Day 0 (August 6)

I arrived in Kyoto from Tokyo via the Shinkansen bullet train. Had dinner at the nearby Kinkhao Thai restaurant.

Hostel in Kyoto

Common room in the hostel

Pad Thai at Kinkhao

Day 1 (August 7)

It was very hot during the day so I did all my explorations in the morning. They include Nishiki Market, Pontocho, Gion district, Chion-in Temple, and Kiyomizu Temple.

Nishiki Market in the morning

The Nishiki Tenmangu Shrine at the eastern end of the market

Pontocho - An alleyway famous for its night life and restaurants

Everything is quiet in the morning

Love the traditional architecture

Near the end of Pontocho

Statues at the end of Pontocho

Walking along the bank of Kamo River

Gion district - where you can see geishas, but it was too early in the morning so I didn’t see any

Yasaka Shrine at the eastern end of Gion district

I think these are people’s wishes? I’m not sure.

Another shrine - There are over 400 Shinto shrines and 1600 Buddhist temples in Kyoto.

A crane that was sitting so still that it looked like it’s from a Japanese painting

Chion-in Temple

Another view of Chion-in Temple

A yard in the Chion-in Temple complex

Grave stones

Outside of Chion-in Temple

Going toward Kiyomizu Temple, with so many people.

Kiyomizu Temple

Pagoda at Kiyomizu Temple

Detail of the pagoda

The view from the top

Another view of the pagoda

Japanese women in kimonos

A cute scene

Coming down from Kiyomizu Temple

More people!

Rickshaw going uphill

A shrine on the middle of the street

View from the hostel roof top

Eel and beef bowl at Sukiya

Matcha ice cream float

Spicy ramen at Ramen no Bombo that wasn’t spicy

Day 2 (August 8)

I met Andre from the hostel and we went to Higashi Hongan-ji Temple (monks chanting), Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, Arashiyama Monkey Park, Nishiki Market, and walked along the banks of Kamo River before having dinner at Kiranah Spice.

Higashi Hongan-ji Temple