From Deer to Temples: A Day-Long Adventure in Nara and Kyoto 🇯🇵

From Deer to Temples: A Day-Long Adventure in Nara and Kyoto 🇯🇵

Good morning everyone. This is  our second full day here and we’re going to   go eat some breakfast. Right across the street is  a 24-hour place that serves up like rice   bowls with meat and stuff and eggs. So we’re going  to eat that. It’s a cheap meal hopefully. And then  

We’re going to take the train to Kyoto and Nara to see the deer. So hopefully we’ll have a great   day and have no problem catching the subway there.  It seems pretty straightforward and I like our  

Hotel. It’s right by Dontonburi and all the eats and  it’s just across the street. And we have a 7-Eleven   right next door a few steps away and also a Lawson  and then right after that is the subway station.  

So I’m pretty happy with the location. Let’s go.  It’s right here, right across the street. That   bus is blocking it, but we’re going to cross  the street there and go to breakfast. Okay here   it is. Kind of diagonally across the street from  us. It’s got all these bowls of eggs and stuff.  

Sorry the ambulance is coming, but that’s what  it is. Pretty affordable. It’s like maybe $3 to $4 a bowl. Okay this is like really complicated. Let’s  see. What do you want dude? Beef bowl or…? Curry’s  

Kind of heavy for… You want like a kids meal?  What’s a kids meal? What you get? You got   egg and hamburger steak with rice underneath. That  looks pretty good. And I got the like stir   fried pork with onions and there’s rice  underneath. A soft boiled egg to throw it on

Top. And there’s miso soup. That was a wonderful  breakfast and we didn’t really want to film in   there because it said no cell phones and stuff.  So we didn’t want to be rude, but the meal – the  

Hamburger steak with egg and my…I think it’s  gyudon, but I’m not sure. It’s like a sliced pork   with onions and a soft boiled egg over rice  and seaweed miso soup was both together only a   little over $7 maybe $7.65 or something like  that when I used my converter. So super cheap.  

We might go there again for breakfast. It was  very delicious. And now you can see the Osaka   Metro. We’re going to go into the station. Oh  we went to the station across the street the   other day but there’s different entry points. So  we’re going to take the train to Nara first and  

See if we can do that. We found our way around  to Universal Studios and back yesterday. So   we did a pretty good job of that. So we did have  a little hiccups here and there, but it’s pretty   self-explanatory. It’s just more hard to  get the ticket on the machine and know which  

Amount to pay. That’s my problem more than  finding what line to pick and what platform. Okay we made it to Nara. It was very  simple and one train from our station in   Osaka. This is the train station or the subway  here and it’s got all the deer. So Nara is famous  

For their Deer Park where the deer roam  free there and they actually bow to you   for crackers. So the directions are pretty  simple. It tells you where to go if you want to   catch the bus to the park or if you want  to walk on foot. It’s this way. If you use  

Google Maps too, it’ll tell you to go that  way as well. So we’ll meet you at the park.   Alright we got the rice crackers from the  rice cracker man. They’re here all over in   Nara. So Aiden’s going to try to feed him. Go  ahead. You got to break it out into pieces though.

They bow. It’s so cute, they’ll bow for crackers. Try make them bow. This way go feed them there. Alright you’re very hungry. Here you go. There you go. So this is Nara Park. It just goes on and on and pretty much  

The deer in the city just kind of roam around  the sidewalk and then you’ll see these vendors   it’s about 200 yen for a bunch of rice bran  crackers that they like to eat. I heard that if  

If you don’t come here early…you don’t have to  come too early. It’s like about 9:00 am now. They’re   still hungry, they’ll eat. But if you come  towards the end of the afternoon because they   get fed all the crackers from all the tourists  they won’t eat your cracker. So you’ll be stuck  

With a whole bunch of crackers. So it’s good to  come I would say probably before noon time so   that they’re hungry. Otherwise you’re going to  buy crackers for nothing because they’re going to be   full from all the tourists feeding them. But  they can get aggressive. I guess it’s early  

In the morning because they’re hungry and they  were attacking my jacket. So my jacket smells   like nasty deer breath. It’s like a bad breath  smell and they were eating my backpack straps.   So they can get really aggressive if they are  hungry, but I don’t think they actually bite  

