“I SHOULD HAVE TRAVELED MORE”. This may be one of the things that come to one’s mind at times nowadays. One year in the pandemic and unfortunately, we still cannot roam without feeling anxious of the risks that are brought about by the virus. Because of the coronavirus, most gatherings and outdoor activities are restricted.
In my case, the time I only got outside is when I need to go to work, do grocery shopping and run important errands. I’m almost indoors most of the time. I feel like I was trapped inside, constricted, suffocated with the same routine. I realized I need some fresh air to breathe. I need a reminder of what it is to feel alive and refreshed.
Prior to this travel, I went to a casual hike and strolled around Kobe – which by the way is a must-go destination. It was only a 3-month travel gap between Kobe & Kyoto but somehow it felt like my last unwinding was several years ago. Thanks to this trip, I remembered how fun it is to travel again.
It was a fine day when I went to Kyoto to meet a friend. I arrived at around 11am by train, rode the escalator to check the “Happy Terrace” at the topmost part of the Station. In Happy Terrace, you can observe the overlooking view of Kyoto. Since it is summertime, the Happy Terrace was donned with hydrangea flowers & bamboo plants. One will never get bored while inside the Kyoto Station because there are a lot of things you can do. Just right below the topmost part is a haven of fancy restaurants. Among those, some of the restaurants offer a great view of the inside of Kyoto Station or of the fancy buildings and skyline of Kyoto, so make sure to plan ahead and choose which restaurant you want to dine in. On that same floor, you can pass the skywalk where you can have a glance of the detailed interior structure of Kyoto Station while crossing to the other side of the building.
We ate at Katsukura, one of the restaurants lined up at Cube Gourmet Street. Apparently, Katsukura is a very popular tonkatsu (deep-fried breaded pork) restaurant chain in Kyoto. Their tonkatsu meals are the bomb. The tea and vegetable salad is unlimited, so you can ask for another serving.
What’s interesting in this restaurant is their Katsu sauce, not to mention the salad yuzu dressing. The servers will give a mortar & pestle with sesame seeds in the mortar. The sesame seeds need to be finely crushed, which I think is a great dining experience. After all the seeds are crushed, pour the tonkatsu sauce into the mortar to create a new sauce. Then you can dip your katsu into the newly combined sauce and happily munch away. It is my second time dining in Katsukura and truly, the taste did not disappoint this time as well.
Our itinerary for that day is Arashiyama & Kiyomizudera. We rode the Sagano Line (San-In Main Line) on platform 33 towards Saga-Aarashiyama.
Visiting Arashiyama during the summer season has made it evident that there is a huge difference between Kyoto’s scenery compared to the other seasons. Even during the pandemic, Kyoto is still flocked by tourists. But this time, with local tourists, since entry within Japan is heavily restricted.
The plan for Arashiyama is to see the bamboo forest. We leisurely walked through the bamboo groves and took photos and videos once in a while. We strayed from the main course and reached a small bamboo grove path where the bamboo serves as a perfect backdrop for your mini photoshoots.
The next destination is one of Japan’s National Historical Treasure: Kiyomizudera. We rode a bus from Kyoto Station, used our IC cards for payment (IC cards are definitely handy when traveling!), walked through alleyways, traditional houses, and shops. The attraction that caught our eyes is the Yasaka Pagoda during sunset. The sunset behind the pagoda enchanted us with its peaceful warm color and make for a wonderful stroll.
While on the way to Kiyomizudera, we passed by Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka. The alleyways aren’t packed with tourists as the State of Emergency is still implemented when we went to Kyoto. Most of the shops are not operating. We planned to visit the first Starbucks with a tatami mat but it was closed as expected.
The way to Kiyomizudera runs in an uphill direction, but the strenuous path ahead didn’t faze us. With strides of enthusiasm and excitement, we walked towards the temple, savoring the moment of our last travel itinerary. When we arrived, we noticed that the area is not crowded as well. We enjoyed taking photos and appreciating the view and went home.
I would love to explore more of Kyoto again and discover more of its natural and historical hidden gems.
Arisa in Wanderland 