Journey through Kyoto

I went to Kyoto, to visit  Murai-San. As you can see, the man has style! We first met in Los Angeles, at the  Matsutoyo Kai 50th Anniversary concert after-party. As you've probably guessed, in Kyoto, the kimono is a popular go-to clothing option.

My next destination was the Leica Store in the Gion district. The images posted regularly to their Instagram page are pretty phenomenal and I wanted to see where those images originated. What surprised me was that in the Gion district there was always a river, stream, or park near every major road or side street. People there live their lives in a city where the beauty of nature flows throughout. I don’t think this could exist anywhere else in Japan besides Kyoto. It was designed for this kind of experience. 

Navigating the city seemed easier and more peaceful than the trek through Tokyo, since there weren’t any solicitors yelling through bullhorns or handing me tissues on every corner (which was actually quite handy, given the weather). For the most part, people kept to themselves, which made it easy for me to immerse myself in the culture of the place. 

Kyoto is a special place. It seems like a part of Japan that has evolved so much and yet changed so little. The culture and landscape is rich but the people are still very progressive (note the walkman). I found some of the best ramen and lodging in Japan, while in Kyoto and out of all of the places I visited in Japan I feel Kyoto was the most peaceful. The most serene. I would definitely return, just to smell the wood of the buildings and hear the water flowing at night, outside my hotel window.