Published date: March 10, 2025
My Visit to Kyoto during HafH Travel Week: A Journey of Discovering 'New Bases'.
Room Type Stayed
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Experience of the stay
I stayed at 'Ibis Styles Kyoto Shijo'.
I had heard the name and had passed by the hotel a few times.
▢ Exterior and Entrance
The design allowed me to feel the essence of Kyoto, especially with a 'Japanese' atmosphere that would surely delight foreign tourists.
There was a hotel sign along the main road, and as I entered a small alley, I encountered an entrance like passing through a noren curtain. The exterior perfectly blended with Kyoto's streets (make sure to check the photo on the top page!).
▢ The Room
It was a simple and functional guest room.
What was particularly convenient was the small magnifying mirror in the bathroom. It was useful for a quick self-grooming check.
▢ Surrounding the Hotel
Within walking distance, there were FamilyMart, Mos Burger, and Yayoi-ken, so I had no trouble finding meals.
Additionally, Fresco (a supermarket in Kyoto) and Life are also nearby, both open late, making it easy to purchase Kyoto ingredients, probiotic drinks, and alcohol.
Experiences during the trip
New spots visited in Kyoto!
I have been to Kyoto many times, but this time I want to introduce the places I visited that were all new along the way.
▢ Aqua Garden Kyoto
An aquarium art cafe from Korea.
I've been curious about it after seeing it recommended on TikTok, and I finally went!
It’s located on the left side when you head towards Karasuma after passing the crab restaurant.
On this day, the main large aquarium was under maintenance, but I was able to see the freshwater aquarium and seawater aquarium (where clownfish were swimming). There was also a turtle, which was very cute www
Additionally, they were holding a strawberry fair, so I ordered the pancake and smoothie set. It was exquisite.
The prices at the cafe were a bit high, but considering the maintenance costs of the aquariums and animals, it was understandable. Moreover, the quality of the food was high, and I was very satisfied.
The staff was friendly and easy to talk to, and it was a relaxed atmosphere where I could enjoy it even alone.
I would like to visit again when the main aquarium is operational!
▢ Maido Okini Shokudo Shijo Nishidoin Shokudo
Before my next appointment, I got hungry and stopped by "Maido Okini Shokudo Shijo Nishidoin Shokudo" located across from the hotel.
Actually, I recently saw a video on Snow Man's YouTube of a self-service restaurant and thought, "This might have a similar vibe?", so I ended up stepping in.
What caught my eye was the egg omelette being cooked right in front of me. It was fluffy and warm, and I enjoyed it without any seasoning!
Furthermore, I tried the limited-time 'Meat Soup of the Diner'. It reminded me of the famous 'Chitose' meat soup from Kansai, and it was delicious.
▢ Bar Al Bocadillo (Venue of HafH Travel Week)
The main event of the day, 'HafH Travel Week'. I only participated in this session.
Here, there were famous whiskies like 'Yamazaki' and 'Hakushu', as well as the limited edition 'Kyoto Whisky'. The label of the Kyoto whisky was made from Nishijin woven fabric, adding a touch of luxury! I ordered this to try.
Sipping it slowly allowed me to appreciate its depth, characteristic of whisky.
For my second drink, I had 'Dassai' sparkling water. It was made from high-quality water and was also refreshingly delicious.
There aren’t many opportunities to leisurely listen to and talk about travel stories, so I felt a strong desire to travel to various places again.
▢ Yasaka Shrine
Before heading to my target shop, I took a slight detour.
It was morning, but it was bustling with tourists and school students on a field trip.
Since I was there, I prayed for the success of my upcoming work.
And an unexpected discovery...! The restrooms here were very clean (laughs).
▢ Gion Bolonia
A long-established Danish bread shop in Kyoto.
Actually, my grandmother loved this bread and often bought it for me when it had a store in Osaka, so I have fond memories. This was my first time at the main store.
I bought a 1.5 loaf of plain and raisin bread. The taste was just as delicious as I remembered from back then.
I didn’t stop by this time, but there’s also a cafe across the street, so next time I want to eat French toast there.
All of these shops are highly recommended, so please make sure to visit! www