Ryan's Chang: Kyoto

Maybe some of you have been wondering where I've been, sorry I haven't updated in a while because I was moving houses. Here is an update from our trip from Japan. Kyoto was one of my favorite cities to visit.

I had contacted my friend Joanna a few days ago in Hiroshima asking if it was cool if we could meet up in Kyoto and if she could take us around. She was so happy I came to Japan and excited to see me so of course they said yes. I called her in the morning asking if she knew of the places we were going. The first stop was Kinkakuji temple where there was a temple that was made of gold. It was a picture perfect area with the temple in a little lake surrounded by a wooded area. We made our way to Nijo castle and I asked if she could meet us after we finished walking the castle grounds. At the castle we couldn't take photos or video inside of Nijo castle, I'm not sure why but they had security watching every tourist carefully making sure they didn't bust out their cameras.
After we toured the castle Joanna met us outside with mom and jake in the car. The mom was kind enough to shuttle us to the restaurant she made reservations at. It was great seeing Kohta but in his own element and city! We ate at this amazing Katsu place called Katsu Kura! Best Katsu I've eaten by far. First the come out with sesame seed other wise known as goma, they give you a wooden tool to crush it up and mix in the Katsu sauce. Then they came out with the katsu... The meat was top grade meat and the bread crumbs were big and crunchy all around. Not too oily either. With the Katsu was yuba in Katsu breading. With unlimited rice miso soup and cabbage it filled me up! After lunch we headed to an open market place where Kohta and Joanna led us around. We were on a mission to find pickled vegetables. We found a place that sold some and we started to head to the next destination. Kiyomizudera was a temple far on the east side of Kyoto. From where we were it was a far hour and a half walk. Luckily we cut through another temple and it's festivals. We bought corn and chocolate covered bananas on the way. We finally reached the gates of the temple and it had a long line outside. They didn't open the gates until after 6! We waited in line and lucky we did. It was one of the most scenic places I've been to in Japan thus far. The sun was setting and you can see the city light turning on with the temple in the foreground. I actually wished we spent more time there but we had to rush through it because Joanna's mom again made reservations at a yakitori place for us. Kiyomizudera is known as clear water. There is a little man made waterfall on the temples grounds where you can drink the water and make one wish. Also when we went the Sakura was blooming so it made for some good pictures. After the temple we caught a cab to the restaurant. We ate yakitori and I tried some unusual things like cartilage, heart and cheese chicken sticks. Each order came with two sticks and were under 300 yen. It was a good way to end the day and we made our way back to our hotel in Osaka.

Kinkakuji was the first temple we visited in Kyoto.

Nijo Castle grounds. This place had the Nightingale wood floors that creek when you walk on them.

We met up with the Yoshimura's for lunch at Katsukura.

Probably the tastiest Katsu I've ever had!

Uncle Ronald wanted pickled vegetables. Joanna took us to an open market area after Katsu Kura. We had to get some exercise in after that meal!

On our way to Kiyomizudera we stopped for some chocolate sprinkle covered bananas!

As we were walking up these stairs toward Kiyomizudera temple this cherry blossom tree decided to rain it's sakura on us. Everyone turned around and took pictures but nothing on camera could capture the moment everyone felt when this happened.