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A week in Kyoto
Whilst I was working in Beijing, I made a week-long trip to Kyoto in Japan as I had heard from everyone I spoke to, that Kyoto was a beautiful part of Japan, and of course there are the cherry blossom trees and Geisha to see. I looked up the best time to visit when the cherry blossoms were in bloom and with a friend, we departed Beijing.
I visited many places and intend to post on all my visits, but today my post is on my visit to the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. I loved Kyoto – it was absolutely gorgeous!! And people were so lovely; albeit hardly any spoke English and I do not speak Japanese (but we managed – hand gestures work really well).
We flew on Air China from Beijing and then pre-arranged transport on the airport shuttle to our hotel (Toyoko Inn Kyoto Shijo-Karasuma), which was very small and not a hotel room you would want to spend much time in but it was ok!
Bamboo Grove is one of Kyoto’s most famous sites and said to be very similar to the bamboo forest in the film ‘crouching tiger hidden dragon‘. I have watched the movie and do agree (fabulous movie).
The grove is very popular with Japanese tourists especially in the cherry blossom festival time, as like everywhere in Kyoto, there are many cherry blossom trees, but I was lucky as it was a very wet day, and there were not ‘that’ many tourists. I think the rain made the visit even more wonderful as the rain drops were falling on the bamboo which looked just lovely.
The bamboo is spectacular and it’s lovely walking through the paths with incredibly high bamboo surrounding you.
Sue's Fabulous Travels 
Wow, Sue, this is beautiful! Kyoto is on my travels wishlist, and if I can go someday, my husband insists that we go during the tree blossoming period of the year. I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts about Japan now! Have a lovely weekend!
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Hi Sophie. Thanks so much, I really hope you go there as its a fabulous place and one definitely worth visiting. Cherry blossom festival is incredible.
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That looks really amazing. In China I had the chance only to go through very small bamboo forests with not so high ones as in Kyoto
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Thanks for reading and commenting. The bamboo was certainly tall and just magnificent.
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Kyoto indeed is really beautiful but I totally missed that bamboo grove! Gives me a reason to revisit 😉
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Kyoto is definitely on my wish list of travel destinations. I would love to see and experience some of the things you have in Japan. The bamboo grove looks amazing. I really look forward to reading more of your posts about locations in Japan (especially Kyoto). It will certainly help me plan my visit there. I love your posts about all your travels.
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Thank you so much Simone. I have another seven or so stories on my visit to Kyoto. It was an incredible place – so beautiful. I know you will get there as it has been on your dream list of places to visit. Thank you so much for continuing to follow my blog. X
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These are beautiful photos, Sue! Hope to see Kyoto in the near future. Did you travel with a tour group in Japan?
Though I subscribed your blog, these two posts did not come to my reader… 😕
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Oh I wonder what happened and why you didn’t receive the notification. But so glad you read them. I didn’t go with a tour group. I just made a list of all the places I wanted to go and with a friend we caught the bus. This was a very easy experience even though nobody spoke English. Details of the ‘next stop’ comes up at the front of the bus so you just have to stay glued to the digital signboard. And make sure it corresponds with where you want to go. Easy!!
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these are beautiful. It looks so peaceful!
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nice and peaceful scenery!
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Thank you so much for your response, Sue! I hope to visit Japan either this year or next year. Did you visit in March or April for the cherry blossom?
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I visited in April just when the blossoms were blooming. Please make sure you check out the exact time of blossoming on the Internet as the dates do change.
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I just had to visit this post when you commented on mine. What are you talking about?! These photos are beautiful! 🙂
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Gosh that’s so really kind of you. Thanks so much for taking the time to look at my post and also for sending this lovely comment.
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