Shinkansen and Kyoto
Today has been one of those days that seems about a week long. With snow forecast in Tokyo, my very over-cautious colleague Hiroshi decided that I should travel to Kyoto earlier. In fact there was a light dusting overnight with more supposed to fall later in the morning. My new Shinkansen (bullet train) departure time was 8.47 so he escorted me from the hotel via the Tokyo subway to the enormous rabbit warren which is Tokyo station and in fact right on to the carriage and to my seat. I had to persuade him that he didn't need to stand on the platform until the train left but could leave me to wait for a few minutes unaccompanied!
The train was not so full when we left but after just 2 stops it filled to capacity in my carriage. It's a holiday weekend in Japan and many people were travelling away. I had an aisle seat unfortunately and my neighbour, like so many others, went to sleep pretty much straight away. Nonetheless I managed to see past him to marvel at the literally endless settlements of large and small cities and towns that stretched the entire length of the 2.5 hour trip to Kyoto.
My friend Eiko ,who was an exchange student at my school in 1979, was on the platform to meet me, very emotional that here I was in Japan to see her. What a wonderful host. We spent the whole day from 11am until 10pm walking the very famous Philosophers' Walk, visiting four temples, eating delicious lunch in a local family-run eatery, walking through narrow streets looking at shops - paper, fans, kimono, sweets, antiques - and having a well deserved sit down in a Japanese tea house (see photo of the street view).
We met her friend Jun at 7pm for another beautiful meal - this time a six course meal which was Japanese style Italian which included antipasto, fire roasted vegetables, fish, lotus root soup, pizza and dessert. Of course I took a photo of most of the courses, and the photo attached is wood fired seasonal fruits (oranges), yoghurt and dried fruit, with mint tea.
Now I am settling in to my 3 sq metre capsule hotel room (see the picture). At 9400 Yen for two nights (add 1/3 and call it cents for exchange rate so 9400 + 3100 = 12500 , approx $125) it's a far cry from the 20,000 Yen per night New Otani in Tokyo ($270 per night approx). I have a double bed with walls that touch it on either side and and a roller door about 30cm beyond the end of the bed, a small storage space under the bed and a shelf above. I haven't yet worked out how to lower the top of the bed from sitting to sleeping position. My neighbours all seem very quiet - and being Japanese, they are hopefully very respectful of personal space. So a good sleep is needed, with a relaxed start tomorrow. This is like a youth hostel, with a shared lounge and cooking area so I can sit around to plan my day. I am unlikely to need to eat very much!!
The train was not so full when we left but after just 2 stops it filled to capacity in my carriage. It's a holiday weekend in Japan and many people were travelling away. I had an aisle seat unfortunately and my neighbour, like so many others, went to sleep pretty much straight away. Nonetheless I managed to see past him to marvel at the literally endless settlements of large and small cities and towns that stretched the entire length of the 2.5 hour trip to Kyoto.
My friend Eiko ,who was an exchange student at my school in 1979, was on the platform to meet me, very emotional that here I was in Japan to see her. What a wonderful host. We spent the whole day from 11am until 10pm walking the very famous Philosophers' Walk, visiting four temples, eating delicious lunch in a local family-run eatery, walking through narrow streets looking at shops - paper, fans, kimono, sweets, antiques - and having a well deserved sit down in a Japanese tea house (see photo of the street view).
We met her friend Jun at 7pm for another beautiful meal - this time a six course meal which was Japanese style Italian which included antipasto, fire roasted vegetables, fish, lotus root soup, pizza and dessert. Of course I took a photo of most of the courses, and the photo attached is wood fired seasonal fruits (oranges), yoghurt and dried fruit, with mint tea.
Now I am settling in to my 3 sq metre capsule hotel room (see the picture). At 9400 Yen for two nights (add 1/3 and call it cents for exchange rate so 9400 + 3100 = 12500 , approx $125) it's a far cry from the 20,000 Yen per night New Otani in Tokyo ($270 per night approx). I have a double bed with walls that touch it on either side and and a roller door about 30cm beyond the end of the bed, a small storage space under the bed and a shelf above. I haven't yet worked out how to lower the top of the bed from sitting to sleeping position. My neighbours all seem very quiet - and being Japanese, they are hopefully very respectful of personal space. So a good sleep is needed, with a relaxed start tomorrow. This is like a youth hostel, with a shared lounge and cooking area so I can sit around to plan my day. I am unlikely to need to eat very much!!
Oh my, this is all such a wonderful new cultural experience. And how blessed to have Eiko to give that personal hop-on-hop-off introduction. I assume that is her in the pix. And your accommodation is opulently adequate eh. Loving your posts Rosemary. Another stinking hot summer's day in Dunedin. Enjoy day two in Kyoto. xxx
ReplyDeleteHi, so lovely that you could meet Eiko again. I guess you are not staying with her given your accommodation. Hope to see more photos when you get back.
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