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Abstract

very touristy and I didn’t stay long … it had a nice view over Kyoto though.</p><figure id="9acf"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*5eErXvfyozsTbzIM"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@onun?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Nuno Antunes</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="6b62">From Kiyomizu Shrine, I walked to <b>Ryozen Kwannon Shrine </b>with a large Buddha on top. In contrast to Kiyomizu, it was very peaceful and almost deserted. I was given a large stick of incense to place in a special shrine to remember soldiers on both sides of the Second World War who had died for their country. Quite a sad place.</p><p id="37bb">My favourite shrine of all is the <b>Fushimi-Inari Shrine. </b>It wasn’t very crowded and we walked through bamboo and pine forests, and spooky graveyards with hundreds of <i>torii </i>(red gates) lining the path. The fox <i>(inari)</i> statues were quite intriguing. On reaching the top of the mountain, we rested in a lovely tea house overlooking a peaceful pond and drank some cold refreshing green tea. We continued down the mountain again passing more <i>torii </i>and <i>inari </i>and even some frog statues. I don’t know what the significance of the frogs was. I loved this shrine!</p><figure id="bc70"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*DpDd9WiIWNziiG4J"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@mytinyatlas?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Lin Mei</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="9c1a">Off to<b> Kumara Onsen </b>to finish the weekend in Kyoto, we caught a number of trains into the mountains to visit this onsen — the first of many <i>onsen</i> I visited in Japan. This onsen was heaven in a hot pool, and so relaxing! I’m addicted!</p><figure id="c2aa"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*ucgfBqswQtgjUr-5"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@callas1900?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Ryo Tanaka</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="564d">If you missed it, here’s my favourite J destination. You guessed it — <b>Japan.</b></p><div id="f6db" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-a-z-of-my-favourite-travel-destinations-japan-9e614d3506a2"> <div> <div> <h2>The A -Z of My Favourite Travel Destinations — J

Options

apan</h2> <div><h3>I fell in love with everything Japanese</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*CuMT-pqN7Po3M9Tg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="d554">Here’s <a href="undefined">Sam Millichap</a>’s collection. This alphabet of favourite destinations is her baby.</p><div id="8e1d" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/@sammillichap/list/78d8498e1147"> <div> <div> <h2>A to Z Travel Destination Series - favourite places</h2> <div><h3>undefined</h3></div> <div><p>undefined</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*ab20ab0197b89e4a7f298b1bf09c38d64aaefa46.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="d222">Here’s a personal favourite of mine that’s on <a href="undefined">Anne Bonfert</a>’s list of favourite places.</p><div id="ef1d" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/ghana-because-of-the-people-c0c4afb32c58"> <div> <div> <h2>Ghana — Because of the People</h2> <div><h3>The A to Z of my favorite travel destinations</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*EHdNZKvS3-pATu_42AUIcw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="4b41">Come on, Globetrotters! Can you compile a list of favourite places alphabetically? <a href="undefined">Jay Davidson</a>, <a href="undefined">Michael Rhodes</a>, <a href="undefined">Darren Weir</a>, <a href="undefined">Michele Maize</a>, <a href="undefined">Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages</a>, <a href="undefined">JoAnn Ryan</a>, <a href="undefined">Cat Dee</a>, <a href="undefined">Ophélie Quillier</a>, <a href="undefined">Linda Ng</a>, <a href="undefined">Jerry Dwyer</a>, <a href="undefined">Robert Knight</a>, <a href="undefined">Tiani Travels</a>, <a href="undefined">TRAVEL STORIES BY GABE</a>, <a href="undefined">Nishan Fuard</a>, <a href="undefined">Byron George</a>, <a href="undefined">Tim Ward</a>, <a href="undefined">Aarti Tailor</a>, <a href="undefined">James Baxter</a>, and <a href="undefined">Oscar Rhea</a>.</p></article></body>

TRAVEL ALPHABET

The A-Z of My Favourite Travel Destinations — Kyoto

The capital of Japan until 1868

As part of my trip to Japan in 2004 to visit my daughter Stacey, I spent a long weekend in a traditional Japanese house in Kyoto. The house belonged to a teaching friend of hers, well not belonged, but rented. Foreigners (gaijin) aren’t allowed to own houses in Japan. That’s what I was told anyway.

I caught the Shinkansen down to Kyoto and Stacey caught the overnight bus. I know which I would rather. I had a JR rail pass — she did not.

Stacey joined me and we visited Nijo Castle built by the first Shogun. The castle gardens were also very beautiful with azalea and sakura blooms, and the Nihonbashi over the moats filled with huge carp and swans.

Photo by Andrei Daniel Petrica on Unsplash

Kyoto is world famous for its temples and we were determined to visit as many as humanly possible.

The Golden Temple ( Kinkaku-ji) built on a lake is so named because of its colour. It also had beautiful gardens.

Rioan-ji Temple is a symbol of Zen Buddhism and has an amazing Zen garden.

Kiyomizu Shrine was very touristy and I didn’t stay long … it had a nice view over Kyoto though.

From Kiyomizu Shrine, I walked to Ryozen Kwannon Shrine with a large Buddha on top. In contrast to Kiyomizu, it was very peaceful and almost deserted. I was given a large stick of incense to place in a special shrine to remember soldiers on both sides of the Second World War who had died for their country. Quite a sad place.

My favourite shrine of all is the Fushimi-Inari Shrine. It wasn’t very crowded and we walked through bamboo and pine forests, and spooky graveyards with hundreds of torii (red gates) lining the path. The fox (inari) statues were quite intriguing. On reaching the top of the mountain, we rested in a lovely tea house overlooking a peaceful pond and drank some cold refreshing green tea. We continued down the mountain again passing more torii and inari and even some frog statues. I don’t know what the significance of the frogs was. I loved this shrine!

Off to Kumara Onsen to finish the weekend in Kyoto, we caught a number of trains into the mountains to visit this onsen — the first of many onsen I visited in Japan. This onsen was heaven in a hot pool, and so relaxing! I’m addicted!

If you missed it, here’s my favourite J destination. You guessed it — Japan.

The A -Z of My Favourite Travel Destinations — Japan

I fell in love with everything Japanese

medium.com

Here’s Sam Millichap’s collection. This alphabet of favourite destinations is her baby.

A to Z Travel Destination Series - favourite places

undefined

Here’s a personal favourite of mine that’s on Anne Bonfert’s list of favourite places.

Ghana — Because of the People

The A to Z of my favorite travel destinations

medium.com

Come on, Globetrotters! Can you compile a list of favourite places alphabetically? Jay Davidson, Michael Rhodes, Darren Weir, Michele Maize, Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages, JoAnn Ryan, Cat Dee, Ophélie Quillier, Linda Ng, Jerry Dwyer, Robert Knight, Tiani Travels, TRAVEL STORIES BY GABE, Nishan Fuard, Byron George, Tim Ward, Aarti Tailor, James Baxter, and Oscar Rhea.