✈️ Japan Travel Vlog - 4 days in Kyoto

It's been 4 yrs since my last visit to Japan

Even 7yrs to Kyoto

Taking Haruka Limited Express from Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station

Already excited to see the scenery outside the window

I decided to have lunch at Kyoto Station on the way to the hotel.

But.. snowing..?

Snowing Kyoto at the end of February

Just went to the hotel dragging my suitcase in the snow

Little and cozy hotel

Waiting for the snow to break.

The snow has stopped after an hour, and I went out.

A nice bird sitting on the river

At first I thought it's a replica...

In the evening, I walked down the street to find a nice restaurant.

The streets become more and more beautiful as getting dark

Looking at the clean and tidy streets makes me calm.

The restaurants looking good were already full at dinner time,

and my legs were sore, so I just went into one in the downtown area.

A place that serves Okonomiyaki

So good to be seated..

Waiting for the food as having a draft beer

A cute Okonomiyaki came up.

Even after eating up Yakisoba,

I stopped by a convenience store on the way to hotel.

I can't pass up convenience stores in Japan..!

Having a pudding at the hotel

It tastes really good.

Day 2

I'm going to Arashiyama early in the morning

I was much chillier than I expected,

so I just wore warm clothes, not the ones I wanted to wear

It's cloudy

50 minutes by bus from Gion Shijo,

then arrived in Arashiyama.

I was hungry so I got a Dango.

Visiting Chikurin for the first time in 4 years

I hate mountains, but I like forests

As walking around the bamboo grove,

I turned towards a cafe, %ARABICA.

There were so many tourists, especially Koreans,

probably because Japan has just reopened to travel.

Seeing the familiar place brings back memories..

Iced latte

Enjoying the rich and sweet flavor

It cleared up gradually,

and we went back to downtown Kyoto for lunch.

Looking at the surrounding landscape on a bus in Japan is also fun

More beautiful when it's clear

The eel restaurant I was going to go to was closed.

Google said it was open though..!

We were forced to go to the second option

Towards RedRock, which I often went to alone before.

First, I quench my thirst with a glass of draft beer

and wait for the steak rice bowl.

It's huge

I'm good at making lacing..

Bon appetit :)

Good to see this after a long time.

Beat the egg yolk and take a bite with the sauce

It hasn't changed.. still so nice..

After lunch, we headed to Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka.

It's fun to walk and look around the alleys all day.

There were so many people, but it was still pretty.

We stayed here for 2hrs enjoying the scenery colored by the sunset.

We booked a restaurant for dinner

Cozy interior

Today's evening course

The appetizer was unusual vegetables,

which were interesting.

Especially tomatillo

Firm and sweet flesh is attached to big dry peels

It was delicious and interesting at the same time.

Mackerel sushi that I like

Unlike the one I tried in Korea, there's only rice and mackerel.

Rice was also served after thick miso soup.

It was nice to try unusual ingredients without much seasoning.

But it's short of variety, and not enough

so I reckon it'd be better for those who come for a drink rather than a meal.

The second day ended

In the morning of Day 3

I was tired from walking from early morning until late at night,

so I decided to meet my friend for lunch today.

Fortunately, it's got warmer than yesterday and the other day.

Today, we're going to a sushi restaurant in Gion Shijo!

I like draft beer that is smooth when I swallow it,

and this place's beer was just like that.

I was too full to have another round though..

The quality of ingredients was really good.

Especially tuna..!

I would've gone there again if I had stayed longer

After the meal, we're going to grab a coffee

I thought there would be not many people in the cafe,

but somehow it was full, and we barely managed to get a seat.

It seemed that all the coffee is hand dripped.

The shop gives cozy vibes like my own hideout,

so it's the most memorable place during Kyoto trip.

As a typical Japanese shop, they only accept cash

It's a pity that I didn't have enough cash to try a cake.

I wish there was a cafe like this in my neighborhood.

We went to Kennin-ji in the afternoon, but it was about to close

So we just took a walk nearby, not going inside.

I'll get in there next time.

For dinner, we went to Gion Tanto that serves okonomiyaki.

The one I'd visited several times while traveling in Kyoto alone.

There were many Japanese back then, but now they're all tourists.

Thin and crispy Okonomiyaki

A pleasant dinner time having flashbacks

Showing off my talent

Second spot is a nearby izakaya

Draft beer with a few skewers

Super friendly staff put us in a good mood

I'll come again on my next trip

Ice cream on the house..<3

Day 4 of Kyoto trip.

Finally, the eel restaurant is open..!

Even tho we went there at opening time, we had to wait an hour.

I hate waiting even for a hot spot,

but I just waited 'cause I never know when I could try it.

My eel is being grilled..

The taste of eel rice bowl after waiting for an hour in the rain..?

Light, and not too sweet

It looked small, but I got full after finishing it.

However, it was not worth waiting for an hour to try

and its price is reasonable, so I'd say it's a good place to try

After taking a short break at Starbucks near the Kamo River,

we headed back to the airport by Haruka, ending the 4-day trip.