You they’re just trying to get into your pockets  because they think there’s food in it. Alright we’re   going to keep walking up this way and try to  see some temples. This town is pretty small and  

It’s just known for the deer. So we’re not going  to spend too much time here. It took about maybe   a half an hour by subway or train or whatever  you want to call it to get here. We took the  

Kintetsu line and it comes right to the entrance  of the park. Not too bad of a walk. It kind of does   go uphill a bit, but after that it does go flat.  So after that it’s a pretty easy walk. We’re here at a famous  confectionary place that does mochi   and they do it right in front of you. The next  show is at 11:15, but we don’t have time for that.   But they make it right in front of you and they  dip it in kinako, which is the grounded up roasted soybeans.

Mmm! So soft. I think the inside has azuki beans. Yeah the inside has azuki beans. There it  is. It’s really soft and fresh and good. Almost   like melts in your mouth. Not a fan of azuki beans  but that’s pretty sweet and good. Alright last  

Stop in Nara before we head to Kyoto is some Nara  Zushi and they spell their sushi with a “Z”. This is   a traditional form in this area. I read that they  used to preserve it in persimmon leaves. So you’ll see  

It in the leaves because they were not near  the sea. So let’s try a little one. I like that   they sell these little boxes. Maybe we’ll get  a mackerel and a salmon. So that’s what it looks  

Like. That doesn’t look too bad and I guess it’s  preserved in this leaf and it ferments on its   own. So it has that vinegary taste. Alright  we got our Nara Zushi. A little small box  

To just sample it. I’m going to sit down and eat.  It’s wrapped like this and that’s cute. I don’t   know what that is, but it’s in these little persimmon  leaves. You’re supposed to unwrap them. So you got   one mackerel and one salmon. So this is the  salmon. That’s cool. Alright here she goes.

The rice is fermented, but it tastes like  vinegar, but a little bit stronger. But the   salmon actually tastes like smoked Alaskan  salmon. It has a smoky flavor to it. Saba the mackerel. That one’s really good. I like that  one. We made it. We’re here in Kyoto and that  

Was a ordeal and we’ll talk about that later. But  getting here on the train was very interesting   and hard. They make it very difficult to travel by train. Yeah that was a very difficult  

Thing to do by train. You had to go on a Limited  Express, which we did for the airport. So you’re   paying extra on top of the subway ticket  because you’re doing a train. That was fine.  

It got us to the station, but to get out of the  station it wouldn’t let us out. So we asked   the help there who was not as helpful. He ran  away. But he did say you have to pay extra to  

Get out, which doesn’t make sense to me. But it  is what it is. It’s very confusing. This is the   famous street where you can possibly see  geisha. But they’re usually not out until later. Usually around 5:00 p.m. But we’re  not going to stay that long, but I like the  

Architecture and the old schoolness of it.  Supposedly if you walk down this street   you can see very nice old style Japanese  architecture. If you’re wondering too,   interestingly enough the timing is close. But  in April the Japanese government is going to be  

Banning the tourists from this area because  there are a certain few number of tourists that   are very rude and they harass the geisha. They  tug at their kimonos, grab at them, and insist on   a photo, which is very rude. So they will be  banning the tourist here because of that.  

That’s unfortunate. I’ll just be showing  some sites around here and there’s a lot   of tour groups here too. But I’m not going to  talk too much because obviously I’ve never been   here and I don’t really know the history of  it and I am probably just as excited as you  

Or interested as you on this architecture and  this old city. All I know is Kyoto used to   be the capital of Japan before Tokyo became the  new capital. So, this was once the area where   the capital was, which is very interesting. And  I’ll just let you see all the beautiful old buildings. Okay we’re going to  try lunch here at Tokkyu Ramen. I think this   is the one. Or is it this one? I don’t  know. Oh yeah this is it. Yeah let’s try it. Tokkyu Ramen is very popular and a very  tiny hole in the wall. I will say this was  

The best ramen I’ve ever tasted EVER including  the ramen we had in Osaka. The mamasan that made   this put a lot of love and care into it. The  broth was really rich and the noodles were   nice and chewy and cooked to perfection. All for  only 900 Yen with char siu.

