Day 1
Run to train
Shinkensen to Kyoto
To the Temple
Crazy Artist
Sushi Dinner
“Mexican” Bar
I haven’t done any extensive research but I would venture to say that the two most popular destinations in Japan are Tokyo and Kyoto. Tokyo is the large metropolis of Japan with its own beauty, and Kyoto is the majestic/historic area of Japan with a completely different beauty. So naturally Kyoto was the next place on the Japan bucket-list. We probably would have planned this trip a little later in the year but our friend Justin came to visit us and he expressed interest in Kyoto. We also decided to see Hiroshima being that it was only 2 hours away from Kyoto.
Trip itinerary:
Tsukuba Sunday, June 6th ~8:00 a.m. to Tokyo
Tokyo to Kyoto on the Bullet train ~10:00 a.m.
Arrive in Kyoto 12:00 p.m.
Leave Kyoto Monday, June 7th ~1:00 p.m. to Hiroshima
Leave Hiroshima Tuesday, June 8th ~4:00 p.m. to Tokyo
Tokyo to Tsukuba
We didn’t want to leave our bikes at the Tsukuba station for three days so we had to walk to the station. It turns out that if you underestimate the time required to get some where and you also leave the starting point (the Ninomiya house) late, then you will be running no wait sprinting to catch the train. I bring this up because this is exactly how we started our trip and would prove to be foreshadowing for the rest of the trip. After sprinting 200 yards down two escalators with 30 pound backpacks, Reagan in my arms and Chelsae carrying the stroller we made it sweaty and out of breath. An hour later we were in Tokyo with plenty of time to board the Shinkansen (the Bullet Train). So we probably could have taken the next train but we wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the Shinkansen (foreshadowing).
The Shinkansen N700 has a top speed of 300 km/h (186mph). It took us 2.5 hours to get to Kyoto but the train was very nice with a lot of leg room and seats that actually reclined. Reagan didn’t sleep at all, she was just bouncing from seat to seat and up and down. It made for a longer trip but not too big of a deal. Riding the Shinkansen is like flying, it is extremely smooth with just a slight air-humming noise. One of the interesting things about the trains is when you go through a tunnel at high speed. Because of the tunnel the air that is being displaced by the train can not escape quickly so the air is compressed and the pressure inside the tunnel is increased. You then feel this change in pressure in your ears like when you fly. I was shocked the first time it happened but once I thought about it, it makes sense and I guess it’s not really that strange.
Kyoto
Making our way to our hotel we stopped at a Soba restaurant to grab some lunch. It was the third stop because the other restaurants we tried were full but I think it turned out to be the best choice. Right as we walked in there were three people making the Soba noodles that we were about to consume. We were lead up a narrow steep stairway and remember that we have our large backpacks, and Reagan is now asleep in her stroller. So we picked up the whole stroller and walked her up the stairs, this princess thing is really coming true for her. They seated us in our own dinning-room that had a door that we could close. It was very nice, quiet and secluded. The food was great, the atmosphere was wonderful and the air conditioning was cold.
After checking into the hotel and unloading some stuff from our backpacks we headed out to explore Kyoto. In the Kyoto guide it says that if you don’t have a plan it is possible to get over whelmed and just spend all day looking at a few temples and shrines. Since we didn’t have that much time we wanted to make sure that this didn’t happen to us. First stop was the Kiyomizu-dera temple. In the guide book it seemed to be one of the best temples to go to. It was built up on a hill and provided a nice scenic view of Kyoto.
Being there were going to be a lot of stairs to climb we took Reagan out of the stroller and left the stroller off to the side of the main gate. Don’t worry, the stroller was still there when we got back even though Chelsae was really worried about it. This was our first time to have Reagan out with a lot of Japanese people around and everyone was constantly stopping to look at her. I mean everyone, men and women both young and old. They always stop and say "かわいい (Kawaii)" which means cute. Please note, when I talk about this I'm not trying to brag or anything and I am really not exaggerating about then number of people. The bad/funny thing is Reagan is starting to know they are adoring her. Now when people have cameras she starts posing for them, and wants them to take her picture. It's funny and cute and the Japanese love it. Reagan also felt she needed to be in both the girls and guys pictures at the main gate.
Run to train
Shinkensen to Kyoto
To the Temple
Crazy Artist
Sushi Dinner
“Mexican” Bar
I haven’t done any extensive research but I would venture to say that the two most popular destinations in Japan are Tokyo and Kyoto. Tokyo is the large metropolis of Japan with its own beauty, and Kyoto is the majestic/historic area of Japan with a completely different beauty. So naturally Kyoto was the next place on the Japan bucket-list. We probably would have planned this trip a little later in the year but our friend Justin came to visit us and he expressed interest in Kyoto. We also decided to see Hiroshima being that it was only 2 hours away from Kyoto.
