The Travel Diaries · Sunday, September 27, 2026
Travel writer Luke Abrahams describes Kyoto as a city that initially appears as a concrete jungle upon arrival via the Shinkansen from Tokyo, contrasting with its ancient reputation. He notes that while Kyoto is a must-see destination, visiting at the right time is crucial, and he personally found the cherry blossom season to be an overwhelming yet magical experience.
“And I think the one thing that blew my mind when I arrived in Kyoto is that it's a bit of a concrete jungle before you actually get to the ancient city. It's a huge city. It's a huge, huge city. And then when I got off the Shinkansen from Tokyo, and I was greeted, I was like, where are the temples? And you don't see them when you immediately when you get off.”
“Um, I think it's definitely one of those places that you have to see. But also one of those places that you have to go to the right time to see.”
“So it's busy. It's one of those cities that gets busy, you know, but it's worthwhile busy, you know. I was so enthralled by the cherry blossoms. I didn't even notice after time. Really? It was that special.”