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ODE TO PIGGING OUT: KYOTO EATS (Kyoto, Japan)

5/14/2015

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Food is our common ground, a universal experience.
 – James Beard
"Umami" is a term distinct with Japan. Umami means savory. Everywhere you go in Japan, be it a street food or a restaurant, you will definitely taste umami in its finest. Through the years, the Japanese developed layering its flavors. Since Buddhist people are usually vegetarians, the Japanese learned to cook without meat by enriching its flavors. Their food is umami heavy since they use a lot of soy sauce, condiments, dashi (cooking stock), and the like. 

While we were in Japan, we decided to focus on street food finds. We were also able to stumble upon local restaurant gems. So, what did we eat? Here is a preview. 

TAKOYAKI OR OCTOPUS BALLS

What is it? Considered to be a Japanese snack, takoyaki or octopus balls is made out of wheat flour batter with diced octopus or tako, tempura scraps, green onion, pickled ginger cooked in a special pan. The takoyaki is brushed with takoyaki sauce, sprinkled with aonori (green seaweed) and dried bonito flakes (katsuobashi).

Love it or Hate it? Love it! This street food find surely hits a spot and we both wished we ate more than a dozen! It was served really hot. The sauce complements the taste of the batter itself, and its somewhat sweet. In each bite you can taste the seafood goodness of the octopus. What's not to like with that?!
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ALL ROADS LEAD TO KYOTO: PART 2 (Kyoto, Japan)

5/14/2015

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What good is living
A life you've been given
If all you do is
Stand in one place
- Lord Huron | Ends of the Earth 
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The sun was out when we woke up and it was such a nice day to go around. Kyoto is one of those places that whatever you do, you cannot finish seeing it all. Kyoto has a thousand shrines and it will take you years to finish it, well unless if you are a native of Kyoto. We pick and chose the spots we would like to see on this trip, planned it well so we can maximize our stay.

Read the first part of this series here. We want to continue to share with you why we love Kyoto.

Here are more reasons why:

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BECAUSE FUSHIMI INARI-TAISHA IS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE SPOT IN THE CITY

Fushimi Inari-taisha is a Shinto shrine. It is well known for the thousand of Torii gates that lines up the path to the shrine. The gates are donated by different businesses in Japan. A Torii gate is a traditional Japanese gate found in the entrance of any Shinto shrine. Fushimi Inari is the god of crops and agriculture.

Why is it impressive? Colors make us happy and so will you! The Torii gates that lined up the walking trail path to Mount Inari were just pretty amazing. The most interesting about these gates is that the gates signify how big or small the donation was. Along the path, you will first see small gates and as you walk along, bigger gates will appear. On each Torii gate, the name of the individuals or companies is written at the back of the gate. The donation costs 175,000 to 1,300,000 yen. Pretty expensive, huh?  

Tip: The good part about visiting this shrine is there is no entrance fee! 
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BECAUSE ARASHIYAMA IS A CLASS OF ITS OWN

Tucked in a small area down by the mountains is Arashiyama. Arashiyama shouldn’t be missed! Since it is further away from the city, people tend to miss it. Arashiyama has the Japanese vibe you are looking for, from Japanese traditional shops, ryokans (traditional Japanese guest houses) and the quaint Japanese restaurants that serve kaiseki (vegetarian Japanese meal).

Why was it worth it? The town’s backdrop is set on a beautiful landscape - mountains, trees and a river flowing in between. You will specially enjoy this area during spring and autumn, wherein nature is dancing with colors. We really enjoyed the spring season in Japan and sakura was just inexplicable. Best appreciated while walking in the heart of Arashiyama, the romantic bridge called Togetsu-kyo or the Moon Crossing Bridge.
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BECAUSE THE SAGANO BAMBOO FOREST SEEMS MAGICAL

In Arashiyama, you can find the famous Sagano Bamboo Forest. While you are there, don’t miss this place. The bamboo is so high and it almost covers the sky. 

Why is it worth it to see? As soon as you step into the forest, you really can’t help but admire the bamboo stalks grow towards the sky. The lighting in the forest is so pretty with a little sun coming through. The ambiance and the light seem to conjure drama of a magical land.

Tip: From the station, it is at least a 10-15 minute walk or you can always hire rickshaw pullers to tour you around. Don’t get disappointed if it’s packed with tourist, they come and go in batches. 
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ALL ROADS LEAD TO KYOTO: PART 1 (Kyoto, Japan)

4/29/2015

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Expect to have hope rekindled. 
Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways. 
The dry seasons in life do not last. 
The spring rains will come again. 
- Sarah Ban Breathnach
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A visit to Japan is definitely not complete without visiting its cultural and historic center – Kyoto. We took a bullet train or shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station. Our hotel in Kyoto is conveniently located near the station and it’s just a 10-minute walk.

Kyoto is in Kansai region and was the Imperial Capital of Japan. Due to its historic value, Kyoto’s treasured shrines, temples, numerous gardens and palaces are spared from air raids and atomic bomb during World War II. 

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HOW TO GET AROUND KYOTO?

Depending on how many days you have, you can buy an unlimited bus pass (1 or 2 days). Outside Kyoto Station, there is a kiosk where you can buy the pass to get around the city. We suggest to use the unlimited pass if you are on a budget. Please bare in mind that this pass only covers city bus route and does not include trains or subway.  

Outside Kyoto Station are multiple bus stops that bring you to different tourist sights around Kyoto. Since our hotel is near Kyoto Station, it was very convenient for us to hop on and off to these buses to visit the sights. On the pass itself, you will see timetables on what time the buses come and go plus the bus numbers you will use to go back and forth. The pamphlet they will give you has all the information you need. (Note: After arriving at Kyoto Station, it is always advisable to ask the tourist information for a map so it’s easy for you to visualize and plan your route. The friendliness of the people at the tourist information center in Japan is notable.)

Like Tokyo, we carefully planned what to see and do to maximize our stay. On our first day, we planned to see the spots on the east side of Kyoto Station while on the second day we planned to see the sights west of Kyoto Station. If you have a lot time to kill, walk around Kyoto Station since its a pretty unique and modern looking building. The station has a department store and several restaurants inside. This station has massive steps and escalators. At night, they have a light show on the steps. It was pretty cool! 

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Thankfully, this historic city was spared from bombings and because of that we are lucky to see and appreciate the old Imperial Capital till this very day. We absolutely love our stay in Kyoto.

And, here are the reasons why:

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BECAUSE KIYOMIZU-DERA TEMPLE IS WORTH FIGHTING THE CROWD

This temple is one of the most celebrated temples in Kyoto. At the grounds, there is a lot to see from pagodas, beautiful gardens and Buddhist temples. If you are lucky, you will see Japanese people wearing traditional clothes. To reach Kiyomizu-dera, you have to walk up at Matsubara Dori for at least 15 minutes and you won't get bored checking out the shops and stalls leading to the temple. 

Why is it worth it? First of all, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only that, when it was built in 1633, not a single nail was used in the process.  You will be really amazed how they did since it juts around a corner on a hill top. Plus, the amazing view from the top is equally amazing as the temple itself. 

Tip: If you have time, eat at Okutan. One of Kyoto's specialty food which is hot tofu. Okutan was founded more than 375 years ago in 1635 and it is near Kiyomizu-dera. 
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We are husband + wife, adventurers + visual storytellers, who love to see the world together. Our goal is to see 100 countries in our lifetime and we are halfway there.

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