A classic souvenir you can’t miss when visiting Kyoto is nama yatsuhashi! The thin wrapper has a soft, chewy texture and is filled with sweet red bean paste. It’s soft when you bite into it without being overly sweet, and it pairs perfectly with a cup of hot tea.
After trying nama yatsuhashi this time, I felt that it really tasted like Kyoto—simple, yet so easy to keep eating one after another.
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama
Arashiyama’s tourist spot, Togetsukyo Bridge. Walk roughly 20m upstream from there into the grounds of Ichitani Munakata Shrine, and you will find the entrance to Arashiyama Monkey Park, Iwatayama. Currently, almost 120 monkeys live in the wild, which you can view throughout the year.
Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama is a very interesting attraction. Unlike a typical zoo, you have to hike along a mountain trail for a while to reach the top. The uphill walk is a little tiring, but seeing the monkeys roaming freely in the forest and looking out over the city of Kyoto from above make it well worth it!
Sagano Bamboo Grove Trail
The delightful scenery attracted noble families and poets who built their homes in Sagano. Sagano bamboo trail spans about 400m (437 yards) from Nonomiya Shrine, via Tenryuji Temple’s north gate to Okochi Sanso cottage.
One of the most iconic attractions in Arashiyama, Kyoto. As you enter the towering bamboo grove, lush green bamboo rises on both sides, with sunlight filtering through the leaves, giving the entire path a peaceful, dreamlike atmosphere. Walking through the grove in person, the rustling sound of bamboo leaves in the wind is especially soothing, and the scenery is completely different from Kyoto's ancient temples and traditional streets.
Oronamin C Drink
Since its introduction in 1965, this national carbonated nutritional drink has sold over 35 billion bottles in Japan. It contains the vitamin C equivalent to 11 lemons, as well as B2, B6, essential amino acids for building the body, and honey.
This was my first time trying Oronamin C. It had a very refreshing taste overall, with a sweet-and-sour flavor that went down smoothly without being overly sweet. The light fruity aroma and ice-cold taste made it especially refreshing in hot weather. Every sip felt energizing, and even people who don’t usually like overly sweet drinks would probably find it easy to enjoy.
