Kyoto, Japan – Real & VRChat (2023 Focus)

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– Kyoto – Japan

I’m overly late on this one, sharing this in an overly belated manner. I’m however now focusing on Kyoto (from 2023), and of course of VRChat’s photogrammetry which hyped me up to even both consider, and blog about the lovely Kyoto vibes. I admire my initial Kyoto 2023 experiences, and all that much more with the VRChat influences boosting my memories. One feeding the other, growing the hype and amusements of my experiences in Kyoto. There’s however one specific part of Kyoto I desire to focus on, and that’s both in, and around, the ‘Kiyomizu-dera temple’ of Kyoto. It’s a place I’ve traveled to, a place I’m able to traverse in VRChat, and it’s also where I (if my memory serves me correctly) admired the K-ON Anime traveling to this very place in their Kyoto visit.

I’m sure I could have titled my blog post ‘Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera Sando’, or something similar. I however had to keep it generalized just enough to share not only that area, but also Naganami & Takao’s monument, and even some other bonuses after the VRChat images used as comparison.

(I’ll share the real-world 2023 perspective first, VRChat following after it. I shall leap-frog the images in rotation. I’m not adding any 2024 or 2025 updated perspectives. Only 2023, that’s when I desired to initially share this sort of Japanese Kyoto hype, in excitement of my actual real-world Kyoto hype. Pure, naïve, innocent moments.)

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– A VRChat perspective, in comparison to the first image, as seen above this one.

Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera Sando:
https://vrchat.com/home/launch?worldId=wrld_c1824301-1b7a-4a6d-ae69-de48c1bae974

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– Sanmon
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– A quieter, and more serene perspective can be observed from within VRChat. Sadly, no blooming can be seen.
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Bonus Images – VRChat Kyoto Images:

Some extra images I desired to share, yet unable to “delete”, or keep away. I have to share these, thus they’re here. I failed to match them up with their real-world counterparts, I however still admired these images, and they’re here. Good memories. This, all prior to people falsely blaming me for things, still willing to hang out, and to simply have fun with their vibes, my vibes, and to meet one another in the middle.

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– Our lovely group-shot photo of our being in digital Kyoto, a few months after my initial hype of having visited Japan in the 2023 timeframe.
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– I sadly missed this perspective back in 2023 all thanks to over-tourism distracting me. The walkway was overly packed, annoyingly so. I would have seen this similar perspective if I was able to observe things better.
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– Vending Machine – “Isekai Vending Machine Anime” was joked around with at this point, especially impersonating a vending machine.
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I’ll openly admit everything is far better in the real world. But! For times you can’t travel, and if you’re able to visit things in the digital world, it’s also far better to do so. It’s also far better to do so with friends (ones who won’t stab you in the back) to have awesome memories in the process. Sharing your Japan hype, away from “Over-tourism”, yet still able to admire Japan. Sure, you won’t see the ever-changing nitty-gritty, small details, and other stuff. Everything is static in VRChat, it however allows you to reconnect with the past, and that I strongly admire. I admire how it allows people to re-connect, to go down memory lane, and to admire things and locations, ones stuck behind distance and $2000-5000~ (Canadian) plane tickets.

I also attempted to visit Kiyomizu-Dera in this VRChat world, it’s sadly not there. My favourite part of this area, it’s not there! *sad face*
(The images related to them shall be shared in the below images, and at the very top.)

Bonus Images – To further hype up the beauty of Kyoto:

Other than major “over-tourism” issues, I actually enjoyed my stay in Kyoto. I enjoyed my stay on both sides of Kyoto station, one in a business hotel, and another at a “shared hotel” with overly thin walls, main building being separated by a few major residential blocks from the actual hotel, and other issues. Other than those, everything else was awesome. I still feel guilty for being moody towards a female staff-member, one who had to chase me down to provide me a proper key. She was awesome, I was rude, and Kyoto itself was awesome. I was simply moody, and the faults were my own. I admit that. I had no supernatural experiences (to my knowledge), only the raw, historical beauty of Kyoto.

