Himeji to Kyoto - In the footsteps of ancient Japan

This morning we took a leisurely stroll through the streets of Miyajima Island and then slowly made our way to our next destination: Kyoto. For the next seven days, we will explore Kyoto and its surroundings (Nara).

On our way to Kyoto, we made a quick stop in Himeji to visit the impressive castle of this city. Himeji Castle is one of the most famous and beautiful castles in Japan, known for its well-thought-out structure and white color. It was built in the early 17th century and was registered as the first Japanese cultural asset by UNESCO in 1993. Himeji Castle is also called the "Silver Heron Castle" because of its color and elegance.

After a culinary refueling (we had octopus balls and fried Sakura mochis at a street food market), we returned to the train station and waited for our train to Kyoto, which arrived punctually to the second, as expected.

For many tourists, Kyoto represents ancient Japan, Japanese tradition, and culture. Here, you can find magnificent temples, beautiful gardens, shrines, wooden structures, and the legendary geishas in the Gion district.

Kyoto is located about 400 km southwest of Tokyo and was the seat of the imperial court of Japan from 794 to 1868. This is why Kyoto is considered one of the most historically and culturally significant cities in the country. There are well-preserved and well-maintained neighborhoods from the Edo period that bear witness to this.

Interesting for all video game enthusiasts? Kyoto is also home to the headquarters of the Japanese video game company Nintendo. What a contrast?!

Moreover, Kyoto is one of the largest cities in Japan in terms of area. Therefore, we will try to explore as many corners and neighborhoods of the city as possible and report back to you. We are excited to see what awaits us in the next few days.

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