My Japan posts, as with all my other posts, are few and far between. Tonight’s one of those nights I question if it’s still even worth it, although in my heart of hearts I am absolutely certain it still is and always will be.

These memories are worth their weight in gold. It’s just too bad I get too lazy busy to write more consistently.

Anyway…

Yasaka Shrine was the last stop of our second day in Kyoto. Also known as Gion Shrine, apparently it is one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto founded over 1,350 years ago.

I don’t know how we got there, to be honest. One minute we were out having the best ramen I had ever tasted in my life. Next minute, we were banging bells at 10:30 at night to wake up the gods so we can annoy them with our prayers. Something I reckon a lot of tourists do considering that the shrine is open 24/7 and admission is free.

All you have to do is rock up and make a wish.

If the whole Japan trip was a homework, Dennis passed with flying colours. On this particular night, as we walked around the adjacent residential area to observe the traditional houses made of local wood and stone, he told us how Kyoto was the only major city in Japan that was spared from the bombing raids during World War II. Thus, the old houses standing tall and proud before us. Historical relics like the temples themselves.

But back to the ramen because this was seriously the highlight of the night, as far as I was concerned.

After spending the day walking, eating, and visiting temples… only to repeat the cycle all over again later at night, I was looking forward to a legit Japanese meal and the ramen did not disappoint. I don’t know if it was purely psychological that it was the best-tasting ramen I had ever had for the mere fact that I was in Japan, or if it was simply the best-tasting ramen because, duh, you’re in Japan and the quality and taste couldn’t get any better than that!

Food, for some reason, just hits different when you’re eating it there. Must be something in the air or the water.

Traipsing around the alleyways of Gion was quite an experience in itself. It was fascinating to see geishas with their painted faces and their kimonos walking amongst us. It would’ve been fun to play dress up as one if I knew where to do it, cultural appropriation be damned.

I mean, I would love to experience that, with all due respect. I’ve seen some tourists do it at the other temples so I’m guessing there are businesses that offer exactly that. Maybe next time, I will. I’ll drag Raven and Jeff to do it too because knowing me, I’d probably be too shy to do it all by myself.

Of course, there was no Gachapon that Raven and Adie would let pass when the opportunity presented itself. No matter how tired the girls were, they suddenly had a burst of energy whenever they saw rows of them at the train stations or wherever.

Money pits, they were.

But that was their fun. And we all usually gave them the time to explore the vending machines and look for the toys that appealed to them the most. Happily gave them our last coins and our cash just to see the smiles on their face.

Oh well, When in Rome…

*Raven at 7 years old