I never get tired of visiting Kyoto! I wish one day I can live here long term, and walk every street here. This time my friends and I came for the cherry blossom, and we walked at least 20,000 steps everyday. Watching the cherry blossom falls like snowflakes is like walking onto a romantic movie set. We rewarded our tired legs with good foods. The most memorable meal this trip was AYCE tsukemono (Japanese pickles). I should’ve purchased more to take home with me!

Accommodation

Our AirBnb couldn’t be more perfect, clean and located in the heart of Gion. Around the corner is the famous coffee shop %Arabica, as well as many popular tourist spots. We could easily return to our lodging to rest our feet or grab a jacket if it got cold. This AirBnb differs from most Japanese houses in that it has multiple bathrooms and toilets, great for larger groups. (AirBnb link)

First Day

We aren’t allowed to hang around Osaka for too long due to COVID restrictions. Immediately after we got off the plane, we hopped on the Kyoto Airport Limousine Bus to Kyoto. The ticketing process is fairly simple, there are plenty of automated machines (yen only) and counters (credit cards accepted). Once you got your tickets, simply wait by the bus stop. Staff will help you load your luggage onto the bus starting around 15 minutes before the departure time. Once you arrive at Kyoto, the bus driver will check your ticket, and staff will unload your luggage for you.

To-ji

https://toji.or.jp/
1 Kujocho, Minami Ward, Kyoto, 601-8473

On the day we visited, it closed early to prepare for night cherry blossom. We could only watch from outside of the temple. Nonetheless, the surrounding area was very beautiful. We were mesmerized by how cherry blossoms were everywhere in Kyoto!

Walking Tour

Found this walking tour on AirBnb. The cost including dinner is $38 per person. Our tour guide took us on a stroll in Gion, taught us about its history and culture. Highly recommended especially for Japanese history geeks! Remember to bring comfortable shoes for walking!

Second Day

Philosopher’s Path

My friend K and I got up super early, left the AirBnb before 7 am, to walk around Kyoto. Philosopher's Path is approximately an hour away from where we stayed, the entire way there we were surrounded by cherry blossoms. You have to visit Kyoto in the Spring if you want to truly be immersed in the sea of Japanese cherry blossoms, incredibly beautiful, and make us envy people who live there. There weren’t many visitors due to COVID, and with us getting there before 8 am, we were able to take in the quietness of Philosopher’s Path.

Ginkaku

http://www.shokoku-ji.jp/g_about.html
2 Ginkakujicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8402

Philosopher’s Path is on the way to Ginkaku. Compared to Kinkaku, Ginkaku is a bit more lowkey and less busy. The glory and beauty of Ginkaku is at its peak when rays of morning sunshine bounces off its roof. I love Kyoto so much!

Keage Incline

339 Higashikomonozacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0044

Walking back from Ginkaku, we passed by railroad tracks that used to carry everything into and out of Kyoto. There were many couples dressed in kimonos taking pictures there. The place was very lively by 11 am. So wish UN was here with me!

Akoya-Chaya

http://www.kashogama.com/akoya/
3 Chome-343 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862
Price: 1600 yen

Of the foods that I ate in Kyoto, pickles are what I miss the most, especially pickled eggplant. Usually I’m not the biggest eggplant fan, but I helped myself to many servings. My friends would agree with me how delicious this place was.

Kiyomizu-dera

https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/
294 Kiyomizu, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0862
Admission: 400 yen

I can finally say that I have visited Kiyomizu dera in all four seasons! A tourist favorite, and also one of my favorite temples. It’s beautiful from every angle.

Kongoji

390 Kinencho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0828

Decorated with countless numbers of colorful stuffed balls, written on them are names and wishes. These balls actually represent monkeys, cute right?

% Arabica

http://www.arabica.coffee/
87-5 Hoshinocho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0853

Can’t call myself a coffee connoisseur, but I love the interior design of this coffee shop and the coffee aroma-filled atmosphere. While my friends enjoyed Arabica, I ordered a matcha latte!

Day Three

We took the Randen to Arashiyama. Of the many times I visited Kyoto, this is the first time I came to Arashiyama. It’s so majestic here, I want to come back with UN!

