Day 8: Arrival in Kyoto & First Adventures

Our journey to Kyoto was a mix of ferries, local trains, and the lightning-fast Shinkansen, with two transfers and three different trains before we finally arrived in the heart of this historic city. Navigating Kyoto’s efficient subway system, we reached our hotel—our home base for the next three nights—ready to dive into all that Kyoto has to offer!  

After dropping our bags, we jumped on a city bus and headed straight for some of Kyoto’s most famous sights:

Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion) :

One of Kyoto’s most iconic landmarks, Kinkaku-ji’s golden exterior glows brilliantly in the sunlight, reflecting beautifully in the tranquil pond that surrounds it.  

Why It’s Important:

A Zen Masterpiece– Originally a shogun’s retirement villa, it was later transformed into a Zen temple, symbolizing peace, harmony, and enlightenment.  

A Living Piece of History– Built in 1397 by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the temple has withstood centuries of change, including wars, fires, and even arson.  

Three Unique Architectural Styles – Each floor represents a different style:  

  - Shinden-zukuri (Imperial Palace style)  

  - Buke-zukuri (Samurai style)  

  - Zen temple style

Gilded in Gold – The top two floors are covered in real gold leaf, symbolizing both purity and the impermanence of material wealth in Buddhist philosophy.  

Home to Sacred Relics – The temple is believed to enshrine Buddha’s ashes, making it an important spiritual site.  

Next, we travelled to Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its breathtaking Zen gardens. The Sogenchi Garden, designed by Zen master Musō Soseki, was like a living painting—perfectly arranged stones, and koi-filled ponds.  

From there, we wandered into the magical Arashiyama Bamboo Grove—a towering, otherworldly forest of swaying bamboo. We enjoyed walking through the towering stalks, with the sunlight filtering through in soft green hues.

Tasty Treats & A Cozy Evening:

On our way back, we stopped for some delicious local snacks: crispy sweet potato chips and sweet, chewy dango (rice dough balls), both of which hit the spot after a long day of exploring.  

We took the train back toward our hotel, where we indulged in another steaming bowl of incredible ramen—a comforting and flavorful end to our first day in Kyoto.  

After dinner, we enjoyed a relaxing evening at the hotel, reflecting on an adventure-filled day. 

Day 7: Exploring the Magic of Miyajima

Today was another gorgeous spring day—the sun shining brightly on a crisp fall morning, with minimal crowds since the day-trippers had yet to arrive. As we strolled through the peaceful streets, Nancy commented that Miyajima Island reminded her of Mackinac Island—beautiful, quaint, quiet, and wonderfully simple.  

We started the morning with a traditional Japanese-style continental breakfast, then set out to explore more of this enchanting island. Our first adventure took us up Mount Misen, the island’s highest peak. We rode the Miyajima Ropeway two-thirds of the way up, gliding over lush forests and taking in spectacular views. From there, we hiked another 30 minutes to the summit, passing Reikado Eternal Flame Hall along the way. Inside, we saw the legendary fire that has been burning for over 1,200 years—amazingly, this same flame was used to light the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park’s eternal flame.  

At the summit, we were rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea, its many islands, and the Japanese mainland in the distance. 

On the way back down, we hiked the whole way down following a scenic trail, encountering serene temples, ancient stone markers, and picturesque viewpoints.  

Once back in town, we stumbled upon a quiet, off-the-beaten-path restaurant and finally tried okonomiyaki, a famous Hiroshima-style savory pancake. Made with a thin batter, shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, pork, egg, and various toppings, it was both hearty and delicious. Since Miyajima is renowned for its oysters, I couldn’t resist ordering mine topped with five plump, juicy, freshly grilled oysters!  

Before heading back to our ryokan, we stopped for some gelato. I decided to try sakura (cherry blossom) flavored gelato—delicate and subtly floral, a perfect light treat. The shop invited us upstairs, where we removed our shoes and enjoyed our dessert while sitting on traditional floor cushions in a cozy tatami-matted room.  

After our rigorous hike, a few of us returned to the ryokan to nap and soak in the onsen, while others headed to the beach to play and watch the sunset over the "floating" Torii gate—a truly magical sight.  

Later in the evening, Nancy and I enjoyed a quiet dinner, while the rest of the crew went ahead of us, wrapping up yet another wonderful day on this picturesque island.