So after leaving Osaka, a quirky, laid-back, artsy town, make no mistake about it, this is a big city. But it really has a different feel than Tokyo. Not saying one is better than the other, just that they are very different large cities. But on to Kyoto. This city was much bigger than I expected. I thought it was a small, sleepy town, quaint. But no, it's a large city with some beautiful parks and open spaces. The Bamboo Forest was serene, all the cherry blossom trees were stunning—if only it weren't so crowded. Usually, I would have been there early before everyone—I know a lot of people comment on how no one is ever around when I take photos, but that's because I'm usually out when everyone else is sleeping. But I was on a limited schedule this visit, so I ended up taking a tour with my friend Tonya. It was a good day and tour! Enjoy the photos!
Another shrine, really large, but unfortunately it was dark when we got there. Below is the Bamboo Forest and the cherry blossom trees.
Walking around the village, Snoopy Chocolate is very popular here. I tried the ice cream cone with teddy bear cake on top—yum! I also tried other snacks but didn't really like the rice balls (that's what I'm pointing at).
Kinkakuji Temple(The Gold Temple) above and then we headed to Nara to see the Temple and Nara's Park famous for it's 1200 or sol wild deer that live freely within the park. And you can feed and pet them! Then(below) we went to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Todai-ji Temple.
It was a long day, but quite a nice day. I know I'll go back to Japan in the future to further explore this beautiful country!
Oh! The delicious Ramen I got in Kyoto!!!
Next stop: Takayama
