Kyoto Chaos: Rain, Ramen, and Really Weird Neighbors

okay, so, like, i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm green tea. i landed in kyoto yesterday, and honestly, it’s… a lot. the humidity is clinging to everything - like, you can feel it trying to steal your socks. 1864529 and 1392662678, right? those numbers just popped into my head, i don’t know why. it’s unsettling, but also kinda cool, you know? the temp is sitting at 3.31, feels like -3.35, min 1.62, max 3.31, pressure 1015, humidity 45, sea level 1015, ground level 1013. it’s… intense. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.

seriously, the rain. it’s not a gentle drizzle, it’s a full-on, insistent weeping. it’s making the cobblestone streets slick and reflecting the neon signs in this weird, blurry way. i almost slipped into a puddle of ramen broth earlier - almost. i’m pretty sure that’s a sign, right? a sign to eat more ramen.

I’m staying in this tiny guesthouse near *Gion, which is… chaotic. like, aggressively so. it’s full of older guys playing shogi and arguing about the best way to make miso soup. it’s a vibe. i overheard some gossip from a guy who looked like he hadn’t slept in a week - he said someone told him that the geishas are starting to use drones to deliver their fans. drones! seriously? it’s wild.

I spent the afternoon wandering around Fushimi Inari Shrine, which is, like, a million red torii gates. it’s breathtaking, but also a little overwhelming. i felt like i was walking through a giant, slightly unsettling candy corridor. i need to check out some more shrines, maybe Kyoto National Museum.

And the neighbors? oh man. they’re… something. there’s this family who keeps practicing taiko drumming at 6 am, and this guy who meticulously arranges pebbles in his tiny garden. if you get bored, Osaka is just a short drive away, and Nara is even further, but honestly, i’m kinda happy just getting lost in this maze of alleys and temples.

I grabbed some lunch at this tiny place called Honke Owariya, which serves soba noodles. it was… good. really good. i heard that the owner’s great-great-grandfather invented the dipping sauce, which is impressive, i guess. i’m trying to find a good sake bar - Tabelog seems to have some decent options.

I’m also trying to capture some shots for my portfolio. the light here is insane, especially when the rain is falling. i’m mostly shooting street scenes and portraits of the locals - they’re all so expressive. i need to get some better lenses, though. my current setup is… lacking.

Speaking of locals, i ran into this woman selling hand-painted fans. she was telling me that she learned the craft from her grandmother, who learned it from her grandmother. it’s a tradition that’s been passed down for generations. it’s kinda beautiful, actually. i bought one - it’s covered in tiny cherry blossoms.

I’m seriously considering just staying here forever. it’s messy, it’s loud, it’s confusing, but it’s also… captivating. i need to find a decent coffee shop - i’m running on caffeine and sheer willpower at this point. i heard that the coffee at Cat and Dog Coffee is amazing*, but it’s always packed.

Okay, i’m officially exhausted. i’m going to go find a ramen shop and try to sleep. maybe i’ll dream about drones and pebbles and taiko drums. or maybe i’ll just dream about ramen. seriously, ramen. i need to check out Kyoto Ramen Street tomorrow.

ps. if anyone knows where to get a decent pair of waterproof boots, please let me know. my feet are starting to resemble drowned rats.