Chapter 8 · Japan

Bamboo, Gold & Gion

Kyoto day two: the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, the Golden Pavilion, and the geisha district at night

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After waking up around 5 a.m. every day because our sleep schedule was completely confused, we finally managed to sleep in until 8 this morning.

In Japan, though, a late start usually means sightseeing with larger crowds.

Today’s original plan was to visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, but with train delays causing issues, we had to switch to Plan B and head in a different direction instead.

And honestly… it turned out to be an amazing day.

Our first stop was Tenryu-ji Temple in Kyoto’s Arashiyama district — an area where you could easily spend an entire day wandering. We slowly made our way through the peaceful temple gardens, surrounded by nature, until eventually arriving at the famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.

The weather could not have been more perfect for the bamboo grove.

Pictures and videos truly do not do this place justice.

As gentle breezes passed through the towering bamboo canopy above us, the entire grove seemed to come alive. The tall stalks swayed back and forth while the rustling leaves created the most peaceful natural soundtrack. It felt almost surreal standing there listening to the bamboo “dance” in the wind.

Absolutely beautiful.

The surrounding town was equally charming — with a river flowing through the center, traditional buildings lining the streets instead of towering skyscrapers, and countless small souvenir shops and restaurants tucked throughout the area.

After leaving Arashiyama, we headed over to Kinkaku-ji Temple, also known as the Golden Pavilion. This temple is famous for its stunning gold leaf exterior and peaceful zen gardens. Sitting beside a reflective pond with mountains and greenery surrounding it, the entire setting looked almost unreal — like something painted onto a postcard.

Of course, apparently our feet had not suffered enough yet for one day… so we hopped onto a bus and headed over to the Gion District.

Gion still feels deeply connected to old Kyoto, with its preserved wooden machiya houses and traditional tea houses lining the streets. Today, many of those historic buildings have become storefronts, restaurants, and shops woven into a massive shopping district. It’s also still considered the heart of Kyoto’s geisha culture.

In the evenings, you can still spot geisha moving through the streets mixed among tourists dressed in traditional attire themselves.

The narrow alleyways seemed endless, each filled with restaurant after restaurant — some even built right along the river so you can enjoy dinner with a beautiful waterfront view.

The entire district was alive with people. Tourists and locals filled the streets while performers sang songs and played traditional instruments throughout the area.

By the end of the night, we had already walked so much that the mile-and-a-half walk back to the hotel didn’t seem so bad — especially knowing massage chairs and welcome drinks were waiting for us.

Total distance walked for the day: about 11 miles. Possibly a new vacation record.