Kyoto’s Best in a Day: Fushimi Inari shrine, Market bites, & Monkey views! | Japan

Kyoto’s Best in a Day: Fushimi Inari shrine, Market bites, & Monkey views! | Japan

[Music] Hi everyone. Back in February, my friends and I went to explore Osaka, Japan for a week. We did a lot of sightseeing, some fun activities, and lots and lots of eating. So, here is my vlog on our first full day. Good morning. Today is our first full day in Japan, and we are going to Kyoto. Our itinerary for today, we’re going to go to the Fushimi Inari Shrine and try to find that bamboo path, too. Um, I do want to avoid the Arshyama bamboo forest. And then after that, we’re going to go to the Nishiki Fish Market, kind of like Sukiji in Tokyo, but it will be in Kyoto. So, I’m excited to try seafood over there. And then after, we’re going to head toward to Ashyama, then head to the monkey park to see monkeys. So, I’m excited for that. Especially cuz it’s going to be snowing. So, it’s just going to be a wonderful contrast in the countryside of Kyoto. Um, it’s supposed to be 28° 28 to 32 this morning with light snow. So, I’m hoping I have the right gear. Um, yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve been in this really cold weather. Ohio design, guys. It took us an hour and a half to get to Kyoto. Just on the the bus, not bus, the train. But it’s pretty cold. [Music] So, we’re really early. It’s 8:00 in the morning and there’s barely crowds. So, that’s nice. [Music] Fushimi Inari Shrine is a popular site known for the thousands of Tori gates along the Inari mountain. Inari is the deity of a good harvest and success in business. Around the town and throughout the shrine, there were fox statues which are Inari’s messengers. Each Tori gate is a donation by an individual or business expressing gratitude to Inari. The donor’s name is written on the gate. It’s estimated that there are about 10,000 Tori gates. [Music] We only explored a couple minutes in and then went to check out the bamboo path. Wow, this place is amazing. So, I think right here there’s a um a prayer place, but surrounded by it is just these beautiful bamboo forest. Like, it’s I want to say not much people come here. It’s it’s a path off of the Inari Shrine path. But, uh yeah, this is a beautiful place. It’s so peaceful and the colors it’s like a tint of yellow instead of being all green. So, it’s just beautiful. So, just for the time right now, it’s 8:45. So, yeah, it’s been about maybe 20 20ish minutes, 20 30 minutes that we’ve been here. Beautiful place. Definitely recommend it. But come early cuz right now the crowds are picking up [Music] Guys, it’s snowing. That’s freaking cool. [Music] I just got a snow thing on my eyelash. That’s what she said. That’s so freaking cool. Oh my gosh. [Music] The snow started to pour heavy as we made our way out. [Music] I was happy that the street food vendors were right next to the shrine so that we can dig in some warm food in this cold weather. How’s it hot, too? [Music] Yeah, everyone is steaming hot. Nothing beats freshly cooked warm food on the snowy morning. [Music] [Music] Put two more shots on that. It is crabby. Oh, there sugar. Sugar is coated on top of this. We’re going to head to Mishiki Fish Market. So that’s kind of be that’s going to be like our early lunch. It’s still snowing, nice and cool. Can’t wait to eat some warm warm food. Nishiki Market is about a/4 mile long of street vendors. The best part, it’s canopy. Perfect to stay covered from the snow. Yeah, I do want to try one. Okay, I don’t have water. Why you need water? Okay, I told myself to eat exotic food, so I’m being risky. This is my first one at Nishiki Market. It’s cold. [Music] Oh, it’s really squiddy. Look like squiddy taste. It’s good. I’m not going to eat the leg though. I’m just going to eat the head. Get the egg. I’m not saying you’re not. It looks scary. Look at the sections. How’s it? Tastes like taco. It tastes more like a squid. That cold. I thought it was going to be hot. Yeah. No, it’s cold. Interesting. I’m just eating the head. No. Try holding in your mouth. Bottom. Bottom. Here. I got the leg. You’re not even eating the leg. I am. Ah, sweet. [Music] I’ll just eat the head. [Music] The best part is the eggs. Then you eat the best part. I don’t like now. Chestnut snack. This is what Bernie’s getting. Hot flakes. This is a plum. It’s like sort of