The Hunger Games | Kyoto, Japan

สวัสดี (hello) from Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, where I’ve been living on a boat for the past five days (more on that to come).

Apologies that I haven’t spent more time providing frequent travel updates beyond Instagram. The thing is, every single day on this journey seems to generate so many stories to tell — and I want to be sure I’m thorough in repeating them back to you!

Time-traveling back two weeks ago: After a few days in Tokyo, the girls and I took the train south to Arashiyama, a small town located in Kyoto, Japan’s capital city.

Instead of a hotel or hostel, we stayed in a ryokan, which is an inn of traditional Japanese lifestyle and etiquette. It incorporates elements such as futon (floor) beds, Japanese robes and straw floors, so suffice it to stay the next few days were infused with local culture.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a Geisha – she ushered us inside, instructed us to take off our shoes (always), and showed us to our room, which was about 100 square feet of space. (Which reminded me of New York — a little piece of home!)

Ryokan stays often include an elaborate dinner upon arrival, as well as breakfast the following morning. Meals consist of kaiseki ryori, a tradition of light, seasonal and regional specialties. As a result, the next 48 hours were entitled: The Hunger Games.

We arrived into town rather late that day (4 p.m.), so our table was already set-up with cushions on the floor when we arrived. None of us could read the written-in-Japanese menu, so our seven-course meal turned into a two-hour guessing game. Thankfully, we still had a reserve of mini wine bottles from the plane to tap into. (Here’s a little secret: Alcohol is free on international flights. Also, a mental note that I’m 28 and may want to start acting like it.)

Anyway, dinner: Dishes included portioned sizes of shrimp and sweet egg, sashimi, crab ball soup, teriyaki whitefish, tempura egg and other assorted sea creatures (sea urchins, puffer fish, etc). We finished the meal with tofu soup heated over a hot coal.

Our bedding was a duvet that laid out on the tatami (straw) floor, and it was actually quite comfortable. The ryokan also featured an outdoor ofuro, or bathing area that uses the water of a nearby hot spring. We took a dip post-dinner only to realize we’d made a few wrong turns inside the building and ended up in someone else’s private bathroom. Good thing we don’t embarrass easily!

The next morning (Christmas!), we awoke and feasted on kaiseki ryori round two. And then I lost five pounds.

Truthfully: I ate white rice for the majority of our time in Kyoto.

I’m typically an adventurous eater – and I tried nearly everything during our stay in Arashyiama – but authentic Japanese cuisine is no joke. If you’re shaking your head thinking “C’mon, California Rolls?” you’re wrong. Very wrong. We’ll return to discussion on this topic once we touch on Traveler’s Constipation in the Thailand Chapter. Oh yes. That’s one thing Pinterest doesn’t tell you is associated with Wanderlust… Stay tuned.

*In this post: westward \\ leaning sunglasses, Zara moto jacket, Zara leggings, Converse chuck taylors (aka my Japan travel uniform)

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Following our stay at the ryokan, we ventured into town and out to Monkey Park, Bamboo Grove and more. Photos and stories to come on that this week! For more travel posts, click here.