Alright this is our last stop in Kyoto. I know you’re probably wondering like what the heck you didn’t go to   the Kyoto Castle, the bamboo forest… Yes I know  about those things, but our feet are getting   tired and it’s going to be a long train/subway/  whatever ride back to our hotel so we can  

Have dinner in Osaka. This is the birthplace of  Kabuki theater and I think that’s so cool. It’s   actually the original birthplace and they have a  sign here with the stone of where it was born. So   if you don’t know, it is Japanese theater where  they put on the makeup. Pretty interesting and  

Cool. It’s right here in the middle of this  bustling city right next to a subway station   and a bridge. Kind of crazy how there’s all this  old history in this now modern bustling city.   Alright we’re back in Osaka in Dontonburi and we’re  going to go on a mission to find some really  

Good sushi or sashimi. Hopefully we can get  to where we’re going because it is dinner time and   this place is full of tourists. So you know  everybody has probably the same idea. So let’s

Go. As you can see there are many tax free shops. So  if you go to the Visit Japan website and apply for   the tax free thing, which is super easy, when you  buy things and as long as you don’t open them  

And they’re gifts to take home you don’t have  to pay taxes. They’ll give you a discount.   Most of the price that you see and you pay  for is straight up. It’s not like in the  

US where they add tax to it. the tax is already  added. So they’ll minus it from your receipts, but   you have to keep the receipts when you get to  customs at the airport to show that you paid for  

Tax free and show your QR code that you applied  for – the Japan tax free program as a tourist.   But as you can see this is the main street of Dontonburi. I’m horrible at pronunciation as you know  

So I’m probably killing that. But this is just a  whole street of food and the other side streets   as well. Look at these beautiful strawberries. Oh  my goodness. I saw strawberry mochi the other   day too at night. So hopefully I can find some  tonight if I have any stomach room. The reason  

If you’re wondering why did I pick Osaka over  Tokyo – one day I might go there – but Osaka is   known as “Japan’s Kitchen.” It is all about food  and that’s what I do. I eat. And I’m interested in  

The culture and the food of everywhere I visit. So  that is the reason why and I just love all these   3D signs like the crab back there, the dragon  and the strawberry, and then there’s Spider-Man   climbing into a scallop shell back there. Alright this is our first try. I’m not sure we’re  

Going to get in. It is night time. Look at all  these people. We’re going to go to Kura Sushi. It   is a popular revolving sushi restaurant similar  to Genki, but much better quality of course. And  

This is their headquarters. We’re going to go  and try to get a a seat. I’m not sure if we can   because the Google Map said it was slightly  busy. So we shall see if we can get a seat here. Alright it’s super crowded in here,  but it’s all self-service. You got to  

Punch in your information and then you  get a number and then they’ll tell you what seat to go to.   Alright we finally got in. That was a lot of people in there, but it   wasn’t too bad of a wait and it’s kind of  very organized. So you have to use this  

Little app and you can pick stuff here too.  Let’s…I don’t know. What is this? Normal. In the middle of a meal.  I don’t care. I don’t know. Whatever. Okay let’s see. Let’s get some  fatty tuna. Get two. Oh no. So complicated. Two.

Order. And then we’ll go through  that. Oh they got uni. Let’s just   go through this so you guys can  see. Soy nuggets. interesting. Lean tuna, dragon rolls, sashimi. That’s super cheap  too. 530 Yen. That’s really cheap. Ramen, sushi

Sets, steamed egg custard, red miso soup. We got  nigiri, all kinds, shrimp, but you pretty much get   the gist. We’re going to order a bunch of stuff  and show you guys. Alright so this is some of   our orders. We got some fatty toro or otoro or the fatty tuna. This is fatty salmon.  

