The afternoon light and shadows are soft and slow, flowing with a kind of tranquility, as if even time has slowed down its pace. In the subtle peace, emotions are like undercurrents, lurking in the invisible depths, like a whisper that has not yet dissipated, but there is no way to respond.
Loss silently dissolved in the air, with a dull feeling, as if the subtle touch in the heart was suddenly taken away, leaving an indescribable blank. Thoughts floated in endless hesitation, gently touched but unable to stop, like a wisp of wind that could not be grasped, slipping through the fingertips.
There is no echo here, only endless silence slowly extending, with a little hesitation, like the afterglow of lost warmth, lingering in the silent world.
The three days in Kyoto were probably one of the happiest moments in my life.
When it comes to traveling, it’s not where you go, but who you go with that matters.
Part of the itinerary, but not strictly followed
Top ten attractions in Kyoto (according to personal preference):
No neighbors
Katsura Imperial Villa
Kamogawa
Hanamikoji
Ryoanji Temple
Fushimi Inari Shrine/Thousand Torii Gates
Kinkaku-ji Temple
Kiyomizu Temple
Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka
Nanchan Temple
Land in Osaka and head straight to Kyoto
Many people say Kyoto is boring, but for me who likes humanistic architecture, this is the city I am most satisfied with among all the cities I have traveled to so far. (Before this, my favorite travel city was Edinburgh.)
If you ask me what is the most important thing to pay attention to when traveling to Japan, I will tell you that you must reserve before eating. Although I have experienced countless embarrassing situations in the UK where the waiter said that you cannot eat if you don’t have a reservation even if the restaurant is empty, I still encountered this situation in Japan. The reason was that we were ten minutes late and the guy at the izakaya refused to let us in.
Attractions Pictures
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine/Thousand Torii Gates
On the first night after landing in Japan, after experiencing the sadness of being denied entry to a yakiniku restaurant, my friend and I rushed to Fushimi by subway and bus. What happened? Because my friend and I were delayed in checking in at the hotel, we arrived at the yakiniku restaurant ten minutes late. So the yakiniku restaurant plan that we had been thinking about was ruined, and my friend and I could not hide our disappointment. Fortunately, we had a good meal the next day.
Unfortunately, it started to rain heavily when we arrived at the station. So I got an important piece of equipment, a transparent umbrella, at a convenience store. By the way, when Japanese buses stop, the passenger side will be lowered, which is pretty good.
This time we raided Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine at night. Although it was a bit like the underworld, the atmosphere of the attraction did not make people feel scary.
Scenes that can only appear in anime come one after another, and it feels really magical.
It's especially like the empty shots of the male and female protagonists after get off work in Japanese dramas.
No neighbors
If I had to rank the attractions, I would not hesitateNo neighborsThe courtyard has a view of Higashiyama and is located in the Nanzenji area.
The official website for booking tickets is below. Currently only VISA, MasterCard and JCB are supported:
The small but beautiful Japanese garden is actually a Western-style building from the Meiji period. The main house is a simple wooden corrugated tile building. In order to allow guests to fully appreciate the garden, the building's shape is simple and generous.
Please note that portrait photography requires additional payment.Or a battle of wits and courage with managers.
The garden features a bright and open lawn space and a gently flowing stream that draws water from the Lake Biwa Canal.
The flowing water design of the courtyard is also inherited from the designer Shanxian Youpeng's preference.
After leaving the courtyard, there is a restaurant run by an old lady at the door. The grandmother and grandson at the next table heard the background music of "The Sound of Music" playing in the restaurant, and they danced and sang along, which was particularly healing.
Katsura Imperial Villa
Katsura Imperial Villa is located in a rather awkward position in the southwest of Kyoto. One of the characteristics of this area is that it is less visited by tourists and is quiet.
This attraction was recommended to us by a professor of architecture. Friends who like landscapes should not miss it.
Although I am not a landscape professional, I can personally feel what "Artificiality in natureWhat is "One step, one view”.
And the key point is that you never see the whole courtyard, which is a very unique experience.
Some people say this is the most beautiful garden in Japan, and I don't deny it.
There were only Japanese-speaking guides in the garden, but almost all the tourists were not Japanese, and everyone wore translators, which was quite funny.
There is a peaceful atmosphere both inside and outside the courtyard.
The courtyard is designed in a linear way. Every step you take will give you a completely different view, just like a game level design.
There are many bridges, and the guide specifically reminded us not to take photos on the bridges.
Does anyone know what this is?
Ryoanji Temple
One of the most anticipated attractions in this Kyoto trip, Ryoan-ji Temple, is next to Kinkaku-ji Temple. These two attractions are close to each other, and you can choose to take the bus to commute, or you can walk like I did.
The Japanese dry landscape really gives me a sense of desolation and mystery. The most famous of these is the dry landscape of Ryoanji Temple.
To be honest, after visiting Ryoanji Temple, I was quite disappointed.
That said, the dry landscape garden at Ryoan-ji Temple is very small, and the photo above is almost 90%.
After walking out of Ryoanji Temple in disappointment, I met an old American couple with an English-speaking guide. My friend and I shamelessly followed them and saw the scenery below.
Kinkaku-ji Temple
I'm sure you've all experienced the beauty of Kinkaku-ji Temple in Mishima's writings. But when I saw the golden glow with my own eyes, I couldn't help but be shocked.
I bought a few amulets for good luck next to Kinkakuji Temple.
Kiyomizu Temple
This is a tourist spot that most people will visit when they come to Kyoto. You can walk along Ninenzaka/Sannenzaka.
There are really a lot of people here.
A friend said that this photo of mine was over-edited and looked too much like an anime. Actually, this is the original photo.
As the sky gradually darkened, I saw an anime-like scene and felt inexplicably moved.
Street View
I have to say that Kyoto is really suitable for hiking and is indeed a pedestrian-friendly city.
food
You have to eat some wheat when you come to Kyoto.
This is the Hong BBQ restaurant that turned us away on the first night. The prices at this restaurant are still quite high.
This is a small restaurant that my friend and I found on the way to Nanzenji Temple.
I experienced the three-course meal.
The price is also quite touching.
The most distinctive one is the mackerel. It is cold and tastes like canned mackerel, with a lighter flavor.
it's over
It may be difficult to have such an opportunity again to go to the place I want to go with my friends.
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