One Week in Japan pt. 1: Kyoto and Tokyo

After living in Taiwan for seven weeks, the chance to visit a new country was welcome. My friends from the OCAC program and I were abruptly separated when we had to say our goodbyes, each going our own way: either traveling a bit with family before returning back to our home scattered across the US or simply going home.

I was picked up by my grandfather, Agung. The next day, we, his wife and their 10-year-old son, took a flight from Taoyuan Airport to Osaka, Japan. To save time and money, we bought Japan real passes, which took us to Kyoto.

Kyoto

Walking from the Kyoto train station to our hotel showed me the quiet peace that takes a hold of the streets; the only signs of life were the crowds of people lining up at dimly lit ramen shops and the bright neon signs of 7-Eleven’s and FamilyMarts.

The morning gave character to the previously sleeping city. All of the sudden, gates opened up to reveal ancient temples, cars inched along through morning traffic, and the smell of coffee and baked goods filled the air.

Our first sightseeing pitstop was Motorikyu Nijo Castle. Over the moat and through the black and gold decorated doors, the compound consisted of an elaborate entrance with curved roof tiles and gold trimmings on the support beams that led to the castle. We took a walk around the grounds; the gravel path wound through fish-filled ponds, groves of trees, and sacred shrines.

On the way to Higashiyama District, we stopped by many small shrines. All are free and open to the public, so tourists and locals visit anytime they please. Most had water fountains where you can wash your hands with bamboo ladles.

Higashiyama is bustling with tourists. From the various traditional temples to the enchanting alleyways packed with cafés and souvenir shops, it’s not hard to see the attraction of spending hours in this one area of Kyoto.

Tokyo

In the middle of Tokyo’s urban metropolis, Ueno Onshi Park is a green sanctuary full of cultural monuments, natural wonders, and activities. We walked through a garden that surrounded a historical temple, watched turtles and large koi fish swim between lily pads and disappear under the large mass of lotus flowers, and viewed the city skyline from a paddleboat in the middle of a pond.

However, my favorite park in Tokyo is Kokyo Gaien. While Ueno Onshi Park is a dense, nature-filled world of its own, Kokyo Gaien is an open expanse of trees framed by towering glass buildings. It shows a different perspective, one which allows you to marvel at the heart of the city as if from a far.