Kimono forest

http://www.kyotoarashiyama.jp/about

As soon as you get off the Randen you will see columns of beautiful Kimono fabrics. Great for the Gram! At night these columns would light up, but we left before sunset.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

https://kyoto.travel/en/planyourvisit/course/33
Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-0000

I’ve seen hundreds of photos of the bamboo forest, glad to finally visit in person! A popular spot at Arashiyama, worth visiting early in the morning. Before the pandemic, this place would be packed with visitors, must get here super early to experience the peacefulness of bamboo forest.

% Arabica Kyoto Arashiyama

3-47 Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8385

My friends stopped by for coffee, but it’s on my list of places to visit in Arashiyama! The coffee shop is smaller than how I imagined. The outside seating faces Togetsu Bridge and Katsura River. There are many canoes in the river, next time I want to try canoeing there as well!

Shoraian

https://www.shoraian.jp/

Kyoto tofu cuisine is a must eat every time I visit. It never ceases to surprise me. My friends who tried it for the first time loved it too! This place can be easily missed if you don’t search for it, hidden deep in the woods. The environment is very relaxing, every dish is refreshing and pleasing to the tastebuds. Definitely will return!

Tenryuji

http://www.tenryuji.com/
〒616-8385 Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, Sagatenryuji Susukinobabacho, ６８
Admission: 500 yen adults, 300 yen students, extra 300 yen to visit the temple

From the bamboo forest you will pass by Tenryuj Temple that was built in 1339. Remember to look for a portrait of a grumpy Santa Claus!

When we returned to downtown Kyoto, many places closed early due to the pandemic. At 8:30 pm, no restaurant was open, we resorted to eating convenient store foods for dinner. The five of us chatted around the dinner table at our AirBnb, made for great memories!

Day Four

Time flew by and it was already time to say goodbye to Kyoto again! We reserved a taxi to take us to Kyoto Station. From there we took the Kyoto Airport Limousine Bus to the airport. We had booked tickets the day before, and had assigned seating. If you purchase round trip tickets you can save 300 yen.

Kyoto had turned to red zone after we came back home. Not sure when we will allow to visit again, but hopefully sometimes soon!

Chinese Translation

京都真是百去不膩的地方！真希望哪天能長期住下來，把京都每條小路走過一遍。這次和朋友一起來京都賞櫻，天天至少兩萬步，沿路風景好美，尤其是風吹時花瓣像下雪般掉落。走得多，我們吃的也多！這次印象最深刻的是京都漬物吃到飽，一向對漬物不太有興趣的我，現在後悔那時怎麼沒買回家配飯吃。

住宿

太完美的AirBnb，乾淨且地點好。轉角就是有名咖啡店% Arabica，和好多有名景點。走累了可以回住宿休息，天冷可以回來拿外套。和許多日本房子不同的地方是每個房間都有衛浴設備，人多完全不需搶廁所。（AirBnb網址）

第一天

下飛機後因疫情規定，我們不能逗留大阪，馬上搭Kyoto Airport Limousine Bus（單程車票2600日幣）到京都。過程非常簡單，巴士賣票口有電子買票（現金）或和工作人員買（可刷卡）。買好票在站牌前等，工作人員會在出車前15分鐘開始收集行李，之後拿到一張行李號碼牌。在京都下車時，巴士司機會檢查車票，領取行李時工作人員會核對號碼。

東寺

https://toji.or.jp/
〒601-8473 京都府京都市南区九条町1

跟東寺有夠無緣，這次又沒機會進去東寺！寺廟提早關門準備夜櫻，我們只能在外望著寺廟裡的櫻花。即使如此，四周還是好美，也非常驚訝原來京都到處是櫻花！

Walking Tour

是在Airbnb網站上找的，一人約$38含晚餐。導遊帶我們在祇園一帶的遊走，介紹當地歷史文化，很推薦對日本歷史有興趣的人。記得穿舒服的鞋子！

第二天

哲學之道

我和朋友K起了大早，七點不到就出門用雙腳走遍京都！從住處走約一小時到哲學之道，一路上不停讚嘆日本本島櫻花太美了！這趟旅行真的沒想到能到處見櫻花，完全沒有一點失落感。賞櫻花一定要來這裡，不可思議的美，讓我們好羨慕住在附近的鄰居。雖然疫情關係沒有大量觀光客，但早起的鳥兒有蟲吃，八點不到大家似乎都還沒出門，整條哲學之道好安靜。

