Today was an unplanned extra day in Kyoto, hence I had to pack my stuff up from First Cabin Karasuma where I’ve stayed for three nights and moved to Hostel Haruya BOOK, about 5 minutes bus ride away from Kyoto Station. This was my first encounter with the bus services in Kyoto. The Kyoto City Bus is useful for getting around places within Kyoto. TIP: Get the day pass, you won’t regret it. Fares within the city area is a flat rate of 230 yen for adults, and with the bus pass, you get unlimited rides on the buses for the whole day! A comprehensive map of the different places of interest in Kyoto is given free when you purchase the pass at 500 yen. The city bus now goes to Arashiyama, about 1 hour away from the city itself. Do the math, it’s definitely worth the price.

And that was where I went first! I took bus 11 and sat for an hour to the end of the route. Leo told me about his, and I quote ‘legendary’, kaiseki experience at Shoraian and I just had to experience it for myself. It was rather inaccessible and quite a hike from where the bus stopped us. You’ll have to walk down the river till you can’t go any further and you’ll come to a couple of uneven stone stairs. Go up said stone stairs till you find the sign below.

Alas, while Leo could have lunch there without making a reservation, I was out of luck. So, to everyone else… MAKE A BOOKING PRIOR TO HIKING, or you’ll regret it like I did. I went to Yudofu Sagano instead for an all-vegetarian kaiseki lunch, but that’s another post for another time.

I wish I had more time in Arashiyama so I could properly explore the place on a bike, or go on one of those boat rides. I wondered what lies across that long ass bridge, I never found out. I loved how peaceful it was, and though it was hot out, the weather wasn’t unforgivable. I’ll return to explore someday.

See the tiny boat in the middle of the two large boats? When I first saw it, I thought I was seeing things. But it was indeed a miniature replica of the big wooden boats that take people on a sightseeing trip up and down the river. I had the privilege of seeing it up close when it was ‘parked’ by the river bank next to the owner, and the details down to the tiny rower and the food on the table were amazing.

The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest was a little further away from the river, in the middle of town. I wasn’t as impressed with it as I thought I would be. The place looked magical in photos but in real life, not so much. Not that I’m discouraging a visit, but going there once would be enough for me. You need to have mad skillz and a good eye to capture the magic of the bamboo forest, one I didn’t possess at the time.

BRING MOSQUITO REPELLENT.

After checking the bamboo forest off my bucket list, I made a mad dash to the nearest JR train station. I needed to make it to Fushimi Inari before sundown even though Leo thought hiking  Fushimi Inari at night would be a whole new experience altogether. No thanks, I don’t wanna bump into any yuurei (ghosts) or monsters that might be lurking out there in the dark.