like never believe what this is. They have the flakes over there. What is that? Tomato. Oh, wow. That’s good. Uhoh. It’s his fury kake. No, I don’t know if this is the one I like. Is it? It looks different. Looks similar though. Ooh, we’re coming across all this sushimi. There’s so much to look at. This is not exotic, but I remember last time their oyster is so good. It’s so cold and fresh. But here’s Look how big it is. Super super juicy. Yes. [Music] Oh, it’s so good. I would eat another one. Nice and cold and syrupy. I might order another oyster. So good. Yeah. [Music] I love it. That’s toal. I hate to very soft and buttery. Melt in your mouth. It is only 100. Oh, one second. That’s good. Thank you so much. So, normally hot sized guys, it’s like to the brim here and that’s too tall for us. So, we asked for half cuz me and Eric does not drink. We just wanted something hot to keep us warm. Oh, it’s cold. Oh, okay. Well, the sake will warm us up inside. Very smooth and it’s actually there’s no aftertaste. It’s like there’s no bite to it. It’s just smooth and sweet. We found this little side alley that had tables we can eat on. And you bet, we ordered more and more food. [Music] You got it up. Oh, you’re spilling it all over. Oh, no. Cameron, too. They got some lotus roof. Oh. Of course, you got to have the shrimp. I like this. It’s like a chip. [Music] Feels like heaven on my chopstick. for you. Eat a ducky basyama. [Music] Once we stepped off the train, we noticed that this little town was very touristy. Was just full of people. [Music] It’s a little milky. Oh my god. You need to fix that. How come it’s stiff? [Music] Good. Good. Is it too sour kind? It’s like salty lemon. Salty. Oh. When we made our way to the bridge, the view opened up and you could see the countryside of Kyoto. Beautiful mountains stretched beyond. [Music] Our next stop is the monkey park. We just reached the bottom of the stairs and there’s pictures of the monkeys. So, I’m sure we’re at the right place. [Music] So, there’s like signs everywhere and it’s all stairs so far. [Music] You’re pretty much going uphill. So, consider this a hike and not an easy walk if you want to see the monkeys. [Music] [Music] All right, I think we’re right here. [Music] When we made it to the lookout, heavy snow came. Look at this cute parent with the child. [Music] It was interesting seeing the humans inside feeding the monkeys through the fence. You do have to pay though. I got to capture some side action over here. [Music] It was the monkeys feeding time, so we got to see all of them scrambling to hunt. [Music] On our way out, we experienced light hill. It reminded me of Dip and Dots. [Music] After a long day in Kyoto, we headed back to rest at our hotel in Osaka. Then went to Shinsukai for dinner. We got to see the iconic Sutin Kaku Tower and many statues of Ilikin, who is known as the god of things as they ought to be. If you rub his feet, he will bring good luck. Fun fact, the idea of bilickin didn’t originate in Japan. In fact, it came from an American artist. Shinsukai was full of life, lots of lights, and cool 3D signs. [Music] [Music] There were so many food places to choose from. We ended up going to this one where it had many different types of food. I ordered one of Osaka’s famous food to try which is the Kushi Katsu where the food is deep fried in batter and breadcrumbs. [Music] The others ordered sushimi, chazuk, and udon. [Music] The gang and I sure had a busy day, and so it was nice just getting together to eat. The guys got to try out some games and won some mini prizes. [Music] We slowly made our way back to our hotel, but of course we had to make a mandatory stop at the Kundini store. And that wraps up our first day in Osaka. Mahalo guys for watching and see you guys on the next one. Johnny [Music]

In ending February, my friends and I traveled to Kyoto on February 24, 2025. We visited Fushimi inari shrine, Nishiki market, Arashiyama monkey park, and then ended the night at Shinsekai in Osaka where we got to see the Tsutenkaku tower. We ate so much yummy food! Here is our itinerary vlog for this day.

(0:00): Intro
(0:07): Summary
(1:16): Fushimi Inari Shrine
(2:34): Bamboo path
(4:45): Street food
(5:44): Nishiki Market
(11:66): Arashiyama
(12:16): Monkey park
(14:53): Shinsekai
(16:44): Outro

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