Japan, Kyoto

Kyoto is advertised as a must see TV for traditional Japanese experience. With Osaka city being almost void of international tourists, we expected everybody to wear a kimono as we booked Kyoto for two nights. In hindsight, bad decision. Although it really has great and amazing historical sights (there are temples and shrines not to be missed here!), the whole place feels a bit (well, quite a bit) like the tourist trap. It is traditional Japan, but very tourist ready. They even have translations to English almost everywhere! Our suggestion: stay in Osaka and just do day trips to Kyoto. But we did get a new obsession here – Japanese gardens. So lovely! And the way some of us (Nives, really) think is the best way to enjoy nature. Looking at arranged formations from lovely teahouse, or a wooden path. Divine! And then dry gardens. That would be stones arranged on the pebbles in designs only clear to the creators. And people who have reached zen. We tried, but alas our minds were too clattered.

And we found kimonos here for sure. Probably not exactly in the way we expected thou. So, one of the touristy things to do is to rent kimono and do your sightseeing in it. Result: tourist sights are swarming with people dressed in traditional clothes. But it is not tacky, actually very cool. You almost feel transported back in time, watching the life go by in this amazing country. Colour attack from everywhere! And then we even caught a glimpse of a geisha in the street! Now this was what we wanted! Truly, truly beautiful. We toyed with the idea of doing it ourselves (kimono, not the geisha), but our regular 20km or so seemed impossible in those little sandals. Crocks are way better! Not to mention the heat – it was more than 30 degrees in almost 100% humidity.

One peculiarity of historical sights in Japan is also the amount of school children visiting. Bus after bus of kids dressed in same uniforms and hats (those were especially cute on younger ones) were whizzing by. And talking to us! Thing is they get an assignment to find tourists and ask them few basic questions (where you are from, why are you here, what do you think about Japan, that kind of thing) and practice English that way. Really, really nice! Although, we did need to spell Slovenia for each group we encountered…

As we were continuing with our long walks, too tired to go out for dinner (and Kyoto just felt too touristic after Osaka), we opted to go to local stores and just buy few things and eat in our room (which did have enough space for two extra plates besides us – “huge” is not a first thing that comes to mind here). Light dinner of some sushi, fruit and vegetables was the plan. Little did we know that you need to be a lottery winner to afford vegetables, especially fruit. So, only thing cheap was sushi (fabulous!) and cabbage and sprouts (we gave bloating a new meaning). And that was our diet a lot!

After almost three days in Kyoto we were all templed-out and it was time to move. Back to snow – Japanese Alps, here we come!

Lifetime supply of Japanese gardens here, or just some more pictures of Kyoto here.