Iwatayama Monkey Park

Our last full day in Kyoto required some kid-friendly activities.  So we headed back to the Arashiyama district from yesterday, but instead of Zen temples, we walked to the top of Mt. Arashiyama to the Iwatayama Monkey Park.

The park is home to over 100 Japanese macaque monkeys. The monkeys are used to people since this is a popular tourist destination. They roam free and as you get closer to the top of the mountain you start to see some along the path and in the trees. Zoe is hesitant around dogs, and she felt the same about monkeys, but Maddox was intrigued.

At the top of the mountain, we bought some banana slices and Maddox had a great time feeding the monkeys.

Perhaps the most fun we had at the Monkey Park was drawing on the chalkboards and pretending to be monkeys ourselves. Here is Zoe, displaying her full name and age.

Maddox adopted an alter ego, "Phil the Monkey".

I think this is one of my favorite photos of me ever. And it accurately described my feelings at the time.

Besides seeing cute monkeys, the top of Mt. Arashiyama afforded some beautiful views of Kyoto and the surrounding mountains.

The Arashiyama district, which includes the locations of the temples we had visited the day before, has been designated as a Historic Place and Site of Scenic Beauty in Japan, and it is easy to see why. Even with a cloudy day and foliage not at its peak, the scenery was beautiful.

The Oi River

After the Monkey Park, we made some attempts to find a place to eat nearby, but the whole district was absolutely swarming with busloads of visitors. It was pretty overwhelming for the kids and parents alike. So we headed back towards our hotel, and after some chill time, we used the "divide and conquer" parenting strategy. Maddox and I went to Kyoto Station for some souvenir shopping (Maddox is the best consumer in the house), and John took Zoe back to the nearby playground.

It was much less crowded than our first visit there since it was a weekday, and Zoe certainly gained her courage. She likes to observe for a while before trying things, but she eventually is willing to do most things Maddox does. She just has a little caution, for which we are grateful!

Dinner on our last night in Kyoto was the best -- Kobe beef burgers! Maddox and I split one to start, and she declared it the best burger she has ever eaten. Yes, indeed it was. So we split another one, but then saved room for dessert.

I am glad I am writing this blog with some distance between then and now. During the trip it was pretty stressful - hotels with our kids posed some challenges, the kids weren't always good sports about trekking around, and figuring out meals and transportation weren't always easy tasks. We ate at McDonald's more than I care to admit, and it wasn't filled with delightful family bonding that I always imagine. But with some distance, I can better appreciate what we did and what we saw, and I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities and adventures. Hopefully the kids will be, too.