Japan Day 5: Kyoto

Japan is such an intriguing blend of ancient and modern. I kept seeing so many 1960s-style buildings that I assumed Kyoto must have been heavily bombed during World War II. But no—the Allies spared the city because of its immense cultural importance. The real reason for all those mid-century buildings is the huge economic boom of the 1970s, when much of the city was rapidly developed. Today, though, we wandered through the historic heart of Kyoto, and it felt like stepping back in time.

Fushima Inari Taisha was one of the things I was looking forward to the most in Kyoto. I had seen my daughter Kelly’s pictures when she went years ago, and it looked really cool. It’s a series of wooden gates that are bright orange and form a kind of tunnel almost 2 miles long.

We had been told that it was extremely crowded and difficult to get good pictures unless you got there at sunrise. So we actually made a practice run last night so that we could figure out the train stations. It was fun to see it lit up at night. And even though we got there very early today there were still crowds of people. It was still beautiful to walk through the gates.

At our next stop, Kiyomizudera, we were met by dozens of tour buses and what felt like endless school groups. The streets were packed with children in their adorable yellow hats, mixed in with crowds of tour groups.

The food is incredible here. I love it! 🥰

Gion, the oldest part of Kyoto, is known for its nightlife, but after so many crowds and so much noise, I preferred something quieter. We decided to explore the area in the calm of the afternoon—and it was the perfect choice. I loved the old buildings and the narrow, intriguing little alleys.