through the clouds Looking for a glimpse of Mt. Fuji but the clouds were not cooperating today Arrived at Kyoto Right by the entrance is a spacious walk-in closet Large bathroom with a separated toilet and shower The shower head dispenses ultra-fine water droplets that make it feel like a soft mist is cleansing you Here’s the kitchen area with a sink, coffee maker, and stovetop We have a nice view from the corner window of the river and also a sofa and two double-sized beds There’s also a sake and wine happy hour in the lobby for a free drink each day Check out the cute cat rolling around on the ground There’s quite a few vintage clothing stores in Kyoto’s main shopping area along Shijo Street Couldn’t resist stopping at this donut shop featuring reindeer donuts Not only cute but also tasty! Well that’s a huge stick of butter Bought a blind box magnet at this Dandadan anime popup We are now at Kyoto’s famous nightlife spot filled with bars and restaurants We ordered an assortment of skewers and small plates While yakitori is specifically grilled chicken on a skewer kushiyaki includes any grilled meats or vegetables on a skewer so this place had plenty of interesting combinations to try Lots of locals like hanging out by the river This alley includes many different styles of bars such as this one specializing in gin cocktails These bird lanterns are super cute This small knick knack shop is completely rabbit themed Walking back to the hotel and burning off them calories Trying out this Tokyo Banana collab ice cream cone creamy and delicious banana flavor Found a nearby Japanese breakfast place near our hotel Healthy and delicious Buses are the main form of public transportation in Kyoto We are now on our way to the Silver Pavilion from there we will take a stroll down the Philosopher’s Path stopping at Eikandō Temple and ending at Nanzen-ji But first a quick stop for matcha Looks like a Jpop singer Momoko Kanade has been here before Not the best matcha latte Note to self: order coffee at a coffee shop This beautiful sand sculpture is said to represent Mt. Fuji So beautifully smooth and calming to look at The variety of features such as this sand garden the various ponds and surrounding trees make this an incredibly beautiful and serene garden Admiring the beautiful moss that covers the grounds here View from the top of the walking path Temple in the forefront, city in the background While the gold pavilion is actually covered in gold the Silver Pavilion is not covered in silver This is due to money problems that happened during construction but it is said that the temple is coated in dark paint reflecting the moonlight at night making the temple appear to glow silver in the light I guess aliens do exist… The latte was absolutely delicious Time to take a stroll down the Philosopher’s Path Is this cat also philosophizing about life? This path is named after a Kyoto University philosophy professor who walked this route as a form of daily meditation Loving the cute way this dog runs The path follows a cherry-tree-lined canal from the Silver Pavilion all the way to Nanzen-ji Temple The entire walk takes about 30 minutes but there’s a lot to see on the way so realistically it’ll take a lot longer Check out the single flower floating down the river The Japanese version of Smokey the Bear One cat… Two cats… Three cats! This temple is known for its foliage and nighttime illuminations during the fall Absolutely breathtaking view of the sun above the clouds Climbing to Tahoto Pagoda Well worth the climb for this view Hojo Pond is another highlight at this temple with small streams around the temple grounds connecting here Finally reaching the other end of the Philosopher’s Path This is Sanmon Gate, Japan’s biggest temple gate Climbing up to the balcony is possible for a fee of 500 yen but it’s easy to admire just from the ground Now climbing to the top of the aqueduct This area is a hidden gem showing a unique view of the city’s transportation of water Time to find some boba This shop uses a tea espresso machine to brew their drinks which gives the drinks a nice, strong tea flavor Earlier we had made a reservation for this create-your-own perfume shop where you can pick from dozens of fragrances These fragrances will then be mixed on the spot to create a personalized perfume just for you Mixing completed! You also get to name your perfume that will get printed on the label We named it after our inspiring walk earlier today that will stay with us after we leave Kyoto Now heading to dinner through Nishiki Market Can’t resist a yakiniku restaurant with dry aged meats Prepping the grill with beef fat Trying the dry-aged thick-cut beef tongue for the first time which was good, but quite different from the