Japan: Day 13 — Kyoto ...

Walking through the Torii Gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine

I was up very early to make my way to the Fushimi Inari Shrine. I read online that the best time to visit was early morning. The shrine was three stops away from the closest train station and it took less than ten minutes to get there. I hopped on a 5:45am train and was surprised at just how quiet it was!

A map of the 4KM loop walk

The walk itself is a 4KM loop that took less than two hours to complete. There were a number of stairs and I dawdled my way up and down them while taking a ton of pictures. It really is an amazing place! Apparently, there are over 10,000 Torii gates. Each gate has been donated by an individual or a company to give thanks to the shrine.

The hike wasn’t too challenging and I found myself giggling along the way. It was a very exciting place and having it all to myself was wonderful! I made it to the peak of the mountain at 233m and this is when it started to rain lightly. I headed back down to the start of the trail and was shocked to see that it was absolutely packed with people. It was only 7:40am. Boy, was I glad I went as early as I did!

At the Sanjusangendo Shrine

I got on the train to head back home but since it was so early, I decided to stop at another recommended shrine, Sanjusangendo, that was just up the road from my guest house. (¥600) This place has 1,001 human-sized, golden Buddha statues. It was an amazing sight but unfortunately, photography inside was forbidden.

I got back to the hostel around 10am, grabbed a shower and took a rest before heading back out. I wanted to see more of the Kyoto train station.

The Kyoto Train Station

The station is massive! There are fifteen floors with open outdoor escalators. There is a big stage where people were playing music. On the very top, there is a rooftop garden with clear windows for viewing the city below. The station was super busy and it was a great place for people watching. Once again, I was blown away by the futuristic architecture that Japan seems to offer!

My next stop was for a late lunch/early dinner at an Irish pub called Man in the Moon. It is a tiny restaurant on the south side of the station. The guy working there was Irish and very friendly. I  enjoyed a cold beer and a cheeseburger. The burger was delicious! There was an American couple at the table next to me and we shared some stories and had another beer together before they set off for their train!

I spent another hour or so exploring the city before making my way back to the guest house. I had trouble keeping my eyes open that night and gave into sleep early!