June 12, 2020

Kyoto - A Portal to Ancient Japan

Japan was amazing, and Kyoto is no exception. With its ancient Japanese heritage sites and traditions that have been preserved, this city is truly a porthole that can warp you to the Japan that have been listed on history books and magazines.

*This Springtime in Kyoto is also part of my friend JESH's ALL SEASONS

Last June 2018, I went to visit Kyoto with my favorite cousins and we had an amazing time together that will forever be cherished and treasured. Let me guide you through some pictures I took during our unforgettable adventure in the ancient capital of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Train Tracks of the Arashiyama Line

Tenryu-Ji Temple

(L) Yasaka Shrine       (R) Cold Soba at Honke Owariya c/o Ate Carmeline

Old Streets of Gion makes me feel at a scene on the "Memoirs of a Geisha"

(L) Kinkaku-Ji Shrine        (R) Fushimi Inari Taisha

Kiyomizu-Dera Temple

(L) With the Birthday Celebrant, LILY!   (R) Jogging with Carlos at Nijo Castle

Sushi No Musashi, Kyoto Station

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Arigatou Kyoto!

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This post is part of Skywatch Friday. Click the image link below to see more skies around the world!


52 comments:

  1. Such a fascinating place, and beautifully photographed! It's a place I would like to visit someday.

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    1. Oh thank you so much my friend! Kyoto is a must and never ever miss the food!

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  2. ...thanks for sharing the sights of this interesting country, I no doubt will never see them for myself.

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    1. It is my pleasure Tom to have taken you on this tour to the Land of the Rising Sun :)

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    1. Thank you so much Jim! Keep Warm there in Chilly OZ :)

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  4. Looks like a fascinating place to visit. I'm glad you got to enjoy it :)

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    1. Really it was dear Margaret! We really did and will forever remember it with my cousins :)

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  5. On the tracks?! Stevenson!!!
    Those roofs sure are very beautiful, as is your smile :-)
    Oh, I´ve read that book, too, a long while ago. Still as paper book.

    I have to admit I like it a lot that you´re in all those pics, it makes you a real person.
    The moment I see a camera my face freezes. I always look crazy ;-)
    I must also admit... I hardly looked at the sky, LOL!
    Thank you, dear Stevenson, for sharing this journey!

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    1. HAHAHA You got me remembering that Live photo of my cousin who was next to me in having a shot at the tracks! The Tram whistled to be approaching on the middle of her shot and we all went screaming!


      Oh Iris! Those were golden times for me, I lost 40 pounds before that trip to Japan and I felt so good and light that I took a lot of pictures with my face in it (or I should say asked my little cousins to take photos of me HA!)

      And thank you for being with me on this virtual tour dear Iris!

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    2. In Perth/Freo you find a lot of warnings to not step on tracks. I took a pic and saw, uuuups... track!!
      Argh, yes, I have to resume training, too...

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    3. HAHAHAHA you are right dear Iris! If a local would have seen us, surely they will ask us to go away from it. very nicely and gentle though, that's the Japanese way in almost everything! Oh they really are the best group of people I have ever encountered. Whenever I get lost I would just literally stand in the middle of the train station and try to find signs but in just a few minutes, a Japanese man or woman who speaks English will go out of their ways and ask if you need help. They're just super!

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  6. Hello my friend. The list of places you travelled to is most interesting. But I am a little surprised that England ot the British Isles is not there. Surely preferable to Belgium? LoL

    However, I would like to visit Japan but doubt that I will now. Your photos confirm how fascinating it would be for me.

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    1. Hello my dear friend Phil! Thank you so much! Oh Phil, you have no idea how I want to see the United Kingdom! My classmate who now lives in London was so nice to invite me but it was tedious to obtain a visa. I submitted literally a book worth of requirements to the French Embassy and if I have to visit London on that same trip last Winter, I had to do a separate application to the British Embassy. But I really will visit the UK someday my friend, you country is so amazing (I really wanna see the Stonehenge and have English Tea in England!)

      Oh please do visit Japan Phil when all is safe again! It's paradise and is one thing I feel blessed because it's just a four hour trip whenever I wanna visit (but yes, not yet in the soonest time)

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  7. Hello, love the tour and photos. The bamboo grove is neat, I have seen one similar in Maui, Hawaii. Thanks for sharing your trip! Enjoy your day, happy weekend!

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    1. That really was a stunner Eileen, it was magical to be on that grove in Arashiyama! Have a great weekend Eileen!

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  8. ohh what a Nice post!You look beautiful:))and Your friends ,Family, the baby:)))

    Memories of a geisha is one of the best Movies I have ever seen.Nice to see a picture from the Place!Love the Asian and Japan tradition!Have you ever been to the Sea of trees?Aokigahara?

    We have seen films from the Place really scary!!

    Kyotao looks very wonderful!I will travel there the day I get super Rich :)))

    Greetings from Norway

    I thank you very much for showing the photoes!

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words Anita! And I have to say a big YYYESSS!!! Memoirs of a Geisha is probably one of the best films I have ever seen in all aspects! OMG I have heard of Aokigahara as well but I will never dare to visit there because its creepy haha

      Yes dear Anita, please visit Japan! It's a magical place filled with magical people!

