Pipa, Fine Wine, Kyoto Beef! (Kyoto Trip, Aug 8-12, 2023)
Strangely, my last two trips both happened after recovering from COVID.
This time it was even faster—departure was less than two weeks after the first day of infection.
Aug 8–12, five very fulfilling yet somewhat intense days!
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Travel debriefing, begin!
(By the way, after several long-distance trip debriefings, I’ve gradually summed up the experience and now I’m quite familiar with it.)
Once again, it fell during the expensive summer vacation. Luckily, I snagged a business class seat on Juneyao Airlines, not much more expensive than economy… So I grabbed it without hesitation! But still, because I booked a few days late, the price went up a bit…
This trip’s cost was a little higher than my maximum estimate, but it was really worth it! Very comfortable, about 18,000 RMB per person—we enjoyed everything: food, accommodation, shopping, and sightseeing!
Looking at it this way, a relatively comfortable trip can be budgeted around this per-person cost.
Wake-up time: Except for one day of sleeping in, we got up pretty early, around 7:30–8:30 Japan local time.
Departure time: Varied with wake-up time, basically catching the hotel shuttle bus at 10:10 or 10:40.
Number of attractions: Basically no reservations needed, so we went wherever we felt like, visiting many places each day.
P.S.: The last train times were very late, which terrified the corporate slave in me (even though I don’t work in Japan). By the way, a vacation after work really can’t be separated from work… www
Kyoto, I’m back!
————————————————————————————————————————————
Woke up early to catch the flight, left around 8:00. The road was pretty smooth, so after exchanging foreign currency, passing security, picking up the Wi-Fi, and all the prep work, we entered the lounge by 10:00.
Let’s eat! The rice noodles this time were super delicious—I had two big bowls.
By boarding time, I was a well-fed poached egg.
Side note: The small Juneyao plane had no entertainment system… boohoo.
So I just slept.
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Flying to Osaka is fast—both ways took about 1 hour 53 minutes. After flying so often, I feel that for most regular routes without major delays, the estimated landing time is actually about the time you exit the airport.
Due to the pandemic, the airport had a customs COVID check (my made-up name), which took a bit more time compared to the usual seamless process. After clearing customs, we walked out of the familiar Kansai International Airport to pick up our luggage!
(Before leaving, I calculated the time: from leaving home to entering the hotel, it was about 10 hours, from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Ten hours on the road.)
Mom said the journey itself is also scenery~
By the way, buying HARUKA tickets online is cheaper. At the station, two round-trip tickets for two people cost nearly 800 yen. Online it seems only 88 per ticket.
We flew to Kyoto as planned!
Arriving at Kyoto Station—it’s a major hub, very convenient for long-distance travel between cities. For short trips within Kyoto, the Karasuma Line and Tozai Line are more convenient. Last time during cherry blossom season, we stayed near Kyoto Station and had to transfer one stop. This time, I think staying near Kiyomizu-dera or Shijo Kawaramachi is more convenient. Of course, Arashiyama is also great.
I don’t know when I’ll go to Kyoto again. If I go to Japan again, it will be a deep, niche trip. Maybe also Hokkaido.
We didn’t explore Kyoto Station much—the schedule was too packed.
Then we started looking for the hotel shuttle!
I must say, the timing was perfect. Our train arrived at 17:34, and we walked out around 17:45 (the station is huge). I couldn’t find the shuttle schedule online beforehand. At the bus stop (where all hotel shuttles gather), I asked a driver from another hotel, who led us inside to find the Westin schedule.
The last bus was at 18:40, so we waited for the 18:10 one!
(So I wandered around the shops above—yay!)
6.2 km shuttle ride!
Another discovery this trip: I can pack less. I brought various medicines, mosquito repellent, band-aids, etc. Next time, simplify!
In the evening, we had a reservation at Yachiyo nearby for a tofu dinner!
But Mom thought it was too bland hahaha.
I even ate her portion!
Unfortunately, the English level at this place was worrisome… I need to brush up on my Japanese.
Back to the hotel, rest (or repair—fix my parts), directly collapsed.
8.9 City tour!
Sleep in, as long as I make it to breakfast!
These days of hotel stays are mostly about resting until 11 or 12, then going out, coming back to lie down or shower—successfully gaining weight!
Quiet alleys with few people.
Not many people, probably because it was a weekday.
