An Unexpected Adventure in Kyoto: The Timing of the Impatient
The highlights of a trip and usually what happens between what you planned to do. What if you planned to invite serendipity to fill the gaps? Like in life, we should enjoy the process of reaching one’s destination.
Last week, the day after an enriching group session in Osaka filled with laughter, I took my goshuincho (stamp book), acquired on a refreshing summer day at Kifune Shrine, adorned with a gold background and scattered white dots, to Kyoto. I absolutely wanted to add the “Kinkaku-ji” to my collection in this stamp book! There’s a value I find in goshuin that you can only obtain by visiting the site in person.
At Osaka Station at 9:30 AM, I had a rendezvous with Ms. M. Immediately, we found ourselves assisting an Asian couple confused about which train to board on the platform, swiftly accomplishing our first international exchange mission in Kyoto. Upon boarding the train, which was already brimming with tourists, we were fortunate to find the seats right in front of us becoming available at the next station. Our grand plan for the day was simply to “obtain the goshuin from Kinkaku-ji and Sanjusangen-do.” By keeping our destinations to a minimum, we were filled with anticipation for the unexpected and interesting experiences that surely awaited us!
We got off at Kitaohji Station from Kyoto Station and would take a bus towards Kinkaku-ji. After a restroom break, we narrowly missed our intended bus. However, in a twist of fate, that very bus arrived late, as if it had been waiting for us. This humorous turn of events set the tone for a journey filled with unexpected events right from the start.
When we arrived at Kinkaku-ji, the wind was strong, enhancing the blueness of the sky. This made the Kinkaku-ji shine many times brighter than usual, leaving us utterly overwhelmed by its beauty. Noticing the phoenix perched atop Kinkaku-ji for the first time was a reminder that with age comes new discoveries. Spending an unexpected 1 hour and 45 minutes at Kinkaku-ji, we managed to recharge with the energy of the Kinkaku-ji, obtaining a stamp marked “World Heritage” and a beautifully calligraphed goshuin.
After leaving Kinkaku-ji, we went for lunch at “Tai Meshiya (Sea Bream Rice.)” nearby. Upon entering, we were immediately guided to a table that had just become available, making us feel lucky. While enjoying our meal, we planned our strategy for the next destination. Seeing a LUUP rental bike bank in front of Kinkaku-ji, I proposed to Ms. M that we use LUUP to get to the nearest station instead of taking a bus. Since it was her first time using LUUP, Ms. M promptly downloaded the app.
However, when we left the seabream rice restaurant, the number of bikes had decreased, and to top it off, they were not charged. But I wasn’t ready to give up, so I discovered another LUUP spot nearby and walked about 800 meters through a residential area to continue our adventure.
Having secured our bikes, we embarked on our journey, guided by Google Maps. Ms. M, initially puzzled by the electric bike, had to adjust after we accidentally went the wrong way due to my mistake. Regaining our composure, we reset our destination. However, right from the start, an unexpected route was displayed, leading us through the grounds of Hirano Shrine. This resulted in a hilarious scene where we had to get off and push our bikes.
Along the way, we navigated through narrow alleys only wide enough for residents and cats, reminiscent of stumbling into a world from a Studio Ghibli movie.
Eventually, taking over 40 minutes and exceeding our initial estimate by more than 15 minutes, we arrived at Kurama-Kuchi Station. When I locked the bike, my app displayed “¥0”. Wondering why was a waste of precious time, so we hurried to Sanjusangen-do.
We reached Sanjusangen-do just before 4 PM, just in time to receive a goshuin before closing. We marveled at the overwhelming beauty of the approximately 1,000 statues of Amitabha Buddha.
On this day, without once checking the time, everything progressed with perfect timing. Ms. M teased me, saying, “You can’t wait, Hitomi! As expected of you.” Even when we took a different path than planned, there were always discoveries and joys awaiting us!
Curious about the “¥0” mystery, I checked the LUUP app and found out there was a 60-minute free campaign running in March!
By going with the flow and embracing unexpected events, encountering beautiful moments of serendipity, and feeling the satisfaction of achieving small goals, I believe that the experience of the journey is enriched even further.