Japan Tour 2025: Day 10 Easy day in Kyoto

 

By the numbers

19,649 steps

15.22kms

 

Level of Chaos: Relaxed

 

Soy Sauce Ramen and Fried Rice set

Nearly half way through my journey and I decided that I might just need a relaxing day in the city. I could have thrown myself in many different directions, but with the heat, I think it might have been a good idea as I had been on the go constantly for the last couple of days. I also had some washing I thought I better get done before I leave or else I might not have enough clothes. I was a little bit later for breakfast, but that was alright as I wasn’t going to go very far by train. I had spent most of the night charging my dead flat powerpack as I had used it all up yesterday. I have been using it on this trip a lot to make sure my phone isn’t flat.

 

The plan was to head to Saga Arashiyama station, where I would walk to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. The train was kind of full for the trip and I didn’t actually mind standing up. I was wondering how all the school girls knew which carriage their friends were in as they just appeared. They all seem to have plush toys hanging off their bags. No I did not ask them, I probably shouldn’t. When I got off I seen something I had forgotten about and that was the Romance train that takes you into the hills on day trips. It had its day off on Wednesdays, probably why I instantly forgot about it. The trail to the Bamboo forest was easy to follow with Google maps showing me the way. It seemed plenty of people had the same idea as well. Some coming by bus and others by taxi. I walked part way through and turned around. I wasn’t that interested in the Bamboo Forest. The only thing that was interesting was the Nonomiya jinja Shrine, where imperial princesses were sent. Emperors sent their unmarried daughters there to be purified. I could have walked to the other shrines in the area, but I had other plans for the day and it was already steamy. I headed to wards a bridge that I had seen feature in a samurai anime called the Togetsukyo Bridge.

 

On my way to the bridge I went to have a look at a temple, where I would pay to enter its garden. One of the flowers it was telling me were blooming at the time was the Hydrangea along with several others. I could enter the Bamboo forest using this ticket as well. I could have bought a ticket and wandered around, but decided to move on. I soon found the bridge I was looking for. It was a wood bridge and connected an island where you could end up in the national park and even visit the monkeys. I don’t know how much movement they have or not. The view was nice and I was hoping that it would not rain. I did wonder who was using a whipper snipper until I realised it was one of the boats. I was looking at walking to my next destination and that was the Toei film studio, but it was incredibly hot and it was around an hours walk. I thought better as I didn’t want to be tired and sore when I get there. One of the local trains would take me to where I wanted to go. I wandered the back streets and soon found an art display called the Kimono Forest. I probably should have had a look at the little station for a stamp, but this train service was simple. You pay when you get off or tap your card.

 

The film studio was simple to find, but I wasn’t sure what to expect as I walked past some building works. I think they are doing some additions. They used this place for some period dramas like samurai movies that are well known in Japan. Nothing like Movie World on the Gold Coast. I could have paid extra to see a haunted house, play around as a Ninja and there was another one was well, which was a fort. It wasn’t that busy so I would say I came at the right time during the week. The Samurai Ninja show was something I wanted to see and an actor dressed as a Samurai asked me if I was lost when looking at the map. He mentioned the show and I gave him the time. I think he was happy with my answer. I had a wander around and found the Evengalion statue I was looking for. It’s a TV show I had watched, but never finished in the early 2000s. Involved giant robots. I got pictures taken with it, and I had a look through the shops. The show came round and It was enjoyable with the stunts the actors used. Worth coming to watch it. There was another part I want to look for and this was to do with the Japanese heroes or Sentai, The ones that were Karmen Rider. I don’t know much about them, but they looked cool anyway. After looking at the displays I had lunch and headed to the nearest station.

 

I wasn’t sure what to do next as I could go exploring more, but thought I better do the washing as it probably stank.. When I got back, I had a machine waiting so that was good. I was going to go out, but stayed in my room the entire time. I didn’t go anywhere else until after I had gotten my washing. I explored one of the shopping centres around the corner and looked through Donki, or Don Quijote. It was interesting, but I wouldn’t be going through and buying heaps of stuff. Its just like any other shop, though I have a weight limit. I thought it was funny that it had an 18+ section. From there I went through some other shops they classed as subgenre that I was interested in like Manga. Then I headed underground in Kyoto station and got lost as I had no ide where I was. When I popped out I was where I wanted to be on the other side of the centre. I ended up going all the way to the top floor where I could get to the roof of the station. Along the way there was a show playing on the stairs, and on the roof a garden with trees. It was interesting exploring, although I don’t think I could do the same on the other side as there are hotels. I returned to my room, where I had a job that I had put off and that was packing.