One of the trip’s goals: admire Japanese gardens. The spot where this Blue Bottle is located is quite nice.
Nice for sitting and taking photos.
After leisurely drinking, it was already noon. A relaxed day.
Walked back to the hotel to catch the shuttle. Didn’t take long—maybe caught the 13:40 one?
Theme: city tour. Because (in my memory) the city is a small area, I didn’t make specific plans; just started walking!
Women, indeed, fall to drugstores…
Walked around… The weather was kind—cloudy and not hot.
After the brunch at around 10:30, I got hungry by 3 pm. Time for afternoon tea! (I love this life)
From the first day’s experiment, I found that the interval between meals is about 5 hours—a very healthy lifestyle!
Traveling is indeed practicing the perfect schedule: 9 to 7 with afternoon tea in between…
And by the end of this trip, I even slimmed down my legs!
Later, I wanted to go to Kiyomizu-dera, but the bus never came, so I gave up and went to Nishiki Market for dinner…
A shopping day!
On the way back, I really didn’t want to take public transport, so I checked the distance and decided to take a taxi!
Two people cost 950 yen for a bit over 2 km? Compared to public transport, it saved time and energy, and the price was almost the same—pretty good deal.
Back to soak in the hot spring!
Time to sleep. Wake up early tomorrow!
8.10 Arashiyama adventure!
I used quite a few means of transport today, so the theme is [Wheels on Kyoto] [Information on the Ticket].
Caught the 10:10 shuttle, let’s go!
Arrived at Kyoto Station~
This was supposed to be a day for the Hozugawa River rafting~
Along the way, announcements were made, especially at Saga-Arashiyama and Umahori stations, with Chinese announcements about “the little train blah blah”—those are the start and end points of the Sagano Romantic Train.
Arrived at Hozugawa, but the rafting was closed due to strong winds~
The train runs once an hour. We arrived at the station around 12:30, but the 12:30 tickets were sold out (the train was delayed). Bought tickets for 13:30.
Then wandered around the station buying souvenirs. A woman’s shopping desire…
Headed to Arashiyama’s shopping street! It was so hot today.
On the way, we looked for “Owl Forest,” but the shop next door told us it had already closed.
Interestingly, we came by JR but returned by two different train lines, yet the total cost was 420 yen per person…
By the second day, I could recognize Kyoto’s rail lines. Indeed, practice is the sole criterion for truth…
Near Gion, there are many narrow alleys. It feels magical to walk through them. Many low gates, Machiya, restaurants—everywhere.
(Soba noodles filled my stomach, so I wasn’t very hungry…)
We also ordered sake, but I still can’t quite get used to it…
(It’s also great for photos lol)
Before coming to Japan, I tried an omakase in Gubei and was deeply impressed by its yuzu seasoning (so delicious!). Then I had it in Japan too~
It was really good, second only to the Kumano beef I had in Shirahama last time.
Later, there was grilled salmon and other dishes, but by then I was eating like chewing wax…
This meal was booked domestically. I’ve long heard it’s hard to get reservations in Kyoto, and indeed, Michelin and other restaurants were all booked. Finally, I found a reservation agent on Hornet—reasonable agency fee, 50 RMB per person. For Michelin, I found another agency on Baobao Market with a fee of 200 per person…
No entrance fee here, lights on at night, perfect for an after-dinner stroll.
The area is full of narrow alleys. While looking for the entrance to Yasaka Shrine, we passed a very quiet path with hardly any people. One turn, and it was a different scenery—still many tourists at night.
Official description: Low walls, good privacy (not really).
This happy day ended with another round of drugstore shopping~
(By the way, the taxi fare back to the hotel was exactly the same as before hahahaha)
Another pleasant day of soaking in the hot spring~
8.11 Early wake-up for Ruriko-in!
The advantage of staying at the same hotel for several days: by the third day, I knew exactly where the food was, my taste preferences, and even could estimate my appetite.
The picture above shows the portion for one and a half stomachs. When two-thirds of it was down, I was pretty full~
Today I ate quickly because I was in a hurry; otherwise, it would have been a brunch.
(Found out I really love drinking beverages.)
Down the mountain path, a short winding walk up, and we arrived.
Compared to the urban atmosphere of the city center, this place still retains Japanese hospitality, handing out cold towels to people waiting in line. We queued for about 20 minutes, holding umbrellas and wiping with towels—not too hot.
