#Eda85daysinJapan | Chapter 3 (Kyoto Part 1)
🗓️ 3 - 4 May 2026
Setting Up Base Camp in Kamigyo
One of the main goals I set for myself on this 85-day trip was pretty simple: I wanted to cook as much as I could. Instead of eating out three meals a day for nearly three months, I wanted to hit up local Japanese supermarkets every single day, pick up fresh local ingredients, and actually work on my cooking. To make that work, whenever I knew I’d be staying somewhere for more than a week—like Kyoto, Kanazawa, and Tokyo—I specifically searched for studio apartments equipped with proper kitchen facilities.
I took the short train ride from Osaka to Kyoto on May 3rd and made my way up to Kamigyo Ward, located about 10 minutes north of Kyoto Station.
The apartment itself was great, and I loved every bit of it—except for one detail: there was no lift. Hauling all my heavy luggage and gear up four flights of narrow stairs right after arriving was a serious workout. But once I got everything upstairs, unpacked, and set up the kitchen, it was completely worth it. I went out to grab some basic groceries and cooked my very first home meal in Kyoto that evening.
Walking around Kamigyo for the first time, the neighborhood instantly hit a nostalgic chord. It had that exact quiet, retro, old-school atmosphere of the Japan I used to watch on screen when I was young. It’s a very chilled residential area with narrow side streets, minimal noise, and great local supermarkets nearby where I could easily grab everything I needed for daily cooking.
Sunny Strolls, Mikane Shrine & A Sunset Reunion
As always, I brought the sunny weather with me. May 4th started off completely bright and clear—a trend that luckily held up for the rest of my stay in Kyoto.
I kicked off the day with a solid morning coffee, then spent a few hours just walking around and taking in the city, eventually wandering down into the busier central districts. Along the way, I stopped by Mikane Shrine (御金神社). Tucked away right between ordinary residential buildings, this famous little shrine is dedicated to financial prosperity, easily recognized by its bright golden torii gate. I dropped in, worshipped at the shrine for a bit of fortune, and continued on through town.
Around sunset, I headed down to Kyoto Station to pick up my best friend from university (from UST). After catching up and helping him get settled back at the apartment, we went straight out to explore the immediate neighborhood for dinner.
We ended up at Tsuchifuku (つち福), a small, classic neighborhood noodle shop located right nearby that has been open and operating since the Meiji era. Sitting inside a spot with well over a century of local history and digging into hot bowls of tempura udon and soba was the perfect way to wrap up the day.
Thirteen days in Kyoto with my uni bestie, off to a solid start.
