Kyoto Chaos: Lost in Translation (and Tempura)
okay, so i’m still processing *Kyoto. seriously. it’s like stepping into a dream… a dream where everyone’s incredibly polite and the food is ridiculously good. i'm pretty sure i gained five pounds just breathing the air.
let's start with the numbers i saw - 7910925 and 1360041663. i have no idea what they mean. i tried asking a local at a ramen shop, but all i got was a very sweet smile and a bowl of amazing broth. (check out that shop on Yelp: Yelp Ramen).
The weather? it’s… humid. like a warm, wet hug. i just checked and it’s… there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. feels like someone turned up the saturation on everything. the humidity is really something, though. remember to pack layers.
I spent most of my first day just wandering. got utterly lost in the Gion district. it’s a maze of narrow streets, wooden machiya houses, and the occasional geiko hurrying by. it was… surreal. i felt like i needed a translator just to order a coffee.
I heard that the Nishiki Market is a must-see. supposedly, you can find anything there - pickled vegetables, fresh seafood, all sorts of weird and wonderful snacks. i haven’t gotten there yet (still recovering from the initial culture shock), but i'm planning a trip tomorrow. someone told me that the tamagoyaki (sweet rolled omelet) is legendary. a local warned me about the crowds though - apparently, it gets packed.
It's funny, right? you go to a place like kyoto expecting… i don’t know… ancient temples and serene gardens, and it’s all of that, but also just… bustling. people rushing, shops overflowing, the constant chime of bicycle bells. it’s a beautiful kind of chaos. i'm staying at a little guesthouse near Kyoto Station. super basic, but clean and the owner is incredibly kind. check out booking.com for options - i found a gem for around $50 a night.
Overheard gossip: I overheard two women talking about the best place to get matcha ice cream - apparently, it’s a little shop tucked away near Kiyomizu-dera Temple. They were debating whether the red bean paste was too sweet.
Someone also mentioned that the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is ridiculously crowded by midday. Great for photos, apparently, but not if you're looking for peace and quiet.
"Don’t be afraid to get lost. Seriously. That’s where the best discoveries are made." - a very friendly, slightly tipsy busker I met near the Philosopher's Path.
I’m thinking of taking a day trip to Nara* tomorrow. Apparently, there are deer roaming freely in the park. i saw a picture online - it looked adorable. i heard that you can buy special deer crackers to feed them - but be careful, they can be a bit… assertive.
Seriously, this place is a sensory overload. the smells, the sounds, the colours… it’s intense. and the food! i had the most amazing okonomiyaki (savory pancake) last night. i need to find a good onsen (hot spring) soon - my muscles are begging for it. i’m thinking about using this guide for finding onsen: Japan-Onsen. anyway… gotta go explore. more adventures to come!
Tags: travel, Kyoto, Japan