Golden Week 2: Kyoto

The second day of our two-day pass was spent going to Kyoto. My parents had been to central Kyoto on their previous trip to Japan, so this time we went to Arashiyama in the northwest part of the city.

Arashiyama is famous for its bamboo-lined walking path. It's also home to Tenryuji temple, one of Kyoto's five most famous temples. We also went to the nearby Kinkakuji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, another one of the big five.

On our way home from Kyoto, we stopped in downtown Kobe and ate Okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is one of the most famous foods in the Kansai region, and in my opinion, one of the best Japanese foods that hasn't really been exported much to the rest of the world. It is often described as a savory pancake, but that doesn't really do it justice. This particular okonomiyaki had less batter and used egg as a binding. Make sure you try it if you ever visit Japan!