Fushimi Inari Day

On our first full day in Kyoto, we went to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Given this is one of the most popular sites in Japan, we tried our best to get going early. It was a beautiful morning in Kyoto, and we enjoyed the walk to the train to get to the shrine. Once we got off, we walked up the hill toward the pagoda to start our visit.

The shrine is made up of approximately 10,000 wooden (vermillion) red torii gates going up Mount Inari. We did the lower gates visit (about an hour round trip) but it is possible to go all the way to the top, which would be 2-3 hours and a 2.5 mile walk. We made it to the spot where the gates and crowds started to thin out before turning around. It was stunning! I was curious what all the writing was on the gates, and after some quick research learned that each torii is a donation from individuals or businesses seeking prosperity or giving thanks to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, business, and fortune. The torii gates are painted red to symbolize vitality, prosperity, and protection against evil spirits. This was the highlight of our time in Kyoto and well worth the visit (and sore feet)!

We went to breakfast at the Vermillion Cafe after our walk. The short wait was well worth it for the pastries, coffee, and omelets we enjoyed. While there, we experienced a memorable (and not in a good way) interaction there with a tourist who didn't like the muffin the barista picked out, and requested a different one with more chocolate... everyone at the cafe (except for that tourist) was polite otherwise. We sat outside and enjoyed a peaceful morning before continuing our day.

We then took the metro back to the city and explored the city, walking up Sannenzaka (famous preserved street) and Chawanzaka (pottery street), where we went into the shops) before visiting Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

After walking around the free area (just the pagoda in the photos above), we realized everyone was paying to continue to explore the temple. We also joined in on the fun and got to see the beautiful view. Especially with the fall colors on the leaves, it was quite impressive! 

After our visit, we walked down Ninenzaka (famous preserved street) and through the Gion district, famous for the Geisha culture and tea ceremonies. We saw geiko & maiko while out and about, and enjoyed experiencing the area. On our way through, we went to Maruyama Park and saw the Yasaka Shrine.

We stopped into Kyoto Gion Saryo for lunch, and got some flatbreads (good) and a sweet potato latte (not our favorite). We then continued through the city towards our hotel. 

After a short break at the hotel, we went back out for an early dinner. Walking through the city the day before, we spotted a restaurant with good-looking Italian food that we thought was worth a try. We didn't have a reservation, but hoped we were early enough that we could get in.... and thankfully, we were! The restaurant was called kabura - we ordered some ravioli and pasta carbonara, both cooked to perfection and so good. We also tried some crudo (raw fish) that was fabulous. 

When in Japan, we wanted to try karaoke too. We walked over to Jankara Kyoto Kawaramachi Omiya（Karaoke & Restaurant) and got a private room for 90 minutes. It was lots of fun and they had a great selection of songs, plus some talented singers at the common area.

After singing our hearts out, we went back to the hotel for the day. We watched a little bit of Japanese reality TV - the variety show "Osaka Honwaka TV" was playing re-runs on repeat. Overall, a great day in Kyoto!