CUADERNO DE VIAJE - JAPON - KYOTO DIA 1 {TRAVEL NOTEBOOK - JAPAN - KYOTO DAY 1}
KYOTO DIA 1 - 1 de MAYO
Comenzamos el día con una visita por la antigua capital de Japón con la misma guía y nos vamos a visitar el Castillo Nijo, el Templo Kinkakuji (Pabellón dorado) y el Santuario Shintoista de Heian.
Empezamos visitando el Templo Dorado y para mí fue una de las visitas mas bonitas de todo el viaje, no solo por el Templo en si, si no por la belleza de sus jardines, para mí los mas bonitos que he visto en todo este viaje. El Templo Dorado de Kioto o Kinkakuji, también conocido como Pabellón de Oro, es uno de los santuarios de Japón más espectaculares y representativos del la cultura clásica japonesa. Está considerado como Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO desde 1994 y es visita obligada para quien se acerque a Kioto.
- We begin the day with a tour of Japan’s ancient capital with the same guide, visiting Nijō Castle, Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), and the Heian Shrine.
- We started by visiting Kinkaku-ji, and for me it was one of the most beautiful visits of the entire trip, not only because of the temple itself, but also because of the beauty of its gardens, which were, in my opinion, the most beautiful I saw during the whole journey.
- The Golden Temple of Kyoto, or Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion, is one of Japan’s most spectacular and representative sacred sites of classical Japanese culture. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 and is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Kyoto.
- A garden where ardisias, azaleas, rhododendrons, Japanese maples, ferns, and yews all coexist. Honestly, if it hadn't been for the fact that we were in Japan and that the aesthetics are completely different, I would have thought I had never left Donostia. With those plants, the lush green scenery, and the incredible amount of rain we got that day, it really felt like home. The herons standing over the water were a clear reminder, however, that we were somewhere else entirely.
- The temple’s official name is Rokuon-ji and it was originally built in 1397 as a retirement villa for the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. In 1408, following Ashikaga’s death, the estate was converted into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school of Buddhism, in accordance with the former shogun’s wishes.However, all the buildings that once formed part of the villa and the later temple complex were destroyed, with the exception of the structure we now know as Kinkaku-ji and the gardens surrounding it. Since then, the main building, Kinkaku (the Golden Pavilion), has served as a shariden, a hall where sacred relics of the Buddha are enshrined. As you can see in the photo, it rained continuously all morning long.
- We lit a few candles for our family and to bring good luck for the future.
- Our next stop was Nijō Castle, perhaps the most striking symbol of the authority that the shoguns—the military rulers of Japan—held over the emperor. Thanks to its historical significance, its role in shaping Japanese history, and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it remains one of the country's most celebrated castles. I absolutely fell in love with all the gardens we visited that day, and I can’t even begin to imagine how beautiful they must be in autumn. Most people prefer to come during the cherry blossom season, and fair enough—it must be an incredible sight. But autumn has always been my favourite season. There’s something about the sense of calm and reflection it brings. When I close my eyes and picture all these Japanese maples glowing in shades of red, orange, and gold, I can only imagine how breathtaking it must be.
- I could easily spend all day posting photos of the gardens we visited that morning, but there’s simply no way to do them justice. After the visits, the tour concluded with lunch at a restaurant where, once again, we ate remarkably well. The rest of the afternoon was ours to enjoy at leisure. So we made our way to Nishiki Market, in the Teramachi area, one of Kyoto’s most popular pedestrian shopping streets. It’s a place where locals and visitors alike come together to shop, wander, and soak up an atmosphere that beautifully blends culture, history, and tradition.
- We ended our wonderful day at a restaurant we had booked in advance from Spain, called DONGURI Shijo. You can see it here. Once again, we were absolutely delighted with the Japanese cuisine. Interestingly, we still hadn’t tried either sushi or ramen, even though both are already so popular back in Spain. I’ll admit it—I’m completely obsessed with lotus root. I love it.
Al repasar todo lo que he incluido en esta entrada, me doy cuenta de que fue uno de los días más maravillosos de todo el viaje, tanto por su belleza como por lo diferente que resulta todo en comparación con nuestra cultura.
- Looking back over everything I’ve included in this entry, I realize it was one of the most wonderful days of the entire trip, both for its beauty and for how different everything feels compared to our own culture.
¡LISTO! DONE!








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