thin-cut version Really good ventiliation system to reduce smoke in the air Some must have sides to cut through the fattiness of the beef Plan for the day is to take the train to Arashiyama which is known for its bamboo forest, bridge, and temples While it is a very touristy destination it is one of our favorite places and an absolute must-visit Here we are in Arashiyama with a beautiful view of the Katsura River Look at all of the pedestrians The soba place we wanted to dine at was fully booked so we went to a Sichuan mapo tofu restaurant instead Nice view of the shopping street from the restaurant What’s odd about the menu is that there is numbing tofu and spicy tofu but not a numbing and spicy tofu which is the traditional Sichuan mala flavor but who am I to complain, all of the food was delicious The temple grounds are quiet and peaceful compared to other nearby temples in Arashiyama A great place not too far away from the main street to get away from the crowds Behind the main temple is a garden area with walkways to separate buildings The garden is very well maintained Amazing that such sights are hidden from plain view which makes it all the more enjoyable to wander off from the main tourist attractions because Kyoto is full of wonders to be discovered No need to rush No need to follow the crowds Just follow where your feet take you and enjoy the moment Trying out a sutra copying exercise using a calligraphy pen Looks like this fluffy dog is on a neighborhood walk greeting everyone on the way Not the right timing to view this lotus pond This is the only shrine in Japan for praying for your hair Walking through the bamboo forest which is crowded as usual Lots of interesting products for Snoopy fans at this shop This 2nd floor restaurant has great views of the street and delicious desserts full of traditional Japanese toppings Nighttime has arrived and shops are getting ready to close Waiting for the bus back to the city center Dinner time This malatang chain is quite popular here in Kyoto with a perfect amount of spiciness and umami Now for our gachipon roll of the day Not the one that we wanted but still very cute Let’s take some time to jam out with these jazzy street musicians Crazy amount of white pigeons resting in the trees Plan for the day is to travel to Uji a town known for its green tea production with its matcha being the most desired in the world We will be visiting Byodo-in Temple while there which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 Ico the Platypus will get us there safely, right? And here we are at Uji Lovely day for a trip to Uji Stumbled upon this family-owned restaurant with set-course style meals and a cozy atmosphere The lunch set includes five kinds of daily obanzai dishes which are traditional Kyoto-style home-cooked cuisine as well as a main protein dish from the daily menu The locally sourced ingredients taste very fresh Great way to end the meal with included coffee and dessert This is a really good place to have lunch in Uji First matcha purchase of the day Byodo-in Temple is the main tourist attraction in Uji with its Phoenix Hall being the main feature The hall is named after its shape and the two phoenix statues on its roof You’ll see this hall if you look on the back of the 10 yen coin Entrance fee includes access to the museum “Hoshokan” which contains various National Treasures A really nice experience that adds a lot to the temple visit Having previously visited a replica of this temple in Hawaii the original is much grander in scale and natural beauty Well worth a visit even if you have seen the replica Can’t leave Uji without having another matcha latte Oops 🙃 Fits right in with the moss ball plants in the back Really smooth and delicious tasting Time to head for dinner We’re here for a traditional Japanese dining experience where food is grilled using an irori which is a large sunken hearth fired with charcoal Watching a master in action The charcoal-grilled Atka mackerel is a must try Also trying out the beef steak bowl which is cooked to perfection with a pink center After dinner we made it back to Kyoto’s downtown area Always nice to stop and listen to a jam session Anyone a Detective Conan fan? Nightly boba to cap off the day and time to head back Stay tuned for part 2 of our Kyoto adventures
Bringing you along for the first part of a 7 day trip to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan. We’ll be exploring the shopping streets and food, take a stroll down the Philosopher’s Path and visit the historic temples along the way, and create our own unique fragrance. On day trips to Arashiyama and Uji, we’ll sample the area’s famous matcha tea, visit both hidden and popular temples, and try rare Japanese irori cooked cuisine.
