The Travel Diaries · Sunday, September 27, 2026
The discussion touches on Kyoto as a popular but challenging travel destination due to cost and potential over-tourism, particularly from the UK and US. While acknowledged as a place to see, the timing of the visit is emphasized as critical, with a personal reflection on the intensity of the cherry blossom season.
“The destination that is obviously incredibly popular, but also not easy to get to from either the UK or the US, really. Uh, you know, expensive, potentially over-touristed.”
“So, how do you think Kyoto sits as a, uh, kind of destination? Like, how much should we be prioritizing it for our travels, do you think?”
“So, I mean, I went to Kyoto during cherry blossom season. So I was writing a piece on the art of Hanami, which is cherry blossom viewing essentially. And it was one of those surreal experiences where you go to a place in Southeast Asia and you actually realize how different it is from everything else that you've seen before.”