This was the day I dreaded the most!
We would all be leaving Kyoto the very next day – Mom and dad back to China, me, Tokyo before Seattle. Normally on this day dad would say, let’s not do anything other than packing and last minute souvenir shopping. Neither of which I enjoy, not to mention the thought of having to say goodbye.
If it were up to me, I would go to a mountain.
Fortunately, mom’s with me on that.
It was an hour bus ride from where we were to Arashiyama. I dozed off in the warmth of my seat, vaguely discerned a conversation between a Chinese couple, reminiscing how they used to bicycle this route in their youth. I like stories like this – ordinary people, ordinary love.
We started our walk from the Togetsu-kyo Bridge
Visiting gardens and shrines along the way
till we got to Tenryu-ji.
Dad didn’t want to go into the temple, so we stayed outside in the garden.
In a matter of days, the majority of maple trees had sheded their leaves.
But the colours of the Yoshino Cherries were still blazing.
For a moment the sun went into hiding and all of a sudden, it became cold and drafty in front of Hojo’s veranda.
So we moved on.
Exiting through the Sagano Bamboo Forest.
The autumn crowd presented a challenge in finding a descent lunch spot. Luckily this restaurant, thoughtfully provided covered seating areas for the people waiting outside.
The food was one of Kyoto’s specialty: tofu kaiseki – a vegetarian multi-course (in this case bento box) menu consisted of dishes made of soybeans. My parents particularly loved Goma (sesame) Tofu
which turned out to be my favorite as well. But I also enjoyed the umami flavor of the Chawan-Mushi cooked in dashi and soymilk with a ginkgo nut in the bottom, the savory roasted mugwort and sesame wheat gluten served with miso dipping sauce
the delicate homemade tofu skin
and the not-too-sweet warabi mochi as dessert.
Being on the main drag, this was, undoubtedly, another touristy restaurant. But the food was good, the wait was reasonable and more importantly, we got to stay dry and rest our legs during a downpour.
Back to the ryokan, we picked up our luggage and hailed a cab to a new ryokan where we would be spending the night.
We had dinner at a restaurant specializes in handmade udon noodles and the chewy texture of that noodle still haunts me to date.
Dad drunk sake and made friends with a neighbouring Japanese couple. What is it about sake and new friends??
At night, snuggled on the double-layered futon bed next to my parents and listening to the rhythmic sound of their sleep, I recalled seeing a rainbows twice that day.
After all, everything is going to be alright.
Travel-Gourmand.com 
Very Nice. thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kelly!
LikeLike
There’s always something about tasty drinks and the connection to people. No boundaries whatsoever. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said Christina, well said!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it will be better than all right, more than all right. Excellent in fact!
What wonderful photos, engaging narrative, and loving family.
It doesn’t better than this!
My kids traveled through Japan together for three months when they were in college. They were in Kyoto when the cherry blossoms bloomed, and the family who owned the hostel where they stayed dressed Andrea up in their family kimono and high heel thong shoes so she could walk in the parade with the locals.
My mother did a sabbatical in Japan and stayed in a monastery where the monks (and she) observed total silence. I can’t envision my mother silent.
My grandfather traveled extensively through Japan and bought all the incredible woodblocks I have on my walls.
I am the only person in my family who hasn’t been to Japan.
Cheers to you~
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a fabulous way to spend a last day together. Hate goodbyes! But I’m in love with that lead photo of yours. Pure heaven. 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
What a beautiful post.
LikeLike
So beautiful!! Kyoto is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and your photos make me want to go back, but this time during autumn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely and warmhearted 😊
LikeLike
Thank you for taking us along on this day, the bus ride, the sights, your activities, and great photos. Lovely post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The trees were so beautiful – the landscaping has much thought behind it. A lovely trip!
LikeLiked by 1 person
One of the best things about any journey is the food. And we love the color of it, Surely it tasted wonderful as you described and we want to go too!
And ordinary stories, ordinary love… that’s life for all of us. The seeming mundane is actually the treasure we all have right in front of us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that line about stories of ordinary people and their ordinary stories because that is where you often chance upon the extraordinary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lovely post – almost makes me a bit sad. So beautiful, and I hate good byes. Going to a mountain – the best farewell ever, well thought and done. Everyone in my family have been to Japan, and my children adores Kyoto. Their best friend is now studying Japanese over there. I really have to go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an amazing trip filled with food 🙂 It looks so beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saying goodbye to parents is always difficult, especially if you have as good a relationship as you seem to have! But it sounds as though you have made some wonderful memories on your trip!! I’ve got very fond memories of my visits to Kyoto!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it was difficult especially when mom started to cry at the airport 😦 Anyway, time to get over it and travel again. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving comments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely! Japanese food is just the best 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice!
LikeLiked by 1 person