The Skinkansen to Kyoto was stellar. It passed by Mount Fuji, which was awe inspiring to say the least. I was sitting on the opposite side of the train, so I got pics of people taking pictures of Mount Fuji. Will try for the the other side on the way back.
After arriving at Kyoto Station (which is huge and technically all open area, but you don't really notice until you get outside and and realize you never actually walked through a door), and meandered trying to find my capsule hotel which I found after walking by it twice without noticing. Nonetheless, it is a great place - mentioned in Lonely Planet Japan 2013. I booked a tatami capsule, which is exactly what it is. a 8 by 4 area for sleeping and not much else. There are 8 capsule in this room, and has very much a hostel feel. They have private rooms, but they were booked. I never did the whole "hostel" thing in my 20's - nor do I regret it, because really, I aint exactly a hostel-type gal - but this wasn't bad at all. The staff speaks great English, and doesn't mind my incessant questions. It is immaculately clean and free wifi, which cures my daily Facebook and You Tube fix.
The moment I got situated and walked into the Lobby and a conversation in English about ramen and Ippudo which was in Kyoto. Ippudo!! There is an Ippudo in Kyoto. For those that don't know, Ippudo has various locations in Japan and recently opened on up in NYC's East Village (my hood). It is ridiculously good and therefore the wait is ridiculously long, and a bit pricey in Manhattan. Anyways, I had my lunch plans for Wednesday.
Back to the convo - the fellow speaking about it was speaking in an American accent and after I made my "Ippudo is awesome" interruption, I introduced myself and found out his name was Victor, he lived in Austin, went to UT and was travelling on pleasure as well. It was nice to have a friendly acquaintance, so we went to have dinner and he shared with me some of his culinary must do's that he has discovered while in Kyoto and Tokyo. He forwarded an email from his friend that was was using, and to say it is extensive is an understatement. Weeks could be used to eat at all the places - oh I can dream...After a quick dinner we decided to travel the next morning to Arashiyama (a small city west of Kyoto) to check out the Bamboo Grove and some temples.
After the meal and technically working on 4 hours sleep in 36 hours, I needed to crash. Thanks to some maximum cushioning ear-buds and a half of Xanax, I slept like a baby in my little cocoon a la Fifth Element.
11/27 Places of interest:
- Arashiyama (Love, Love, Love)
- Bamboo Grove - So cool. Ironically, the streets we walked through are on Google Street view so anyone can view it digitally for themselves.
- Tenryu-ji Temple - My first temple visit. Very Zen like and impeccably manicured gardens
- Shijo Neighborhood in Kyoto
- Ippudo - Delish. Duh. \850 for a bowl of ramen, goyza, rice and all the green tea you can drink. Awesome!
- Walked through Nishiki Food Market and picked up some marzepan
- Kiyomizu-den Temple
- Very awe inspiring (I think I am going to be using that word a lot_). I paid \100 for my "fortune"which I shook a wooden cylinder and a stick with writing came out, and then you get a piece of paper with your fortune written on it, but it is all in Japanese. Poor hotel staff doesn't know what is coming to them when I ask them to translate.
- I then walked around the cobble stone streets trying to find my way back and picked up a chock full of souvenirs and basically just took in the scene and women in full kimono wear.
- Tonight, a tempura dinner
Likes:
- Foliage. Seriously. I just can't. The colors and views and everything are just too much. Pics won't do it justice, although I really want to know where else in the world could match what I saw today.
- Eating my way through the city.
Not so like:
- Dog hair from back home infiltrated my suitcase, and I am still picking off Winnie hair through my wardrobe, which is of course mostly black.
Side Note: They are in full Christmas decor and mood here. It was odd walking down Shijo dori and hearing Jingle Bells.
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