Best Of

Should You Still Visit Kyoto?

Last week at our Rotary Club meeting the invited guest speaker mentioned that she was flying to Japan the next day. When she learned I had been a frequent traveler to Japan she immediately asked if I had any recommendations. My responsive suggestion was to take a look at John Daub’s YouTube videos posted on his channel, “Only in Japan Go.”

Ironically just this morning John posted a video on the topic of visiting Kyoto with suggestions for how to maximize the experience in this era of “Over Tourism.” That prompted me to take on as a Sunday Afternoon Project going back and locating photos and videos of my own travels to Kyoto over the years. The result of that effort is the below linked YouTube Video Playlist that highlights what I have designated as the Top Three temples and shrines serving as attractions in Kyoto - The Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji, Inari Shrine with its thousands of Tori Gates, and Magnificent Kyomizudera Temple with its “fountain of good fortune” waterfall.

My first visits to Kyoto were over five decades ago. My most recent visit to Kyoto was this past year.

The question is posed, “Should You Still Visit Kyoto?”

Saturday I ran into friends who had just returned from Japan. In the course of our conversation they recounted how even in Hokkaido there were bus loads of tourists from China overwhelming the tourist destinations there. Kyoto is a magnet for tourists from all over the world and the sheer number of visitors there has led to the concept of “Over Tourism.”

Hopefully a viewing of my offered Kyoto Playlist and photos will help to answer that question for you.

THE PLAYLIST:

In this below linked video playlist share the experience of visiting all three of Kyoto's Top Three temples and shrines. Your visits are accompanied by music.

The first is the gold Kinkakuji Temple and its sorrowing emerald colored lake and gardens which include seeing the storied hidden waterfall along a path behind it.

Second is a visit to Inarri Shrine with its thousands of Tori Gates that extend upward on Inari mountain.

Third is a visit to magnificent Kyomizudera Temple which extends out over a cliff. Below are the waterfalls for which it is named and in addition to experience drinking from them for good fortune also witness the spear challenge as challengers attempt to life a heavy spear King Arthur sword-in-the-stone like.

Link to kyoto Video Playlist featuring The Top Three Attractions in Kyoto:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLtb5zi734BfaxHqyMWm-weaT7AiV81Tz5

PHOTOS FROM KYOTO JAPAN:

Visiting Kyoto over five decades ago:

Recent Visits to Kyoto:

The Gion District:

Inari Shrine and its Tori Gates:

The Golden Pavilion, Kinkakuji and its Hidden Waterfall:

Magnificent Kyomizudera Temple, its Pagoda and its Good Fortune Giving Waterfall:

Over Tourism in Kyoto?

'Twas business as usual at Maisy’s Grooming Salon yesterday.

Ex-John Quincy Adams Collection (off at NGC right now)



Ex-East Harptree Hoard



Ex-Gisors Hoard



Ex-Lucerne Abbey Treasure



Ex-Reigate Hoard (not noted on label)



Ex-Wolff-Metternich Collection



Ex-RMS Duoro shipwreck



Ex-Terner Collection



Ex-Long Island Collection



Ex-D.L. Hansen Collection



Ex-Leroy D. Zachman (an Ohio banker who saved it in 1909)



Ex-Fairmont Collection

I go back to see if anyone got jailed or banned.

@USSID18 said:
What are the list of things you're looking for?

1916 Standing Liberty quarter(s) would be a good one.