Before Tokyo became Japan's capital city, Kyoto was considered the center of Japanese history and culture. It's geography, surrounded by mountains with multiple rivers and valleys flowing through, made Kyoto the perfect place to protect the Emperor and State government but also allow for trade and commerce throughout the Nation. Traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto is considered the Golden Path. Thousands of tourist make this pilgrimage yearly due to these two areas perfectly encapsulating the distinct traditions and cultures of Japan. This video documents our experience traversing the Golden Path. We took a 200 mph bullet train from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station. Sitting on the right side of the bullet train provided us beautiful views of Mount Fuji along with numerous snow capped mountains. After arriving in Kyoto, we checked into our Ryokan. This is a traditional style of Japanese Hotel where breakfast is served daily, shoes must be removed upon arrival, tatami mats cover the floors, shoji screens separate the living spaces and a natural aesthetic is presented that highlights classic Japanese architecture and hospitality. Our Ryokan was called the Gion Ryokan Karaku. It was located in the famous Gion district that has a high density of shrines and patrons often wearing classic Japanese dress, like Kimonos. Our particular room had beautiful views of a Buddhist Temple. Kyoto also boosts of containing the highest density of shrines in Japan. During our stay we experienced the wonder of Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion. This was the retirement home of a famous Japanese Shogun. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, located in Kyoto, was a garden curated and visited by nobles over a thousand years ago. Our experience displayed the natural geography of Kyoto along with some beautiful examples of its curated gardens. Along with this, we saw the Yasaka Pagoda photo spot, tried some of Kyoto's famous food and indulged in a 5 star restaurant. Kyoto has one of the highest densities of Michelin recognized restaurants in the world. This video captures the many wonders of Kyoto and our full experience traversing the Golden Path for the first time. See our thoughts, wonder, favorite eats, and some of Kyoto's most famous sights as we immerse ourselves in classic Japanese culture.
コメント