Our final day exploring!

Our final full day in Kyoto and the final full day of our entire five month adventure! What the heck! That is so crazy to say! It all started with the luxury of a slightly later sleep in. We eased into the morning, made breakfast, got ready, and then headed out toward the train station for one last big day of exploring. Today we were off to the famous bamboo forest and the surrounding areas of Arashiyama.

The train ride was a quick 45 minutes, and the scenery along the way was beautiful quiet towns, rolling hills, and pockets of green drifting past the window. When we stepped off the train, we were greeted with another day of perfect weather. Warm sunshine, blue skies, just the right temperature. It already felt like the day was going to be special.

We made our way to the entrance of the bamboo forest and slipped inside. Instantly, everything felt calm. The bamboo rose tall on either side of the path, forming a natural tunnel of soft, swaying green. The air was cool and filtered through the leaves, and the light shimmered on the ground in front of us. The forest had this quiet, sacred feeling to it. It was so peaceful and the most perfect way to start our morning. We wandered slowly, listening to the soft rustling of the bamboo surrounding us.

Eventually the path opened up to reveal a beautiful river flowing gently beside us. We walked along the water, watching boats glide past and people enjoying their day in the sunshine. It was lovely and such an unplanned moment of our day. The nature here in Japan has taken us so much by surprise.

From the river, the streets began to open up into the small town area. We wandered through rows of charming little shops, popping into a few and admiring everything from souvenirs to snacks. Jayde treated himself to a matcha ice cream sandwich, which was just as delicious as it sounds. Well maybe to me. I know Dad would be screwing his nose up to that right about now.

Next, we crossed the bridge and made our way to the entrance of the monkey park. After buying tickets, we began the steep 20 minute hike up the mountain. It was a proper climb, but once we reached the top, the view made every step worth it. Kyoto stretched out into the distance, glowing under the afternoon sun, and the whole mountaintop felt wide, open, and peaceful.

The monkey park itself was amazing. Monkeys roamed freely everywhere. There were babies clinging to their mothers, young ones chasing each other, big adults lounging in the sun. There were so many, easily hundreds, all living naturally on the mountain. Watching them interact, play, and go about their lives felt so refreshing compared to seeing animals in cages at a zoo. We even spotted the alpha monkey, who all the others kept their distance from. We spent a long time wandering around the mountaintop, laughing at their antics and soaking in the view.

Eventually we made our way back down and wandered the streets again in search of a late lunch. Jayde grabbed some ramen and I picked up a baked sweet potato. Simple, warm, and perfect after all the walking.

After eating, we headed to the Kimono Forest a beautiful walkway lined with glowing pillars wrapped in colourful kimono fabrics. Each pillar felt like a piece of art, lit softly from within and showing off vibrant traditional Japanese patterns. It felt magical walking through them. We even spotted the cutest little dachshunds dressed in tiny outfits, which made the moment even sweeter.

When we’d finished exploring, we made our way back to the train station and caught the next train home. We rested our legs for a while at our accommodation before getting ready for our final dinner of the entire trip. We had booked a reservation at Kyoto’s number one rated Wagyu teppanyaki restaurant, and it felt like the perfect place to celebrate the end of such a huge chapter.

It was a 30 minute walk to the restaurant, and once we arrived, we were shown to our seats and asked to choose our cut of Wagyu. The waiter brought it over for us to see before cooking it on the teppanyaki grill. The meal came with a Japanese entrée, rice, miso soup, and vegetables all simple, flavourful, and perfectly prepared. The steak itself melted in our mouths, rich and buttery and unbelievably tender. The vegetables were just as delicious. It felt like such a special, warm, memorable way to finish our journey.

After dinner, we walked back through the quiet Kyoto streets, returned to our accommodation, packed our bags for the very final time, and collapsed into bed tired, full, and grateful. It was the perfect ending to an unforgettable five months, spent exploring the world and soaking up every moment together.

Tomorrow we start our long journey back home. We are excited just as sad.

P.S Enjoy the video Jayde took of me (without my knowledge) using my training wheel chopsticks.Read more