Kyoto Chaos: Cherry Blossoms, Rain, and Questionable Ramen
okay, so 1710914… that's the date, right? feels like a lifetime ago since i landed in *Kyoto. and 1608802508… well, that’s probably my phone’s internal clock mocking me. the weather here? don't even get me started. i just checked and it's...a humid, drizzly mess right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the humidity is thick enough to chew. 75% humidity? ugh. this place is definitely a workout for your pores.
first impressions? overwhelming. like being dipped headfirst into a beautiful, ancient painting and then gently spun around until you’re dizzy. the temples are stunning, obviously - Kinkaku-ji shimmering gold, Fushimi Inari with those endless vermillion torii gates - but there’s a certain…energy here. it’s not just touristy; it feels old. like the stones themselves have stories to tell, if you could understand Japanese. i spent a good hour just wandering around Gion, trying to spot a geisha, which, spoiler alert, i didn't. but the atmosphere was amazing. tiny, winding streets, traditional wooden houses, and the scent of incense hanging in the air.
my little corner of this chaotic city is…complicated. my Airbnb is above a sushi place that smells perpetually of fish, which isn’t always a bad thing, but let's just say my sleep schedule is…flexible. the neighbors are friendly enough, always bowing politely. if you get bored, Osaka is just a short train ride away. Someone told me that the best ramen is hidden down a tiny alleyway near Nishiki Market, but i haven’t had the courage to venture too far yet.
speaking of Nishiki Market, that place is a sensory overload. pickled vegetables i couldn't identify, strange seafood, mochi in every flavor imaginable. i definitely got lost, which, to be fair, is half the fun. i saw a guy trying to sell live octopus, and i think i actually fainted a little. ok, maybe not fainted, but i definitely backed away slowly.
pro tip: learn a few basic Japanese phrases. it goes a long way, even if it’s just how to say “thank you” (arigato) and “excuse me” (sumimasen). it’s really appreciated.
Food is a huge deal here, obviously. i’ve tried everything from refined kaiseki dinners (way out of my budget, sadly) to street food that i’m pretty sure contained unidentified meat. i heard that the best matcha ice cream is at a little shop near Arashiyama Bamboo Grove - something a local warned me about being ridiculously popular, but worth the wait. i’m thinking of checking out some online resources like Japan-Guide.com for more recommendations. they have tons of info.
i’m trying to embrace the unexpected. i planned out a detailed itinerary, but i’m quickly realizing that the best moments are the ones you don’t see coming. like accidentally stumbling upon a tiny tea ceremony in a hidden courtyard or getting hopelessly lost in a bamboo forest.
my next adventure? maybe a day trip to Nara to see the deer. someone told me they’re notoriously aggressive if you don’t offer them the right kind of crackers. i'll see what happens. the air feels heavy with history here, and i'm loving it (even with the humidity). i’m also starting to think about booking a class on traditional calligraphy*. might be a disaster, but hey, that's part of the fun, right? there are some cool options on Airbnb Experiences if anyone’s interested.
and the cherry blossoms…oh, the cherry blossoms. they're everywhere. a soft pink haze over everything. i’m trying to soak it all in before it’s gone.
this trip is making me want to brush up on some photography skills. checking out Fstoppers for some inspiration.
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