Divanun Guide/Kyoto & Nara

This DivaNun Guide is a one pager of everything to do, see, and eat in Kyoto & Nara. 

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Historical

• Kyoto
  • The Kyoto Imperial Palace:
    • Not as cool as I expected it to be. They were doing construction so maybe when more of it is available it would be more fun
  • Fushimi Inari
    • Head shrine to the god Inari in Kyoto
  • Saganoo Bamboo Forrest
    • Beautiful grove filled with bamboo in the outskirts of Kyoto
  • Kinkaku-ji/ Ginkaku-ji
    • A pair of zen temples built by the family of a shogun
• Nara
  • Todaji Temple
    • One of the seven great buddhist temples in Nara

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Cultural

 

• Kyoto
  • Aoi Festival
  • Seeing a Geisha performance 
• Nara
  • Feeding the Deer

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Food

• Kyoto
  • Kitchen Raku Raku
    • by far the best meal I've ever eaten in my entire life. The chef's special is a reminder of how delicious and simple traditional japanese food is with a flair of western influences
    • The Chef's Special was three course's a seafood, beef, and desert
  • Kyoto Gogyo
    • The Burnt Miso Ramen is one of my favorite ramen dishes I've ever eaten in the world. The burnt flavor provides a contrast to the typically rich and silky ramens I had been eating. 
  • Honke Owariya
    • Didn't make it here but apparently has really good Soba noodles
  • There is a restaurant that sells amazing tempura on the way to the way to Ginkaku-ji that the photo above was taken. Such a delicious meal but I can't find the restaurant on google maps. 
  • Cafe/Bar Oil
    • Recommended by a friend for having good drinks
• Nara
  • Harushkia Sake Brewery
    • they have sake tastings for 500 yen and you get a free sake cup.
    • You can also buy all the sake's you taste plus more to take away
  • Maguro Koya
    • Tuna Heave
    • very reasonably priced but you will have to order multiple plates. Think tapas style

Miscellaneous

• Accomodation
  • Kyoto
    • Backpackers Hostel Kyoto
      • $24 a night
        • this is a chain but it felt very at homey with a large common area and a kitchen that you could cook your own meals in. 
        • About a 10-15 minute walk from the city center and the main train station as well as a closer to the local subway stations for access to Fushimi Inari
  • Nara
    • Deer Guest House
      • $12 a night