Traveling in Japan is efficient and you can get from place to place with relative ease. That does not mean, however, that it doesn’t come without some physical cost. The train trip to Kyoto was on the Nozomi Shinkansen, or bullet train, and the travel is relative ly fast and, for whatever reason, a bit tiring for us all. I think we’ve walked a lot, making our way to so many nooks and crannies of Tokyo.
The ride on the Shinkansen is so pleasant and this train was particularly packed with people. The attendant selling drinks and bento wandered through the cars on a continuous cycle and some of us bought the self-heating bento boxes to try for lunch. Our trip from Shinagawa Station to Kyoto Station was about 2:15 hrs and arrived around 12:45 PM.
Once in the Kyoto station those who hadn’t eaten made their way up to the 10th floor and so many food choices. In this part of the station, the food is a bit more expensive and the cute coffee shops and small restaurants charge a premium for their food and, more than likely, for their location.
The mall that extends all the way into the basement levels of the station has everything from Tiffany’s to a standard department store. Escalators are on every level and it’s fun just to take these moving stairs to every level of the mall. Just watching the stores go by and wondering at the various wares they ply is a fun thing to do on a rainy day.
After eating, we found our way to the subway and the Karasuma line to find our housing, a collection of five small houses in the heights of Higashiyama. Walking up Sanjo Dori from the station exudes a kind of clam air here in the midst of business and city life. The feel is quite different form Tokyo and the strain of human action on the environment. Here, it feels like people are more in tune with the surroundings, deliberately created by planners for the city.
We settled into our houses which are, in fact, gorgeous and updated with every kind of amenity. Washer/dryers, small kitchens, these places are exceptional. The futons on the tat mats are comfortable and the few western style beds very nice.
Tomorrow we take the Path of Philosophy to Ginkaku-ji temple. Let the walking begin again!
Thanks for reading.
gentryfunkblog 