Trip itinerary:
Tsukuba Sunday, June 6th ~8:00 a.m. to Tokyo
Tokyo to Kyoto on the Bullet train ~10:00 a.m.
Arrive in Kyoto 12:00 p.m.
Leave Kyoto Monday, June 7th ~1:00 p.m. to Hiroshima
Leave Hiroshima Tuesday, June 8th ~4:00 p.m. to Tokyo
Tokyo to Tsukuba
We didn’t want to leave our bikes at the Tsukuba station for three days so we had to walk to the station. It turns out that if you underestimate the time required to get some where and you also leave the starting point (the Ninomiya house) late, then you will be running no wait sprinting to catch the train. I bring this up because this is exactly how we started our trip and would prove to be foreshadowing for the rest of the trip. After sprinting 200 yards down two escalators with 30 pound backpacks, Reagan in my arms and Chelsae carrying the stroller we made it sweaty and out of breath. An hour later we were in Tokyo with plenty of time to board the Shinkansen (the Bullet Train). So we probably could have taken the next train but we wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the Shinkansen (foreshadowing). 
Kyoto
Being there were going to be a lot of stairs to climb we took Reagan out of the stroller and left the stroller off to the side of the main gate. Don’t worry, the stroller was still there when we got back even though Chelsae was really worried about it. This was our first time to have Reagan out with a lot of Japanese people around and everyone was constantly stopping to look at her. I mean everyone, men and women both young and old. They always stop and say "かわいい (Kawaii)" which means cute. Please note, when I talk about this I'm not trying to brag or anything and I am really not exaggerating about then number of people. The bad/funny thing is Reagan is starting to know they are adoring her. Now when people have cameras she starts posing for them, and wants them to take her picture. It's funny and cute and the Japanese love it. Reagan also felt she needed to be in both the girls and guys pictures at the main gate.
In front of the main gate to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple
In front of the main gate to the Kiyomizu-dera Temple
The Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
After the temple we didn't have much of a plan but we found an area map and decided to walk towards a large park. We found the Maruyama Park and it was a really beautiful park. At the entrance there was a sign and it read. "This area was a deserted place covered with shrubs and weeds three hundred years ago. In 1886 it was designated as a park site an was created and enlarged. In 1913 it was made over by Jihei Ogawa, a landscape gardener who had previously designed the well-known gardens of Heian Shrine and Murin-an. This park is a typical Japanese park especially noted for its big drooping cherry trees and other various kinds of cherry trees. In the spring quite a lot of visitors come to this park night and day in order to see the beautiful cherry blossoms."
It was getting close to six and we started to make our way back to the hotel. Crossing a bridge we noticed a large group of people sitting down on the river bank watching something. As I started to get closer I could see that there was a person painting on canvas and I heard techno music playing. Then as I walked down to the river bank I realized that the artist was also playing/creating the techno music from a "turntable" slung around his shoulder. We had to stay and watch this, I mean come on music and art. I am glad that I took some video of it because it would be pretty hard for me to describe it with text. Take a look for yourself below.
Back at the hotel we showered and got ready quickly to go eat. We walked back towards the area where the art/music show was to find a restaurant. After looking at a few and finding some closed restaurants we decided to eat at this sushi restaurant that overlooked the river. After some great sushi we went to this "Mexican" restaurant that we saw while on our search for food. They advertised margaritas out front and we thought it would be nice to have one and see what kind of "Mexican" food they had. So we sat down and tried to order a margarita on the rocks/ice, of course they didn't understand that because they were all blended. Next he asked, "What flavor?" Me, "Umm...Just regular? I'm not sure what you mean?" Bartender, "Mago, or strawberry?" Me, "O, i see. No flavor please just a plain margarita." Bartender, "Umm...Ok." Next we see the two bartenders talking to each other with a confused look on their face. After a few minuets our margaritas were brought out to us. Not knowing exactly what they used to make this margarita I took a small drink first. Every drink after that was also small because when you order a plain margarita it turns out it is just tequila blended with ice, not awesome. I asked the bartender for some limes, we finished our tequila snow cone and nachos, and then headed home.
At the hotel the only option for the room was a double (two twin beds) and a small pull out couch. We first considered putting Reagan on the pull out couch but decided that was a long fall. Second idea was to put her on the cushions of the couch and since they fit perfectly in between the two beds she had quite the make do bed. Next problem, there weren't sheets or covers but there were house robes set out so we covered the cushions with one and left the other for her to cover with.
Surprisingly she really liked it and we all slept well.
More Kyoto pictures here.
To Be Continued......
More Kyoto pictures here.
To Be Continued......
8:00 AM |
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