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#CatTravels: Arriving in Kyoto

By Catherine Toth Fox • April 20, 2012 • #CatTravels

The last time I visited Kyoto was 11 years ago — and I traveled here alone. Just a duffel bag and a passport and that’s it.

Not much has changed a decade later — except my back hurts. Here I am, lugging around a duffel bag and snacks from Family Mart to nosh on the three-hour train ride from Fukuoka to Kyoto — alone.

This was my fourth day in Japan and I was heading to Kyoto to meet up with the group of friends with whom I had originally planned this trip. I wasn’t expecting to hop on Hawaiian Airlines‘ inaugural flight to Fukuoka. My group of friends — the Old Guys I surf with — and I had made plans to tour around Kyoto and Tokyo, then check out the Hawaii festival in Chigasaki.

So since I went up earlier, I had to navigate my way around kanji and motivated Japanese businessmen to get to Kyoto on my own.

Lots has changed in 10 years. First off, my Japanese skills are all but lost. Second, Kyoto, itself, has changed, too. It’s busier, louder, more colorful and crowded.

This isn’t the Kyoto I remember. And it’s definitely not the one most people read about in travel stories and guide books.

Kyoto is located in the central part of Honshu, in a valley with mountains surrounding it. It was once the largest city and the imperial capital in Japan. Now, with a population close to 1.5 million, it’s the capital of Kyoto Prefecture and a major metropolitan area with remnants of its storied past everywhere.

I arrived in Kyoto early enough to check out a few sights before turning in early. (When I say early, I mean 8 p.m.!)

So here’s what this part of my journey looked like:

Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu
Image 1 of 50

But here's the standard pork filet that I had ordered. it's deceptively simple. Everything in tonkatsu matters, from the quality of the pork to the size of the panko flakes to the temperature of the oil it's fried in.

Follow my adventures on Twitter @thedailydish or on Facebook.

CatTravelsFukuokaHawaiiJapanKiyamachiKyotoNijo CastleNishiki MarketPachinkoPontochotravel
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#FindingFukuoka: The videos
#CatTravels: Temples galore in Kyoto

About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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13 Comments

  • Reply matt April 20, 2012 at 11:49 am

    Kyoto looks like a cool place to explore. funny that you guys saw the hawaii bar. did you go in? probably could hook up a few rounds for free if they found out you were from hawaii (and a celebrity to boot).

    I was waiting for the pachinko pics.

    • Reply Catherine Toth April 28, 2012 at 2:54 am

      NO! But I wanted to. My fellow travelers were practically at the main street when I finally caught up to them! They tend to ignore me when I’ve got my camera out!

  • Reply M April 20, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    Ohayou Gozaimasu Cat!
    Kyoto is one of my favorite places to visit in Japan. My wife did a maiko geisha make over when we were there.

    • Reply Catherine Toth April 28, 2012 at 2:55 am

      Really? What’s that?

  • Reply M April 20, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    The Gion district has a place to see geisha too with old tea houses. At night it’s crowded with people looking for geisha with cameras in hand.

    • Reply M April 20, 2012 at 1:51 pm

      I should have said people with cameras in hand looking for geishas…. :lol;

  • Reply M April 20, 2012 at 4:59 pm

    We stayed in a hotel right on Kamo River and we too walked Pontocho and had dinner at a hole in the wall place.

    • Reply Catherine Toth April 28, 2012 at 2:54 am

      I looooove Pontocho. Best part of Kyoto — next to Nishiki Market.

  • Reply Melissa April 21, 2012 at 12:31 pm

    I’m back in Honolulu. AND CAN FINALLY ACCESS YOUR BLOG. Will start reading!

  • Reply Melissa April 23, 2012 at 9:42 am

    ps I’m annoyed that the lady didn’t stop to offer you ekiben. WTH?

    • Reply Catherine Toth April 28, 2012 at 2:52 am

      LOL! I know. I was annoyed, too!

  • Reply KAN April 25, 2012 at 8:31 am

    Traditionally, white miso (sweeter) is served in the dead of winter and red miso (saltier) is served at the peak of summer. As the seasons change, the mix of white to red miso changes with it.

    • Reply Catherine Toth April 28, 2012 at 2:46 am

      I love that you know so much about Japan and its culture. I shoulda sent you the photos and you coulda written the captions!

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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