Japan, Pt.v

Aug. 7, 2018

Today was pretty awesome. Kyoto is amazing.

My first stop was the Manga Museum, but I didn’t go straight there. I wandered around trying to find a place to eat, the okonomiyaki place I wanted to try was closed, so… I visited the museum on an empty stomach.

So much manga everywhere. The museum is more like a library, which is cool. I wish there were more actual exhibits. The ones they had were super interesting, though.

There was a sort of live version of manga aimed at children, but I admit to standing around at least half an hour watching. Super entertaining.

After wandering the museum for a while I decided I needed to answer my rumbling stomach. This is where I started to really fall in love with Kyoto. I had NO idea where to eat, so I wandered the side roads and alleys until stumbling into a tiny place. The amazing things to discover just wandering around off the main drag are what really started to draw me in.

The place I ate had no English menu, and I understood juuuuust enough to know what I wanted of the four choices. The food was outstanding, and the whole staff was excited over my tattoos. That was unexpected and cool.

After lunch I walked a few blocks to the Nijō castle. I won’t give the whole history here, but know parts are insanely old and date back to the Edo period. Pretty insane.

Unfortunately, only the gardens were open, but it was still neat to wander around the outside. It was crazy crowded, however. That part was annoying.

After the castle things went bus-t (this bad pun sponsored by Jacob Brown). I took the wrong bus, which led to a decent detour, but also the discovery of a Buddhist temple. So, that was neat in the end.

I didn’t do more than take a quick peek, and a few photos. I really wanted to make it to Kinkaku-ji, which is a Zen Buddhist temple. Another crowded destination, but absolutely beautiful and worth the visit anyhow. If you can tune out the noise of the crowds it’s a pretty serene place. I bet it is absolutely stunning first thing in the morning.

My last place I really wanted to check out was the Gion district, and I’m so happy I did. Absolutely cemented my love of Kyoto. Gion is the older part of town, and known for it’s geisha. Absolutely the best part of Kyoto in my opinion.

Part of what makes it rad are the seemingly endless tiny streets and alleys to explore. I wandered for a few hours, stopping twice for coffees before deciding it was dinner time.

I chose a shabu shabu place, and I was not disappointed. Shoes off, upstairs in a private room. Impeccable service. Amazingly tasty food. Again, the meat quality here is insane.

Sated, and happy I was let loose to wander Gion more. I had a beer in a pub, but otherwise just explored.

Eventually, I headed back towards my hotel and Loft. Loft is a Japanese store I wanted to check out. Some cool stuff, but nothing I had to have.

Instead of main roads back to the hotel I again went off the beaten path. I again was happy I did. I accidentally came across M4 Shooting Bar! I’d actually heard of this place. It’s an airsoft bar, and you know I had to try it.

It’s sort of hokey, but still fun. Weirdly empty, which meant four people were waiting on me. That was overkill to say the least. Apparently there were fireworks tonight, which I was not aware of.

After the airsoft experience I headed back to the hotel. A semi-early night. I’m pretty beat, honestly. Today was another 10 mile day. Not sure how I walked that much with all the time I spent on busses.

Off to Tokyo tomorrow. There is a typhoon incoming. Ugh.