Kyoto/Hiroshima Trip Day 2
Day 2
Market in Kyoto
Nijo Castle
Kyoto Tower
Shinkansen to Hiroshima
Hiroshima Castle
Great dinner

Day 2 was split up between Kyoto and Hiroshima. After waking up at 9 or so and checking out we had breakfast downstairs in the Starbucks. Chelsae really wanted to see the Nishiki Market that she read about. This is what the guide book said, "Known as 'Kyoto's Kitchen,' Nishiki Market has a history of several centuries, and many stores have been operated by the same families for generations." The market was close to the hotel so it was first on the agenda. Very quickly I realized why it was called "Kyoto's Kitchen." There were fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, baked goods, dried goods, pickled goods, and some mysterious things too. The narrow covered pathway stretched for at least four blocks with over a hundred stores. Chelsae said it reminded her of the cooking shows when the chefs go to the oriental markets for their ingredients.
 





 





After the market we took a bus to the Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo). The area and parts of the castle date back to the early 1600s.  There are two moats, one outer and one inner. Some buildings have been burned and moved but there are still some original ones, most notably the large Niomaru Palace. The palace has Nightingale floors which are designed to make a chirping noise when walked upon (see video below). It is a security measure to prevent anyone from being able to sneak through the hallways. The palace is 35,500 sq.ft and has 33 rooms. Some of the rooms even have hidden doors so guards could come in if needed. The castle was magnificent and the grounds were perfectly manicured.

Video of Nightingale floors. Sorry the video is a little shaky, it isn't mine.  No video or pictures were allowed.



Castle inside the inner moat

One of the many gardens

Once done at the castle we took another bus to the train station. We still had two hours before our train left for Hiroshima so we went to the Kyoto Tower next to the station. Bought a ticket and rode the elevator up 100 m (328 ft) to the observation deck. The tower was built in the 60s and it definitely resembled that. From the tower we saw a few rooftop gardens that were really interesting, and it was nice to see a 360˚ view of Kyoto, just too bad it wasn't a clear day.

Kyoto Tower

Kyoto from the Kyoto Tower

Rooftop Gardens

The Kyoto station was also amazing. We didn't really get to see it when we arrived in Kyoto because we took the underground walkway for over half a mile to get to our hotel. The station has 11 stories and there are escalators all the way to the top, pretty crazy. (Sorry the picture is a little dark)

Kyoto Station

We boarded our train with no problems and arrived in Hiroshima two hours later. When we arrived in Hiroshima it was raining and didn't look promising. We donned our rain gear and walked to our hotel. Again, since we barely had 24 hours in Hiroshima we had to go do something rain or shine. The majority voted to go see the Hiroshima castle first. We walked for a while and finally found it after accidentally going into a large garden thinking it was it. At this point Reagan decided that it would be a good time to take a nap as we arrived at the castle. Since we needed her to take nap Chelsae, being a great wife/mother, watched her while I went through the castle. The castle was interesting but it was actually a museum showcasing Hiroshima's history before WW II. Not saying it was bad, just not what I was expecting. Also note that this picture is not mine, due to the fact that it was raining so much I wasn't able to take any.

After the castle/museum it was time to find something to eat. Of course we had to investigate a few different restaurants before making a decision. We decided on the restaurant that was on the 4th floor with a view, and it was also a place that you cooked at your table. The problem was that they didn't have an English menu nor did they even have a picture menu. We wanted an adventure, I had a Japanese Phrasebook and I knew how to ask "What do you recommend?" How bad could it be. The restaurant was very nice and each table was in a some what secluded room. Our room also was situated next to a window over looking one of the main streets in Hiroshima.  Each room had a sliding door and they all had traditional Japanese tables, the ones where you sit on a cushion on the ground.  After asking our server her recommendations we ordered what she pointed at. Shortly after she brought out a bucket of coals and placed them in the grill. Then she brought the first round of meats and it turned out to be chicken and beef. We quickly cooked those up and ordered some more. The food was delicious and it was a lot of fun not knowing what to expect. After dinner we headed to the hotel to rest our tired and sore feet.
Dinner in Hiroshima

To be continued...

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