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:33 Day 1 – Tokyo Station Departure
02:17 Hotel Room Tour
03:01 Shopping Area at Night
03:49 Pontocho Alley
05:09 Day 2 – Kyoto Temples
05:58 Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
07:55 Philosopher’s Path
09:32 Eikando Temple
11:24 Nanzen-ji Temple
12:18 Perfume Making
13:19 Yakiniku Dinner
14:02 Day 3 – Arashiyama
15:48 Seiryoji (Saga Shakado) Temple
18:29 Mikami Shrine and Bamboo Forest
18:52 Arashiyama Snoopy and Dessert
19:26 Kyoto Malatang Dinner and Jazz Street Performers
20:35 Day 4 – Uji
22:19 Byodo-in Temple
24:33 Irori Dinner
Places Visited:
Hotel Abest Grande Kyoto Kiyomizu
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mMV4uL59NPTUjLUS6
Chiikawa Land Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4AKecMfrbLsu3MJq7
koé donuts Kyoto
https://maps.app.goo.gl/j1wqyogcXA3t9Tvc9
Pontocho Alley
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kD3FGnyBbCiJGiR1A
Kushiyaki Manten Pontochō-ten
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BVNSxJsKnoSaZNv48
Pontocho Usagiya
https://maps.app.goo.gl/oSuPR2MKcF1q4mns6
Lorimer Kyoto Jr.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7eYAhxLtGCWQAVH99
Café KaKu
https://maps.app.goo.gl/vBwtuogogMbSHaor8
Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/X61JBPTnu3tx5gCa7
AG COFFEE.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/stYhZgNheyPESkE3A
Philosopher’s Path
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ionvsXFsJ4uj8UrM6
Eikandō Temple
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yjoBBKzEUN1LFgXs7
Nanzen-ji
https://maps.app.goo.gl/3BJ79NHkTTedFf5PA
Moxi Moxi Kyoto
https://maps.app.goo.gl/w5Vbk5VzCxRWX76a6
My Only Fragrance Teramachi
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z9mWPwnNL6VKKGSL9
Wagyu Yakiniku Oh-yake Kyoto
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wDUgMKJthNgd9VgPA
Brother Tofu Kyoto Arashiyama Honten (store appears to have closed)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/kmcNtgsk2kjeuMtr9
Fukujuen
https://maps.app.goo.gl/EMRYG9oT7HRtQdVs9
Seiryōji (Saga Shakadō) Temple
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4o1EwWzob3nrWisi8
Mikami Shrine
https://maps.app.goo.gl/v1Eor9bd892xnyJu8
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
https://maps.app.goo.gl/u4c1sX4QonvW4fsf6
SNOOPY茶屋 京都・嵐山店
https://maps.app.goo.gl/xAYGkbAoRFLregxP8
Arashiyama Sakura Mochi Rice
https://maps.app.goo.gl/SZyCjjG2guQVAUxb7
YGF Malatang – Kyoto Kawaramachi
https://maps.app.goo.gl/9xJQoVZKCMZ65fqEA
Nico – Charcoal Grilled Meat and Kyoto Vegetables
https://maps.app.goo.gl/piowGi35bsW9Eih98
Byodo-in Temple
https://maps.app.goo.gl/2vtBJnPXiaS1TZwk8
Masuda Chaho
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GSEKQnbr7VNqbTMfA
Uji Park
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ziYtFmu9tSvDook89
Irori Beniya
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ftB5GQG5YVkuPtV16
Music Credits:
湖面のワルツ by おしょう
デイドリーム by ハヤシユウ
After-Five by yuhei komatsu
夜風とコーヒー by のる
Luminous time by 蒲鉾さちこ
Night wind by くれっぷ
流れ星を探して by のる
Sigh of the City by MFP
風とドライブ・ウェイ by のる
あなたに恋をしなければ by 龍崎一
Floating with You in Dreams by 松浦洋介
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