[JAPAN] HONSHU: KYOTO MUST VISIT + TRANSPORTATION

KYOTOOOO!

Finally i was back to my all time fav city in Japannn ♡ super clean - not so crowded, KYOTO. Japan late capital city before Tokyo has tons of peaceful place to visit. So here it is! Some mandatory visit in Kyoto and how to explore it

HOW TO EXPLORE IT 

i used daily kyoto bus pass ¥500/day for exploring the city. Super convenient and easy to ride if you stay around Kyoto Station. But you can also take subway but ofcourse with higher cost.

BEST PLACE TO STAY

i can said, kyoto station area. Connect to all transportation systems and super city center. There are some hotels but we stayed at Piece hostel just 5 mins walk away from station. Located in a small alley but superrrrr clean, cozy lounge and even random "thursday" takoyaki night very recommended for couple or single traveller

PLACES TO VISIT

#1 ARASHIMAYA BAMBOO FOREST

How to go: Bus no.28, from Kyoto st - Nonomiya bus stop (+/- 55mins)

I found it super touristy yet crowded so come in the morning is a must! That day i remember it was so glommy so everytime we took photos it looked super mystic and just dark and i hated it but as i edited and was seeing it continueously i turned up love it! Ya must visit but i thought the bamboos is not the main attraction but long river at the side of main road before you entering the forest. That huge river gave me super calming feeling dont know why ♡

#2

FUSHIMI INARI

How to go: JR nara line, inari station (10 mins) 

Greatest shinto temple in Kyoto that offers you thousands of tori ( gates in japanese). Super intagramable yet emotionally hard to get a great photos so many people passing by but it is all about timing. If you like hiking you can do hike to the top of mountain if the way open

#3

NINENZAKA STREET & KIYOMIZUDERA

How to go : take bus no.22 get off at kiyomizu-michi

I never thought of this street if not because of starbucks HAHA while i was looking for the only tatami style starbucks in Japan, i found that it located in beautiful traditional houses area of ninenzaka. You can also find %arabica, and other local cafes and restaurants here and direct short cut to biggest buddish temple in Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera. You have to pay ¥500 for enteance fee of the temple, unfortunately when i was there, the main pagoda is underreconstruction and dont know either it has done or not. You can also do some fun with walk through love stone and drink local 

[JAPAN] HONSHU: KYOTO FOODVENTURE

Kyoto must eat is Palace set food they said. But because Kyoto was around my secound week, i kinda sick of Japanese food HAHA so in kyoto mostly i just ate fushion fast foor or snacking along. So here it is! Food that me and my boyfie tried in Kyoto

#1

% ARABICA ARASHIYAMA

3-4 7 sagatenryuji, susukinobabaicho, kyoto

Open hours 8AM~6PM

Super pretty yet simple local coffeeshop located right beside big stream near arashiyama bamboo forest. Super famous % like everywhere in instagram and after trying their latte, no doubt just super perf glass of coffee with glommy view ♡

Taste 10/10

#2

STARBUCKS

高台寺南門通下河原東入桝屋町349番地, Masuyachō, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, 605-0826, Japan

Open Hours 8AM~8PM

Starbucks in Japan, i can said as the most beautiful starbucks in the world, with traditional building and tatami sitting, super crowded yet homey so prevent coming here in lunch time super touristy alert bit worth the wait ♡

Taste NEVER DISAPPOINTING POINT

#3

KYOTO STATION RAMEN 

〒600-8216 Kyoto, Shimogyō-ku, Higashishiokōjichō, 烏丸通塩小路下る東塩小路町901

Open Hour 11AM~10PM

Sooo, inside Kyoto station building, you can find kkinda ramen foodcourt that sell maanyyy kinds of ramen from all around Japan and i tried one named "Ramen Todai" they sell ramen with grilled marinated pork TASTEEEEEEEE WAY TOO GOOD! and they provide free raw egg too haha price starts ¥850

Taste 10/10

#4

NIKUZAEMON

〒615-0026 Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, Saiinkitayakakechō, 右京区 第 2 シンワ 会館 ESSERE1 階 1 号 2 46

Open Hours 8AM~3PM // 5PM~9PM

specialize in Beef bowl omggggg super gewd i randomly found this place from instagram and seeked the way to find this restaurant. It located in local apartment area so barely can see any tourist but that medium rare beef bowl super recommended, their steak is super tender and juicy and inside the rice they seasoned woth beef juice ( price around ¥1100) and even after meal, the owner gave us free ice coffee which also super thicc and gewd. Give it a try!

Taste 9.5/10

#5

NAKAU

53-1 Higashikujō Kamitonodachō, Minami-ku, Kyoto, 601-8002, Japan

Open Hours 24hours

ME and my BOYFIE ultimateee comfort food while in Kyoto and suprisingly it also available in Osaka ( maybe only Kansai provence) Japanese style fastfood like poke rice, karaage and stuffs but super worth every penny. 10karaage only for ¥500, lunch set for ¥800 we almost tried everything in the menu and everything just 👌

Taste 10 and infinity

LAST BUT NOT LEAST 

RANDOM ICECREAM STALL

otw from big road to Fushimi inari near train station 

So before i foubd this stall long way ago when the first time i went to Japan. Not regular softserve it made out of soy bean. Super silky and soft texture yet has hmm kinda tofu thicc flavour in it.i suggested orgiinal flavour one ¥350/cone

TASTE 9/10

Pardon my ugly boyfie HAHAAH

Hope this post help you who wanna eat great yet cheap food in kyoto!

[JAPAN] TAKOYAKI

I bet you all know this japanese snack! Yap TAKOYAKI, it's also very famous in Indonesia. Store that I like the most here is Okirobox. And Here in Japan, you can easily find this "balls" everywhere. P.S : Everywhere in Kansai area. If you are in Tokyo, just a small chance to find this. Because Takoyaki is originally made long long time ago in Osaka prefecture, Kansai Area, named Choboyaki.

This dish was named back during the Taisho period for the drop-by-drop ("chobo-chobo") way in which flour-based batter was grilled on a cast-iron griddle resembling the ones used today to prepare takoyaki balls. In around 1935, a visitor from Akashi to Osaka came upon a street stall selling it and explained that "they use octopus in Akashi." It is said that this single sentence inspired the birth of takoyaki, by which "Akashi octopus" and seasoned batter were brought together and grilled. At this time in the birthplace of takoyaki, soy sauce-rather than sauce-was poured over takoyaki balls. Some establishments to this day continue to offer suyaki, an unadorned version that is served with no toppings or sauce of any type.

And picture below, is a takoyaki stall in Fushimi-inari temple in Kyoto. Well if we compared it with Indonesia's, it is much bigger. I loved looked for its process.  Here in Japan, takoyaki is very compacted. They put lots of chopped cabbage, ginger and spring onion inside. 6 big balls priced ¥500 or Rp. 500,000, totally worth it! It will fulfill your stomache. Soft perfectly cooked takoyaki with chewy tako inside, sour sweet sauce and dancing grated dried fish :9