Hanami Season: Arashiyama Part 3

Happy Monday everyone~ ^^ Here's the final part to my day in Arashiyama! :) This one won't focus on anything in particular, but rather a glimpse into Arashiyama after the tourist crowds came in. I hope you all enjoy!

Found this empty park after exiting from the Bamboo Grove Forest :) Aside from a few people, I was lucky enough to enjoy the park to myself!

One of the MANY buses of tourist groups that flocked to Arashiyama

Rickshaws! I give these guys so much credit for carrying people around all day. 

That picture in Part 1 of the main street? Same one! Just a couple of hours later :) 

Was lucky enough to see maiko as I was walking alongside the river! It definitely doesn't happen very often.

Decided to wonder around to escape the crowds and came across this little haven ^^

Stumbled upon this quaint shop that had a huge variety of wooden merchandise and ceramics! A bunch of them appeared to be antiques too. My dad would definitely love it here :) 

More tourist joining in on the sights

There was a music box store and all of the music boxes were GORGEOUS! I just might have to buy one the next time I go back there :) 

Bringing the boats in...and can you see all the people on the bridge? O.o

You could rent out a boat and go for a nice, relaxing ride down the river :)

Walked by this rest stop on the opposite side of the river (definitely not as touristy) where people could sit back and enjoy a quick bite to eat while they soaked in the view :]

Don't know about you guys, but I thought her idea was absolutely SICK. Talk about an efficient way to keep your drinks cool and your fish fresh!

Walked about a kilometer away from the bridge on a path that hardly anyone was on and was able to relax on the rocks and enjoy the quietness.

The once empty park in the morning was quite crowded with families and friends enjoying the sakura as they ate their bento and other snacks :)

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed the pictures ^^ Next post will be about more of the food that I ate in Kyoto with my 3年生 teachers :) 

Hanami Season: Arashiyama Part 2

Happy Friday everyone~ :)

Here's part 2 from my day in Arashiyama! This one primarily focuses on Tenryuji Temple and the Bamboo Grove Forest :) The temple started to get busy during the last half hour that I was there, but I was still able to enjoy the breathtaking garden before making my way to the forest!

entrance to the main hall

entering the garden area :) 

groundskeeper up and about with the sun!

 The entrance of the bamboo grove forest...

It was like entering an entirely different world :) 

The last part will be up on Monday :) Thank you so much for reading and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! 

Hanami Season: Arashiyama Part 1

Happy Tuesday! :) Only three more days before it's the weekend ^^

With spring in full swing, I decided to go to Arashiyama for the sakura and spent the entire day there. Arashiyama is located in the western area of Kyoto, away from the hustling and bustling tourist crowds. However, because Arashiyama is quite popular with locals and tourists alike during spring, I wanted to beat the crowds and arrived at the station before 8 in the morning! That meant waking up ridiculously early, but it was definitely worth it and I had the entire place to myself (with the exception of a few other people as well ^^) for a good hour or so before the first visitors started to trickle in.

This post for Arashiyama will be split into either 2 or 3 parts. Today's post will focus on the empty, quiet and serene morning in Arashiyama before the crowds came. Enjoy! :)

I could count the number of people on the train going to Arashiyama on one hand! So I couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap a picture :)

An empty park bright and early ^^ 

Only the first of many photographers ^^ 

Beautiful way to be greeted as you cross the bridge to the park

Close-up of Somei Yoshino flowers

A perfect way to start the day 

Weeping cherry tree

Close-up of the flowers ^^

A rather empty Togetsukyo Bridge

The main tourist street. Being able to stand in the middle of the street is saying something. It would look very different in two hours! 

A side garden next to Tenryuji Temple

Part 2 will consist of Tenryuji Temple and the Bamboo Grove Forest ^^ Thank you so much for reading!

Arashiyama Preview

Happy Monday everyone! :) Just a quick preview of what Arashiyama looked like last week when I went to visit =]

Part 1 will be up on Tuesday or Wednesday :) 

Hiroshima Bites

Just some pictures of the food that we ate while in Hiroshima :)

Nabe ^^

Katsudon and oh boy was it good~

Assortment of tempura with chicken katsu

Chicken katsu~ 

Chocolate and cream puff from a sweets cafe :)

Cranberry juice and more sweets from Stick Sweets Factory

Cheese and jalapeno okonomiyaki~ it tastes better than it sounds!! :D

Mochi bites playing hide-and-seek inside the okonomiyaki...

Yakisoba 

Anago (seawater eel) sandwiched between rice patties :)

All-you-can-eat yakiniku :D

HUGE parfait and worth every yen :)

Lunch set! 

Egg on top, with a type of rice (I think..) and natto on the bottom. My friends said they really liked it O.o

Another lunch set complete with hijiki, nori and some vegetables

It looked so yummy!!

Hot soba that was nice and light ^^

Thank you so much for reading! I definitely feel like eating something right now :) Next post will be the first part of the sakura in Arashiyama ^^