銀閣寺

http://www.shokoku-ji.jp/g_about.html
〒606-8402 京都府京都市左京区銀閣寺町2

一路沿著哲學之道就會到銀閣寺！和金閣寺相比，銀閣寺比較低調不忙，早晨陽光打下來好漂亮。我愛京都！！！

蹴上鐵道

〒605-0044 京都府京都市東山区東小物座町339

從銀閣寺返回住處，我們經過以前是火車軌道運送各樣東西進京都的蹴上鐵道。好多穿著和服的情侶們在這裡拍照，想必照片一定超美。11點不到，這裡已經有好多人，但完全不減魅力！京都的櫻花實在太美了（好像講了很多次），真希望UN也能一起來！

阿古屋茶屋

http://www.kashogama.com/akoya/
〒605-0862 京都府京都市東山区清水３丁目343
價錢：1600日幣（只收現金）

京都漬物怎麼讓我這麼懷念，尤其是茄子漬物，不愛吃茄子的我都拿了好幾次。連朋友們都念念不忘。

清水寺

https://www.kiyomizudera.or.jp/
〒605-0862 京都府京都市東山区清水294
門票：400日幣

我終於收集完清水寺的春夏秋冬了！清水寺是最多旅客參觀景點，也是我最愛的寺廟其中之一，每個角度都好美。

八坂庚申堂

〒605-0828 京都府京都市東山区金園町390

掛著五顏六色的彩色小包，上面寫著名字和願望。這些小包其實是小猴，可愛吧！

% Arabica

http://www.arabica.coffee/
〒605-0853 京都府京都市東山区星野町87-5

即使對咖啡實在超沒研究，我還是很愛來咖啡店感受一下店裡裝潢和咖啡香氣。這次朋友們分別喝了Arabica和Blue Bottle，而我點像是抹茶拿鐵這類的飲料。

第三天

我們搭Randen小火車來嵐山，來了這麼多次京都，我終於來這裡了！還是同一句話，有夠美，回家後我和UN說下次一定要來這裡！

和服之森

下車後馬上看到有和服圖案的管子，不同圖樣很適合拍照。晚上這些管子會亮起來，但我們在天黑之前就離開嵐山，感覺會很美。

竹子森林

https://kyoto.travel/en/planyourvisit/course/33
〒616-8393 京都府京都市右京区嵯峨野々宮町野宮神社内

已經在Instagram上看了無數次竹子森林，這次終於親自拜訪！是嵐山非常有名景點之一，早起坐車來這裡非常值得。據說疫情之前，這裡幾乎是人擠人，必須非常早到才能安靜體驗竹子森林。

% Arabica Kyoto Arashiyama

〒616-8385 京都府京都市右京区嵯峨天龍寺芒ノ馬場町3-47

朋友來這喝咖啡，而我把這裡列為嵐山最想來的景點之一！咖啡店比我想像的小，但和Instagram上一樣清爽的感覺，戶外座位面向渡月橋和桂川。桂川上有許多小船，下次我也想在那划船。

松籟庵

https://www.shoraian.jp/
〒616-8386 京都府京都市右京区嵯峨亀ノ尾町官有地内

京都豆腐料理應該是我每次來京都一定吃的食物，每次也一定會被豆腐料理震驚。朋友們第一次嘗試都非常愛。這是一家不努力找還真的會錯過，位在樹林裡的豆腐餐廳，環境非常舒服，每道食物都非常清爽好吃。絕對是能再回來的餐廳！

天龍寺

http://www.tenryuji.com/
〒616-8385 京都府京都市右京区嵯峨天龍寺芒ノ馬場町６８
門票：大人500日幣、學生300日幣、入寺廟須加300日幣

沿著竹子森林走會經過天龍寺，約1339年建立的天龍寺。記得要找一幅很像脾氣暴躁的聖誕老公公（至少我們是這麼認為）！

回到京都市區後，許多店因疫情關係提早關門。八點半不到，路上卻找不到一家願意收留我們的餐廳，逼不得已竟然用便利店的關東煮做完當日結尾。但五人坐在我們租屋裡吃飯聊天談心也是一個很棒的回憶！

Day Four

實在很不想離開，但該和京都說再見了！前一晚我們和MK計程車公司預訂車子（MK能用英語溝通），一大早司機已準時在門口等待前往京都車站。我們搭Kyoto Airport Limousine Bus到機場。前一天我們在京都車站先訂票，這趟車票有指定座位。買來回車票能省約300日幣，但回程必須和工作人員提早劃位。

希望我們能盡快回來京都遊玩，也希望疫情緩和後大家能來這賞櫻。我們下次見！