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  9. Danke für die tollen Eindrücke!

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    1. It is my pleasure Lieselotte! Thank yous o much for visiting my blog! Sending weekend hugs to Europe!

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  10. Nice report Stevenson, Kyoto has to be a spectacular swer, the company of your family will surely bring unforgettable times and days.
    But putting yourself in the middle of the tracks is not a good idea, even if trains don't logically come.
    Regards.

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    1. José Antonio you gave me a good laugh on the train tracks but you are very right and yes, that track is passed by the Tram multiple times per hour so yes it's quite dangerous (okay I'll not do it again my friend haha)

      I am so happy you like this trip and the photos José Antonio! Sending you big hugs this weekend!

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  11. What an adventure! Some lovely temples, and yummy looking food.

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    1. You got that right! Food really is a big Yes in Japan though I have to say they are pretty expensive for someone coming from a 'cheaper to live in' country. Happy Weekend Karen!

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  12. Thanks for the tour. It looks like a great place!!

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    1. All my pleasure Yogi! Japan really is magical and ways more than a hundred :)

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  13. Kyoto is really a fascinating place !

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    1. very much true that is Karl! One place I would never mind coming back to :)

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  14. Your photos brought back some nice memories for me of my own visit to Kyoto, probably about 20 years ago, give or take a few. I was only there for a day but found it so interesting. I especially loved your photos of the food!

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    1. That is so true dear Jeanie! For sure, you had an amazing day at Kyoto for sure! Now I miss those heritage meals we tried! Thank you so much Jeanie! It's really an honor for us to ave visited such a beautiful and magical city!

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  15. Looks amazing and great photos. I would love to visit Japan one day :-D

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    1. It really is a must visit Ananka :) Happy Weekend my dear friend!

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  16. Those are great pictures. It looks like you had a super visit. I have never been to Japan but I really would like to visit some day soon.

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    1. It's an amazing place to visit Brian Joseph :) I hope you can visit it soon when all is safe again. Happy Weekend!

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  17. sweet, sweet memories. Japan is such a fascinating country.

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    1. Truly they were Klara! Makes me wanna visit again someday soon. Hope I can see Sapporo on my third visit !:)

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  18. Oh, I so would love to visit that place...just so much to see!

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    1. It always awaits dear Rose! Such a beautiful piece of history right in front of the visitor!

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  19. Wow this post reminds me of my visit to Kyoto in 2004. I bet you visit so many beautiful spots there. The beauty of Kyoto lies on the mix between traditional with modern, past with future, ancient with technology. Not only that it has great sceneries, but also the food is varied and delicious. So wish to be back to Kyoto.

    Did you happen to visit Nara too?

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    1. You said it very perfectly! How they preserve the traditional and moved on with the modern is just so greatly shown by Japan and its cities that both can actually exist interdependently!

      I missed Nara :( Though we did an interchange there from Kyoto back to Osaka, that day we had an earthquake so we were stuck in Kyoto Station for 5 hours.

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  20. Dearest Stevenson,
    Only have seen the Tokyo area and more north where we had the exchange with our sister city, through YKK. That was in 2007 when I went as a chaperone.
    LOVED Japan as it made me feel like I was back home in The Netherlands, so many similarities.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Oh I get what you mean dear Mariette! Especially the nature part and the weather, both Japan and the Netherlands are quite on the same page, especially how both countries have high respect to the environment! Tokyo is the farthest north of Japan I have been to, I always wanted to see Sendai and Sapporo, hopefully someday :)

      Happy Weekend dear Mariette!

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  21. Amazing place! Japan is one of the countries that I would love to visit. It has an amazing atmosphere, a completely different culture. I must admit that the architecture is breathtaking :)

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    1. That is very true! It's a marvel of its own, and the people there are just amazing - nice, kind, helpful, and VERY respectful. Please do visit Japan Rodzina, and also drop by our islands too :)

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  22. Muchas gracias mi amigo! Estoy feliz de que gusten! Grande Abrazo!

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  23. Kyoto is definitely one of the most beautiful cities on earth -- at least in some ways. Your photos capture that beauty. But beyond the traditional-style temples and gardens, the modern city is always visible just a little bit (or a lot). And in most places, you are always with a crowd. We went to the Emperor's Katsura Villa with its spectacular gardens and tea pavilions, but in the distance you can always see the power lines!

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Your comment is spot on Mae! It's a very big mixture of traditional and modern and you are right, they do preserve a lot of historical spots and landmarks but are next to modern places. It's like there is no "complex" in a very big scale there because the assortment of places is just astonishing. Old, New, Old, Old, New Old, New, New :)

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  24. Lovely photos of a fascinating place!

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    1. Oh thank you very much my Shiju! Japan really is surreal it's like walking around diffewrent periods and eras on the same place :)

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  25. What a fabulous trip! It looks like you saw some amazing sights... and ate well :)

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    1. Hello Lisa! It really was amazing and you got that right, our family loved tasting their cuisines and specialties!

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