In my opinion, Anteroom Kyoto is quite bizarre!

Aside from the very, strong, choices of interior design, I couldn’t flush the toilet unless I turned on the room light, which was not very pleasant for when one of us had to go in the middle of the night.

After freshening up and heading down to the breakfast area, we had the incredible fortune to be introduced to our guide Yoko, whose passion for Kyoto was evident from the get-go. She was very knowledgeable about not only the area, but about Japan in general, and was a great conversationalist!

Boarding the tour bus, we were all eager to immerse ourselves in the history and culture of Kyoto. And let me tell you, the day did not disappoint. (Though it very much did wear us down.)

First on our list was Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavilion, a Zen temple with its top two floors entirely covered in gold leaf. A sight to behold! Even if it isn’t quite as chrome and shiny as you might expect, the nature surrounding it was even more breathtaking, a seemingly perfect aesthetic masterpiece. I always can’t help but imagine what it would be like to exist there without any others, simply kicking back and admiring the scenery.

From Kinkakuji, our journey took us to Arashiyama. This place is largely known for its immense bamboo groves. Walking among the path of this was simply unreal! Especially looking down from above.

We took a walk around the surrounding city for lunch, where I indulged in some delicious wagyu croquettes and Arashiyama Tenryuu ramen at an authentic sit-down side restaurant. With the company of my group mates, the meal was a delight.

Afterwards, we made our way to Kiyomizudera, one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. The wooden terrace that juts out from the main hall, overlooking the city and lush mountains, was a sight to behold.

From Kiyomizudera, we took a stroll down the crowded Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka – quaint, sloping lanes lined with shops selling all sorts of traditional goods. It was here I found an enchanting kitsune mask that I just had to buy! I really like how it looks on me.

Our next stop was Fushimi-Inari, a shrine famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates. Winding our way up the path, we were enveloped by a striking tunnel of red, each gate carrying the name of the donor. The atmosphere was incredibly serene, despite the amount of people visiting! Thankfully, we didn’t need to bow underneath each one, haha.

The day concluded with a visit to Kyoto Computer Gakuin, where we were greeted warmly by the staff. After some casual chat, we settled in for an anime screening of the Demon Slayer movie Mugen Train. Although fully knowing the movie’s setup and ending, it was an excellent way to wind down after a full day of cultural exploration.

After the screening, we were tasked with making it back to the hotel by ourselves. Since the Aeon mall was close by, we decided to check our the food court. I ended up just getting a small bowl of fried rice, and some gyoza that tasted a bit too good. All that exercise had me FIENDING, haha.

But at this point, the lengthiness of the day and the heavy demand on our legs was getting to us. Eyes grew droopy, the battery drained faster, all that. After a 15 minute walk, we were back.

By the time I got back to my room, my legs felt like they were about to give out. Between the 7AM wakeup, a day packed full of sightseeing, and the late-night anime screening, it was safe to say my bed had me like a moth to a flame.

*pomf*

And I’m out like a light.