Fine wine is to be appreciated and only for special occasion. Kyoto is one of the few cities that should be cherished and remembered after your vacation ended and you are back home managing your regular routine.
I was the last to visit Kyoto/Osaka as all my friends have visited these two places. Kyoto was once the capital of Japan, and this explains why there are so many temples and palaces throughout the city. Two that really stand out in my opinion are Fushimi Inari-taisha and Kiyomizu-dera.
The bright red colored vermillion on each of the torii estimated by the thousands on the site alone in Fushimi Inari-taisha is a place that should be experienced by any travelers once in their lifetime. Characters are engraved on each of the torii, probably name and date of purchase by a Japanese business or an individual. The toriis are infused with the meaning of “wishes will come through” so as one passes these shrines pray for what you wish for, and they will come true! The walk up Mt Inari is about 2 hours so be prepared and make sure you have a bottle of water.
Kiyomizu-dera was one of the 20 finalists for the New7Wonders of the World. What’s so unique about the temple is that not a single nail was used to build the entire structure. The main hall has a large veranda, supported by huge pillars that juts out over the hillside. Unfortunately, the whole temple is currently under construction, and it’s covered with bamboo from the rooftop down to the bottom of the veranda, which offers an impressive view of the city. Still the crowd is not hindered to visit this massive structure. The complex offers various talismans and statues, bringing good fortune and love for those who seek and believe. Both men and women lined up to get their blessings by touching them.
With so many temples. shrines and palaces in Kyoto, it’s quite impossible to see all or even the few famous ones in a few days as I’ve found out. Besides the official residences and places of worships, Gion District is an alternative. The District is built to accommodate the needs of visitors to the Yasaka Shrine. It soon evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts in all of Japan. At about 5 pm, geishas are seen walking hurriedly to private clubs also know as Ochaya with an assistant following from behind. Like any other Hollywood stars, these geishas are movies stars in their own right. The cameras just click away the moment they are spotted by tourists in the area.
Weather is lovely in May. Day time is warm and comfortable. As soon as sun sets, air gets cooler. Kyoto is a well-planned city that adopted the grid pattern copied from modern day city Xi’an in China. It is both walking and bicycle friendly which makes living comfortable for people of any age and gender. The two most interesting things about Kyoto are the lack of garbage receptacles in most part of the city, and the cleanliness of the public restrooms anywhere in the city.
There is hardly any garbage receptacles. I learned the hard way when I had to throw plastic container and empty bottle water. It took me awhile before I found one. Amazingly anywhere I went, there was not even a piece of paper on the ground! Then there are the public restrooms, whether they are at the train stations or parks, in malls or restaurants, there are extremely clean. It really made me feel shameful of the public restrooms that I encountered either in New York or Kuala Lumpur. Some toilets are even equipped with music and water spray where both pressure and temperature can be adjusted to individual needs.
Friends told me that one can never gets bored visiting Kyoto. They are right. How could I?
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