Kyoto

Flying into Tokyo for a quick overnight gave us just enough time to reset before heading south. The next morning, we boarded the Shinkansen and slipped out of the city, trading the noise of Tokyo for the calm, rolling scenery on the way to Kyoto. It’s one of those rides where the shift feels instant — one moment skyscrapers, the next moment mountains and open space.

Kyoto hit different right away. We spent the day weaving through the covered markets, each one packed with food stalls, tiny shops, and that classic Kyoto atmosphere that feels both old and alive at the same time. It’s the kind of place where you slow down without even trying, just taking in the smells, sounds, and little details.

From there, we made our way up the hill to the famous orange gates at Fushimi Inari. Even after seeing it in photos a thousand times, walking through those endless torii tunnels in person is something else. The climb, the colour, the quiet breaks between crowds — it all hits you at once.

We also visited Maruyama Park, Kyoto’s iconic cherry‑blossom spot. We were a little late for peak bloom, but the park was still beautiful — wide paths, calm ponds, lanterns, and that soft Kyoto vibe that makes everything feel peaceful. And later that night, we wandered Pontocho Alley, the narrow riverside lane Kyoto is famous for after dark. It rained, which somehow made it even better — reflections on the stone, lanterns glowing, and the whole street feeling like a movie scene.

Even though Kyoto was our main stop, Osaka is so close that a lot of travellers use it as a base to explore both cities. We passed through Osaka on the way down, but didn’t stay long — just enough to get a feel for the energy. Ten days later, after our return from Seoul, we came back and revisited Osaka properly. The contrast between Kyoto’s calm and Osaka’s loud, neon‑lit vibe made the whole loop feel complete.