Moonlights #78
Another edition all about Japan, this time from Kyoto and Osaka! Also, I added a bonus +1 this week…too many good things not to share.
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Eat 🍣
We started our Kyoto journey with a bullet train ride from Tokyo. I had heard how punctual the trains are (they even apologize when they are slightly early), and sure enough, ours showed up within 5 seconds of our takeoff time. Right before boarding, we grabbed a bento box, which turned out to be prettyyy good. Our first stop was the Nihishi market, also called Kyoto’s Kitchen, which is home to thousands of vendors and stores. Instead of picking one place for lunch, we walked around and sampled food from a bunch of places. We tried soooo many things: wagyu beef on a stick, shrimp tempura, belly tuna sashimi, strawberries on a stick, and more. Later in the week, following a recommendation from a friend, we ventured down a back alley in Kyoto and found ourselves in a local’s house, where he runs a small deli. Although it’s primarily for to-go orders, he welcomed us into his kitchen while he cooked our meal. That same night, I had one of the best meals of the trip. It was a Chinese/Japanese fusion, featuring spicy ramen, fried and steamed dumplings, the best tofu (I’m not sure I even like tofu) I’ve ever tasted, and a dessert dumpling filled with black sesame seed which was incredible.
Drink 🥃
A couple of years ago, I found a whiskey from Ohishi that quickly became one of my favorites. Since then, I've been diving into the world of Japanese whiskey. So, you can imagine how pumped I was when I got to check out a few local bars here with even more options. One of my favorite spots is called Bar Alchemist, and the owner brought out some of his favorites (see below). I still think I like Ohishi the best, but these were also pretty great.
Golf ⛳️
I’ve heard a lot about simulator golf in Asia, so I was stoked to try it out while I was in Japan. Golfzon set me up for a 9-hole round, and I even got to pick my course (Pebble Beach). It was my first time with simulator golf, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. I finished a round in about an hour, in my own private room. And with the temperature around the mid 90s outside, playing inside with AC was 👌
Art 🎨
This past week, we took a trip to the Face Daikanyama exhibit, showcasing over 20 generative artists individual work, complete with a live minting station. After the show, I also got to check out Tyler Hobbs' (creator of Fidenza) mural, Two Lovers in Structure, in person!
Onsen 🧼
Before we headed to Kyoto, I had read about how important it is to experience an authentic onsen. Once you enter the public bath house, you choose from 5 or 6 different types of baths: the 'silky white bath' (yes, that's the real name), the stone bath, the meditation bath, the cold bath, and a few others. They also had a sauna that was well over 200 degrees. They provide you with a list of do's and don'ts, but the three main rules were clean yourself before you enter, no clothes, and no talking 😂. I really enjoyed the experience, especially the free popsicles after you’re finished. I would highly recommend checking one of these out if you get the chance.
From Me 🎒
I thought I might actually get tired of Japan, but after being here for almost two weeks, I'm still totally smitten with the culture. Every day brings something new, and for the first time in years, I've been able to take a real break from work. I feel this incredible calm and peace that I haven’t felt in a long, longgg time. It’s also been super enjoyable to carry my camera around, I miss photography, and it’s made the trip that much more enjoyable. Here are a few more pictures from the last few days.