Got two orders each. This is aged fugu. I’ve  always wanted to try fugu, and there’s fugu   restaurants here, but it’s quite expensive. So I  don’t think we’re going to go there, but I can   say I tried it. Abalone and more things coming.  Got the beer here. Interesting thing is all the  

Stuff is in here. Chopsticks and all and ginger  and the green tea. If you want green tea, there’s   hot water and this is where you put the finished  plates in. But there’s no dish to put your soy  

Sauce so I guess you just put it like that and  it’s quite thick. Interesting. Alright here we go. Oh my goodness that is super fresh.  especially for conveyor belt sushi.    Oh my goodness! Wow! Alright so I’m going to try

The fatty tuna. Dip it in some shoyu. There’s like  no wasabi too here either and it’s… I don’t   think it’s underneath here. Interesting.  Alright this is the sashimi. Pretty good. Looks   nice. Very thin though. Alright this is the fugu  fish. That’s poisonous blowfish. Here I guess I’ll dip it in soy.

That ain’t my thing. It’s very  chewy and crunchy and has a weird   flavor to it. So I’m really glad I  did not go to a fugu restaurant and   pay like 90 to 100 bucks because that  ain’t for me. But at least I can say I  

Tried fugu. But not my thing. This is some  abalone. Looks really good. I like abalone. That’s crunchy and fresh. This is the sea urchin. And then I guess when you’re done, you can start  putting your plates in here. That’s where it goes  

And that’s how they count how many plates  you got. You can put some more in. There you   go. When you put plates in, it plays this little  game and you might win something. I’m not sure. No we didn’t win anything. Alright this is  the crab and shrimp mountain. That’s what it was called.

So good. This is so dangerous though  because you keep ordering stuff, but   it’s reasonably priced compared to Genki Sushi or anything in the US. Did we win? We put our  plates in. Even if you win what   do you win? I wonder. Oh it’s crying. You  didn’t win anything.

Alright last one. This is my scallops. I’m not totally full.  We’re not full, but we want to eat some   food outside. So on the street. Food like  the dessert. So we’re going to save our appetite. So it’s ¥6080. What is that?

So for all that and we ordered a lot  $40.23 with beers and drinks. That’s not bad. Not   a bad deal at all. So if you want to have pretty  affordable conveyor belt sushi and considering   what we had we had a whole sashimi bowl full of  different sashimi, like four orders of fatty  

Tuna, scallops, abalone, sea urchin, all that with  the beer. Can’t go wrong. For two people that’s a   deal. Alright that’s our second day. Is it second  day or third day? At Osaka and trying out some   of the food here in Dontonburi and our sushi and  everything. So hopefully you enjoyed that and our  

Trip to Nada and Kyoto. If you like this press  the like button, subscribe if you’re new, and   join us on our last full day and also I’ll be  making a separate video (Hopefully it works out.  

I’m not sure because I’m just speaking on the fly.)  of just street food. So join us then. Probably   two more videos to go that I can make in this trip.  And thanks for joining me have a great night. ✌🌈🤙🌺🍣

In this video we took a short day trip from Osaka to Nara, then to Kyoto by train. We saw the deer at Nara Deer Park, visited Todai-ji Temple, Hanamikoji Street and the Yasaka Shrine.

Matsuya Nipponbashi (Breakfast)
松屋 日本橋店
Japan, 〒542-0073 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Nipponbashi, 1 Chome−3−2
https://www.matsuyafoods.co.jp/matsuya/menu/

Nara Park
Coordinates 34.683905776093845, 135.83391405492276

Tōdai-ji Temple
東大寺
406-1 Zoshicho, Nara, 630-8587, Japan
https://www.todaiji.or.jp/

Nakatanidou
中谷堂
29 Hashimotocho, Nara, 630-8217, Japan
http://www.nakatanidou.jp/

Kakinohazushi Hiraso Todaiji
平宗 登大路店
2-1 Higashimuki Nakamachi, Nara, 630-8215, Japan
http://www.hiraso.jp/

Hanamikoji Street
花見小路
Gionmachi Minamigawa, Kyoto, 600-8340, Japan

Yasaka Shrine
八坂神社
625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073, Japan
http://www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp/

Birthplace of Okuni Kabuki
伝・阿国歌舞伎発祥地
Japan, 〒605-0075 Kyoto, 東山区Higashiyama Ward, 川端通四条下る

KURA SUSHI Dotonbori Global Flagship Store
くら寿司 グローバル旗艦店 道頓堀
Japan, 〒542-0071 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Dotonbori, 1 Chome−4−22 クロードビル 2F
https://www.kurasushi.co.jp/

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