The gate opened around 10:00. An old monk (maybe the head priest?) came out to introduce the place. A Japanese deaf person like me could only understand some notes; the rest I guessed from his tone—probably introducing the history and beautiful scenery of Ruriko-in… (Maybe it was originally an imperial temple?)
It also had a collaboration with a nearby art museum; after the visit, you could check out the museum.
Note: The lower half of this photo is a bare tabletop ( )
Later we went to Sanzen-in. Today’s keywords: [suburbs] [ancient temple] [garden] [coolness]. Sanzen-in is small—finished quickly.
(Left Sanzen-in at only 12:00!)
Afternoon schedule: a 30-minute ride to Lake Biwa area. Originally planned lunch near Sanzen-in, but maybe there was a queue or something, didn’t get to eat the local vegetable dishes. However! We got the beef shown below!
Guess what this is↓
Took the shuttle up the mountain, bought the ropeway tickets at exactly 13:05 (these tickets cost over 7,000 yen for two… a bit pricey). Usually they sell a pass for both the big and small cable cars. The small cable car runs very close to the ground—maybe one or two meters? I call it the “three feet off the ground little fo car” lol.
First went up to eat. Although the UV was strong, the wind was strong and it was super cool lol.
Blue sky and white clouds in Shiga!
There were also many entertainment facilities on the mountain, like the single-plank bridges at Oriental Land lol.
Beautiful scenery.
Originally I heard you could take photos of the torii gate by the shore, but it’s now fenced off, and a viewing platform was built across the road.
Got off and walked along Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka—
Went through some shopping money at lightning speed, ate and drank, then moved on to Nijo Castle.
The Kameoka Fireworks Festival had huge crowds, so Kameoka Station stopped selling tickets after 4 p.m. We started from Nijo Castle and needed to buy round-trip tickets at the departure station.
Below is the fireworks festival.
Kameoka’s was not as big as other famous fireworks festivals, but it was my first time catching one!
Around 19:30, we followed the crowd into a narrow farm path. That path was miserable—more later.
The fireworks started around 19:45.
When leaving, due to road closures, the crowd cut through the fields. The detour was long, and we walked extremely tired that day, to the point of numbness.
Then, I, in the pitch dark, fell into a ditch in the field…
Although I had packed light, I was carrying some shopping, plus I was tired, plus I wore sandals…
Advice to everyone: travel light!
Also, the other side of the river was actually a great viewing spot. Like in many anime or drama scenes, almost no one was there, families sitting together on picnic blankets on bikes, comfortably watching the whole fireworks show.
————————————————————————————————————————————
With clothes half wet (later I found a restroom to disinfect and dry them) (they dried later), rushed back to Nijo Castle and bought fried chicken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So delicious wuwuwu
That night I didn’t get to bathe in time, but the room was comfortable. The next day we had an early train ticket, so I had to get up early—next time I’ll plan better!
Also, I managed to stuff all my purchases into the suitcase!
Organizing enthusiast so happy wuwuwuwu
8.12 Last day!
This turned out to be the most rushed day—all shopping.
Women, truly never get tired ( )
After eating and drinking our fill, we headed to Kyoto Station!
(Finally boarded the 11:00 HARUKA at 10:58)
I’m a master of cutting it close lol.
After getting off, we stored our luggage at the airport (I think the storage was near the security gate on the 4th floor?)—a few hundred yen, cheaper than the outlet.
All along the way were malls, with overhead walkways or shaded areas, no fear of sun.
This outlet didn’t have too many big brands. After checking out a few, I didn’t see any clothes I liked (one Burberry couldn’t fit my expanded self). Browsing Japanese local brands was nice—mom and I both found clothes we liked.
Every time after recovering from COVID, my appetite and shopping urge are strong—that’s probably the main reason for arranging this outlet trip…
From 8 a.m. to almost 6 p.m., super me lol.
Outbound cost 340 yen, why was the return 370?
A woman’s shopping desire isn’t easily satisfied (I wanted to buy a bag but didn’t end up buying one). After sending mom to the airport lounge, I started a duty-free shopping spree…
But, because we arrived at the airport too late, many shops were already closed…
Even if they weren’t closed, there might not have been much stock…
Boarded. The 787 plane had a summer feeling lol.
Arrived home around 00:30, slept a bit in the car.
Finally, a memorable ending~
A journey that fulfilled a new wish~
