Japan Trip: Fushimi Inari, Uji & a Detour for Lucky Cats! 🇯🇵🐱

#summervacay My Japan trip started with a slight detour! I'd planned to head straight to Fushimi Inari Shrine, but after seeing a post on Xiaohongshu about the six-cat omamori (charm) at Byodo-in Temple, I knew my cat-loving friend had to have one. So, I took the long way around to grab it. On the way, I tried a Gyudon (beef bowl) set at Yoshinoya – safe to say, I won't be returning to Yoshinoya after that! Fushimi Inari & Uji Fushimi Inari Taisha was, as expected, a hugely popular spot. It was absolutely overflowing with people! Not wanting to climb another mountain, I just snapped some quick photos and called it a day. While waiting for the train to Uji, I thankfully found a travel buddy, which made the rest of the journey much more lively with conversation. Uji itself doesn't have a ton to explore. Byodo-in Temple offers beautiful scenery; I just wished the admission fee was a bit cheaper. If Kyoto's Kamo River is a delicate young lady, then the Uji River is definitely the elegant madam of Uji. After seeing so many shrines in Kyoto, Uji Shrine felt a bit lackluster, so it was a quick visit. Matcha Misadventures! Of course, visiting Uji means trying matcha! I bought a 500-yen matcha ice cream, but it melted instantly in my hand before I could even take a proper bite, leaving me in a bit of a messy situation! The ice cream itself was incredibly smooth with a rich tea flavor. However, I have to admit, I'm not refined enough to appreciate the bitterness of matcha. So, no need to buy more matcha for me – instant 100% savings! 😉 #japantravel #fushimiinari #uji #byodointemple #matcha #travelmisadventures #kyoto #omamori #traveljapan