A short train ride to the outskirts of Kyoto took us from bustling city streets to a little taste of Japanese nature. Most people come to Arashiyama to visit the Bamboo Grove. To be honest, that site takes about 10-15 minutes to go through when there's no crowds, but there are many other sites to see here.
Read MoreOut of all the places that we travelled to on our world trip last year, Japan was one of the countries that we wanted to return to again. So, a little over a year later, we're back and ready to explore. Our first stop was the old capital, Kyoto, which still glows with that old world feel.
Read MoreThree words come to mind when describing Japanese food: preparation, presentation, and perfection. There is a lot of care and practise that goes into creating these beautiful morsels. Although indulging in steaming bowls ramen was on our must-eat list, Kyoto's thirty degree temperatures made us unable to resist the sweet temptation of cool icy treats.
Read MoreThere are over 2000 shrines and temples in Kyoto, so it's a good idea do a little research beforehand. There are the must-sees (i.e. every guidebook will recommend them, and every tourist will be there), and there are some that are known for having a unique feature or location, but sometimes the best ones are those quiet little places tucked just a few steps away from the busiest of streets.
Read MoreThis was our very first stop in Kyoto, and we decided to make good use of our jet lag and get there a little earlier around 8 am. The official visiting time is at 9 am, but that's just when the shops open. The site itself is open 24 hours a day. It's well worth the effort to go earlier. There were very few people and great morning light. And unless you're okay with paying respects to the mosquito gods, bring bug spray.
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