Have you ever had such a powerful input to one of your senses, that your entire body physically reacted?
We were briskly walking through JR Kyoto Station, trying to make one of the trains towards our next destination. Inside the station, there’s all sorts of shops and stands, selling various goods and treats… typical stuff. We passed one tiny store with no line, and didn’t make two steps before our bodies uncontrollably stopped and whirled around.
No smell had ever had such an effect on me before. The essence flooded my body, instantly salivating, and i pulled out my wallet to buy whatever they were selling.
Manneken Waffle, I don’t know how you did it, but you made me, always on time – and on schedule, completely forget where I was going. I missed my train, I lost track of time, and I didn’t care at all.
Try the original. Hot, crispy, fresh. By the time I finished paying, a long queue had formed behind me, dozens of people caught in the scent trap.
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This cafe came up from a ‘vegan and vegetarian’ search. The focus on real foods, local and organic, with a touch of macrobiotic principles. If you’re a strict vegan, make sure to tell the staff, as not all of the items on the menu are vegan.
They have unique breakfast options, and it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a healthy start.
Pictured above is their breakfast set, and vegan curry, along with their vegan pastry set. All was delicious, 10/10 would eat again.
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Right next door is Len Kyoto Kawaramachi. This business is a cafe, bar, and hostel all in one. As a hostel, it’s not the cheapest, but you’re paying for the branding and hipness as well. It’s the 21st century.
Full cafe by day; an espresso bar and counter full of freshly baked pastries. Bustling bar at night; alcohol flowing, you’re likely to run into a lot of foreigners and travelers here. The staff is almost too cool. Stylishly dressed in bowties and fake glasses, their English is better than yours too.
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Another thing Kyoto is known for is matcha.
Matcha is a special type of green tea. Recently, it’s popularity has been on the rise for it’s health benefits, but it has been an ingredient enjoyed in Japan for a very long time. The Kyoto area has a lot of specialty matcha, so it’s a must-try while you’re there.
Along the street, if there’s a shop selling matcha products, there’s likely a cafe above it on the second and third floor. At these matcha cafes they serve all kinds of things from matcha noodles to giant matcha parfaits.
I’m a minimalist at heart, so straight up matcha was my drink of choice.
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The main shopping/business area of Kyoto is north of the station, spanning west and east across the river. Big buildings, busy streets, we spent hours exploring.
There’s a beautiful Starbucks located on the corner of a bridge crossing the river.
The entire downstairs area has big tables and lounge areas where you can hunker down with a book or a project. Wall-wide windows let in plenty of natural light too. Grab a cup to go, and you can sit on the grass by the river and enjoy a beautiful day. #StarbucksForever
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Kiyomizudera Temple transforms into something completely different at night. Lights illuminate the stark red structures, and the surrounding trees glow throughout the area.
Even though we had seen the whole temple during the day, we opted to go again in the dark after it was mentioned by multiple locals.
It was like entering another dimension. Lanterns hung eerily, and people strolled silently throughout the temple grounds. One of the temples opens up a path at night. You can go down and underneath the temple, into a pitch black void, with nothing but a wooden rope along the left wall to guide you. I could not see an inkling of my own hand in front of my face.
It was the first time in my life I had felt lost, really gone, from the reality I knew as this world. It may sound dramatic considering the nervous giggles and funny sounds spilling from my mouth during the walk, but it was truly terrifying. I knew there were people both in front and behind me, inches from me, yet I felt so alone.
After being traumatized, we discovered that there’s a guide holding an explanation for people to read before they go beneath the temple. If I had read the story beforehand, it would’e been a completely different experience. Apparently we’d been to hell and back, had been reborn, plus missed an opportunity to make a wish. Oh well.
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Lastly, you cannot visit Kyoto without staying a night at a ryokan. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese hotel, and Kyoto has possibly the best in the entire country. Well, at least the most expensive. Yes, expect to shell out major bucks to sleep on a tatami (bamboo) floor.
And since you’ve committed to staying at a ryokan (#WhenInKyoto), make sure you get the full experience by having the dinner and breakfast as well.
A traditional ryokan dinner is a feast. Multi-course, multi-faceted, each dish is art, served to you by kind women in kimonos. It’s high-quality, adapted to the seasons, and absolutely delicious.
Breakfast is just as stunning, and won’t be too heavy to keep you from the day ahead.
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This blog post has been all about food, and I’m a bit full just from finding and uploading all of the photos. I have just 3 pieces of advice for you if you plan to visit Kyoto:
Visit the sights, eat well, and walk a lot.
Enjoy your trip!
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19/31 #YearOfChallenge
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Missed Part One? Read it Here.