Today there were two specific items that were on my list to see - Japan "must sees" if you will. So as normal I headed out early.
First up? The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. This is a famous bamboo forest grove located in the outskirts of Kyoto. Thanks to my fabulous JR pass, I am able to take the JR train out there at no additional cost. I love that JR pass!
Note- most of the trains in Japan have the announcements and signs in English as well as Japanese. Either in the verbal announcements or the signs on the train itself (often both). The JR train to the Saga- Arashiyama stop does not have that. The announcements and the signs are only in Japanese. You need to find a seat where you can watch out the window so you know what stop to get off on. Luckily I figured that out quickly!
The actual bamboo forest is about a 10-15 minute walk from the train stop. Easy to find, but you have to pay attention because you walk from the train station through some residential areas. It does give you a nice glimpse of the residential homes of the locals, which is always nice.
Words cannot accurately describe the bamboo forest. It was short in total "walking time", but so peaceful, calm and well, Zen. I loved it. I could have stayed there all day. And as I was walking through the forest, who drives by on bicycles? The Couple My Age from yesterday! No kidding. As they drive by on their rented bikes, the man of The Couple My Age shouts out "Hey Boston!
How you doing?". You can't make this stuff up, kids! :)
After spending some time at the forest, I wanted to then travel to the Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine. This is another famous "must see" in Japan and you might recognize the signature red shrine gates often seen in tourist guides. Again, the JR pass paid for itself, as I took the JR train from the Saga- Arashiyama stop back to Kyoto station, then changed trains to go to the Inari train stop. All under the Jr pass. Did I mention how glad I was to have this thing??
For as calm and peaceful as the Arashiyama bamboo grove was, that was the complete opposite of the Fushimi Inari shrine. But also, by that time it was well past the 10 am hour and people were out and about. Throngs of people. Many, many people. With children. And old folks. And children. Sigh...
But again it was worth it. So very impressive, and the steps throughout the shrine leading up to Mt. Imari under those shrine gates really are amazing. Although crowded, I highly recommend that you visit here if you are able. I was so glad that I didn't miss this and even though it is outside of the city proper it is worth the trip.
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| Yeah, I climbed those steps! |
As this was my last day in Japan, and I was going to fly back home tomorrow I wanted to spend the remainder of the day just wandering. I headed back on the train to the Kyoto station and after a brief rest at the hotel went back to hang out around the hotel area. There is not really much around the Kyoto station area, but there is a huge mall in the station proper. I wanted to grab a few more trinkets (mostly some food /tea souvenirs). I had a few more gifts to buy and wanted to just wander around. Having the mall inside the station was great as by now it was getting quite cold outside and on and off cold rain sprinkles. I spent some time in the mall area shopping and people watching.
And then this happened. I stopped at a cafe in the mall for a cup of tea and some kind of pastry. I figured that this of all things wouldn't kill me. As I was sitting down enjoying my meal, the elderly ladies in the next table struck up a conversation. Now, their English was good but still it was not their first language. So I was not getting everything that was said but we chatted on an off about them, me and where I was from. Boston? Harvard University!! Sigh.....
So we chat on and on about things and the elderly lady (who I later find out is 83 years old- I would have guessed 65) wants to know where I was staying in Kyoto. I tell her across the street at the Kyoto Tower hotel (for it's convenience). She gets very animated and provides me with her name, address and local telephone number. She is going to write to me and if I come back to Japan I have to stay with her at her house as her guest. Because I shouldn't stay in a hotel! Yeah, that really happened. Apparently this lady is a musician and has played some type of harp/guitar thing (I didn't catch that part) and she has traveled all over the world for 50 years. She insists that we keep in touch and that if I come back I am to let her know. She was adorable. And do I know if she will write to me or if she meant what she said? No idea. But that kids, is why we travel. For experiences like that!
