Our second day in Kyoto was all about the more historic parts of the beautiful city. And Kyoto has a lot of history to offer. Grumpy, because we couldn't decide where to go for breakfast, we took a commuter train to Fushimi. Our destination? The Fushimi Inari-taisha.
Gates leading to Fushimi Inari-taisha
Fushimi Inari-taisha entrance area
Due to its location at the base of Inari mountain the whole site is quite hilly and partially accessible. My friend walked up to the torii path, I was only able to go to the main gate area.
Stairs leading to torii path
Bad fortunes left behind
Looking it up on the internet there must be an inconvenient route including shallow steps to get to the torii gates in a wheelchair, we didn't try it, though.
Fushimi-Inari taisha
After a warming breakfast we took a subway train to the Gion district. Gion is Kyoto's geisha district and the most well-known geisha district in all of Japan.
Cinnamon roll and coffee
Kyoto subway ticket machines
Gion
Yasaka shrine
Hanamikoj Street is touristy, nevertheless you will find traditional Japanese architecture... and lots of geishas, or at least tourists dressed up as geishas.
Geisha
Geishas
If you want to see the 'historic' Starbucks store make sure you enter the area coming from the North otherwise you will push yourself up a steep hill to find yourself on top of a long flight of stairs. This area of Kyoto is hilly, too, but definitely worth a visit.
Flight of stairs in Gion
Feeling hungry after all this up-hill exercise? In Gion you will find, dangos, green tea flavoured ice cream and other delicious sweets.
Soft serve on display
Dangos on display
On our way back to the hotel we stopped at Otani Hombyo a temple and great cemetery with thousands of tomb stones.
Gion
Otani Hombyo temple
Otani Hombyo cemetery
After a short stop at the hotel we took a walk to Yodobashi, to have juicy gyozas and ramen at one of the many restaurants on the top floor.
Ramen and gyozas
A full day of sightseeing came to an end. Kyoto has a lot to offer and two days in this beautiful city were simply not enough – we only got an idea of the more traditional side of Japan. Continue here.
Kyoto Sky Tower
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