Kyoto (part 2)

We started off early by catching a bus to Kiyomizu-dera and found … Malebranche again! This time we had their green tea ice cream and oh my GOOOOODness! 😱

Verdict: Malebranche 9/10!!! Their famous langue de chat is amazing, with the rich green tea biscuit on the outside and the smooth white chocolate filling on the inside. I personally like them chilled but the biscuits might be too hard for your liking. Their green tea ice cream is sooo amazing as well, so rich that you can taste the matcha powdery finish. Yummeh!

And we arrived at Kiyomizu-dera – One of the 21 finalist to the new 7 Wonders of the World!

The main hall, along with the stage was built without using any nails. Pretty impressive.

Nooka and his 仙境.

Next stop was Fushimi Inari-taisha (shrine).

We got on the wrong train as we were confused with the express, rapid, ultra express etc lines and got down at a random station.

Stranded. Almost. As we’ll find out later this is not the only time in the day that we’re stranded. 😭 Stay tuned.

Arrived finally!

Kawaii! I want Momo!

The shrine was a short walk away from the station, but it was a really hot day so when we saw this…

Grapefruit juice! Juiced on the spot.

True reaction hahahahhahahahha. Too cute. 💛

Fushimi Inari-taisha – known for it’s many red torii gates like the one below.

Headed to Aeon for some souvenirs shopping and some lunch at the food court.

Chilled at Nana’s Green Tea. Dennis had the number 1 drink for ladies while I had the one for men hehe!

Black sesame with ice cream. Yumssss. Verdict: Nana Green Tea 7/10, I personally preferred the black sesame drink, which is rich and flavourful and goes well with the ice cream. The matcha was nice but nothing too special.

We then took the train towards our next destnation – the Arashiyama bamboo groves. I dozed off for a while during our train ride and when I woke up later, Dennis said we should get down at the next stop and head back as it had started raining again. I nodded, got down from the train, and this was what I see.

OMGGGG where is this place??? Bring me back to civilisation!!! 😱

I was genuinely worried about being stranded at a train station built on top of river but the nooka was really happy! (Well it was unbelievable! One moment we’re in the middle of busy Kyoto with all the crowd and just one station later in this completely scenic place. And this station itself was on a bridge above the river with tunnels into the mountain on both sides)

Phew! Help is here!!!

Headed back to the hotel to grab our luggage for the next part of our journey to Osaka. Some dinner at a random restaurant nearby before heading off.

Best unagi I had ever had. The ones at sushi king really should ‘keep skin’.

Took the train that night to Hotel Brighton City Osaka Kitahama where we’ll be staying for the next 3 nights while we’re in Osaka. I thought that this was the finest hotel we were going to stay for this trip! But I was wrong, as Dennis has saved the best for last! (Stay tuned)

There is a 7-11 convenience store right in front of the hotel so we grabbed some breakfast for the next day. I must say, the 7-11s in Japan is really impressive as they sell all kinds of 7-11 line food like bread, cakes, pastries, mochi, bentos etc. People actually hang around 7-11 like its an actual cafe till late night.