Dave decided to brave a Japanese barber shop for a much-needed haircut and beard trim. The barber, a lovely chap who somehow managed to sound uncannily like Cookie Monster, wielded an impressive array of specialised scissors, towels and trimmers to freshen him up for the rest of our trip.
With the hair taken care of, we set our sights on a day trip to Nara. But first, a caffeine pit stop was in order. We popped into 2050, a trendy, minimalist coffee shop that epitomises Japanese efficiency with its self-service system. Armed with our coffees and some hastily grabbed baked goods from the train station, we were ready for our day trip.
Nara Deer Park
The train ride to Nara was quick, and after just a short (but very hot) walk from the station, we were greeted by a vast welcoming committee of deer. These deer aren’t your average, shy forest dwellers. Oh no. These guys are seasoned professionals in the art of snack-acquisition. We purchased some deer crackers, and suddenly found ourselves the center of attention in a deer flash mob – nudging, nibbling, and if you're not quick enough, being escorted down the path by a gang of surprisingly assertive deer.
We continued to wander through the expansive park to visit the Kasuga Taisha shrine. Its vibrant orange colour immediately caught our eye. In Shinto belief, orange (or more specifically, the vermilion colour) is believed to ward off evil spirits. It's also associated with the sun, symbolising life and vitality - fitting for these beautiful, ancient structures that have stood the test of time.
Next on our list was the Yoshikien Garden. While its neighbor, the Isuien Garden, often steals the spotlight, we found Yoshikien to be a hidden gem. These smaller, lesser-known gardens offered a tranquil respite from the bustling park, showcasing the meticulous care and artistry of Japanese landscaping.
No trip to Nara would be complete without sampling some local treats. We lined up for the famous freshly made mochi with red bean paste. For the uninitiated, mochi is a soft, chewy rice cake made from pounded rice, often filled with sweet bean paste. The combination of the gooey mochi and the sweet, smooth red bean was absolutely delicious - a perfect end to our Nara adventure.
Later that evening we rallied our energy for dinner at a nearby yakitori restaurant, the perfect comfort food after another day of exploration.
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
The next day, despite our bodies protesting from the previous day's adventures, we dragged ourselves out of bed at 6.30am to visit the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. As we arrived, we found the forest already bustling with early risers like ourselves. While the towering bamboo stalks were undoubtedly impressive, creating a unique green-hued light as the morning sun filtered through, we were surprised to find the forest smaller than we'd imagined.
We continued our exploration beyond the bamboo grove and stumbled upon a pond filled with pink lotus flowers in full bloom which was an unexpected delight.
As we meandered through the backstreets of Arashiyama, our growling stomachs led us to a charming little bakery. We indulged in some breakfast pastries to tide us over while waiting for our real objective to open: %Arabica coffee.
The coffee shop is situated right on the river - a surprisingly underrated part of Arashiyama, given how absolutely stunning it is. While we waited in the queue that had already formed before opening (a first for us - queuing for coffee before the shop even opens!), we were captivated by the scene surrounding us. Sipping our iced coffees by the riverside, watching the morning light play on the water - it was one of those perfect travel moments you wish you could bottle up and take home.
Buoyed by this glorious morning, we decided to train back to our hotel but to get off a few tops early to wander through a part of town we hadn’t yet explored.
Back at the hotel, we took the chance to rest our feet and update the blog. But Kyoto wasn't done with us yet. We had one more iconic spot to tick off our list: the Gion district.
The Gion District
We'd read that Gion is best experienced in the late afternoon, so we timed our visit accordingly. On the way, we stopped for some cold soba noodles with a side of tempura - a refreshing and delicious choice for a warm day.
Gion, famous for its traditional architecture and geisha sightings, was... well, famous. It seemed like every other tourist in Kyoto had the same idea as us. The streets were packed with a colourful parade of tourists dressed up in rented kimonos, gleefully posing for photos, trying to capture that perfect shot with the Yasaka Pagoda in the background.
We found ourselves at the Yasaka Shrine, taking a moment to appreciate its beauty before making our way back to the hotel. The golden afternoon light cast a magical glow over the city, making even the busy streets look like scenes from a movie.
Exhausted but content, we opted for a simple dinner of takeaway gyoza from the restaurant opposite our hotel. As we collapsed into bed, our feet aching but our hearts full, we couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness that our Kyoto adventure was coming to an end.