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– Kiyomizu-dera Niomon Gate – This is the furthest you can see in the VRChat world. It’s sadly low quality. Everything is better in person, and I respect that.
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– Kiyomizu-Dera appears to be floating on top of the tree canopy. A visual illusion of a floating temple.
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I genuinely admired the Kiyomizu-Dera temple, and especially the elevated shrine. The way it was portrayed in the K-ON Anime (or so I recall it to be) left a lasting impression on me, and of a magical manner, to which I view this area in high regards. Overly positive experiences.

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– Kyoto Station – Taking trains aimed for Maizuru & Tango-Yura. Japanese trains are among the best. Heavenly.
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– The way Japanese homes mesh with one another, and how they do construction, is highly neat. Safer, neater. Visually pleasing. Reminds me of traditional European architecture and styles.
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– Kyoto Tower, as seen from my hotel room. I was moody, and I blamed a lot of things, I however admired this view. It was an awesome place.
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– Nightly view of Kyoto Tower.
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– Kyoto boasting awesome elevated crosswalks. I intentionally took diversion routes to further admire these beautiful architectures. Busy road below needing elevated crosswalks to to keep things going. Ottawa, Canada needs these, and same with other major cities in Canada. This, merged with roundabouts would be awesome.
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– Kyoto, like every other places, specializing in awesome foods. Lovely ramen.
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– I admire architecture like these, especially with stone and wooden features.
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– Admiring the beautiful pathways, gardens, and tree styles.
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– Old meets new.
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– Numerous examples of these overly elegant, colourful art-styles.
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– Kyoto, like Europe, with overly scenic canals running through their area. Strong Slovakian vibes for me.
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– Kyoto Imperial Palace – Outer gate.
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– Kyoto Sakura trees. Nice!
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– Kyoto Imperial Palace – Inner gate. Closed for the day.
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– Go-O Shrine – Year of the Rabbit (The best year, one which allowed me to visit both Japan, and also Kyoto.)
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– Go-O Shrine – Takao Monument & Shrine. (I’m certain KanColle Admirals would prefer KanColle comparisons, not Azur Lane. I’m still paying my respect, and I respect the real world, KanColle, and Azur Lane.)
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– Go-o Shrine – “Clean” perspective.
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– Go-O Shrine – Year of the Rabbit! The best year, one aimed at me. Respect.
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– Kyoto – Train Museum, Kyoto-to-Osaka train, and To-Ji Temple in the background.
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– Kyoto Railway Museum – Old-fashioned Japanese train station display.
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– Old door-guards, or so I assume them to be.
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– Viewing Kiyomizu-dera area, or so I assume this area to be. Viewing the area from Kyoto Tower while using the binoculars.
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– Naganami’s Memorial Stone.
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– Naganami’s KanColle Arcade card in front of the gravestone. I failed to offer any offerings, I however respectfully bowed and clapped, as a Japanese would. One needs to respectful, and I attempted to stay respectful.
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– This area is also rendered into the Kyoto VRChat world, and we happily conversed here. Failed to capture a 2023 image, it’s however here, and without cars & over-tourism.

2025 Bonus:

I guess I lied. I’m adding a few more 2025 images, I however won’t match them up with my Japan 2023 Japan trip. I’ll leave that to other people to do, especially with how this ‘2025 bonus’ is supposed to not even exist in this blog post. Shhhh!~ It’s a secret. I simply had to, especially after seeing both VRChat & 2023 perspectives.

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My lasting impression of Kyoto is mostly positive. It’s a nice place, especially in a historical sense. Sure, I screwed up as a visiting tourist, I however still had my worthwhile moments in Kyoto. I admired whatever I was able to, and I wish I could even return to make note of all the other beautiful areas around Kyoto. Getting around Kyoto was also neat, especially by foot, allowing me to go wherever I desired. Japan itself, and especially Kyoto, is a highly walkable city, and it’s mostly friendly to itself and tourists.

Thanks for viewing, hope to see you in future blog posts relating to Japan & VRChat.