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The Ultimate Traveling Experience Was The One That I found Myself
Walking Through The Japanese Garden Of Kyoto
Tourists in colourful floral-motif rented kimonos were patiently queuing in front of a street-food shop selling grilled rice dumplings on skewers. Smokes from charcoal grills filled up the air. As I walked past the queue, I thought it must have been one of those famous Kyoto street foods reviewed by social media influencers, and YouTubers on their tips for Japan trips or their ultimate travel tips on best places to go in Japan.
The last cherry blossoms were dancing in the air, caught by street lights. In the distance, right at the end of Gion-Shijo where I was standing, the main gate of Yasaka shrine looked grand under the spotlights. Its roof emerged from the dark, and red-painted wooden frames are against the white gate wall. They looked gold from afar. So it says, the shrine has been the Gion’s guardian for 1,350 years. Gion and Yasaka Shrine are beautiful, but it is overwhelmingly touristy. Did I miss anything?
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove! I can’t miss it. No, I can’t miss it. So the YouTubers say it loud. So there I was, getting off Arashiyama station with dozens of tourists. It was indeed a convenient stroll to the grove. After walking past strings of souvenir shops, cafes, and restaurants, I was standing under the towering bamboos…
