I got up early for the rest of Kyoto following my plan. Well actually I got up when I could because when my alarm rang, i physically couldn't get out of bed. By 9am, I was able to fall off.
The forecast was 60% rain but I still wore my shorts and refused an umbrella. The sky is white and it's windy.
Kyoto is pretty much where most of the Japanese history occurred. One of the world's most culturally rich cities, I'm proud to say it ranks with Paris, London (yes London) and Rome as a city that everyone should see in their lifetime (I am yet to visit Rome!!! - this is a massive hint to my boyfriend by the way. I'm kidding, or am I?). Photogenic Kyoto lies in a hidden view so it takes some exploring to discover the beautiful sights in the city. Stepping out of Kyoto Station, you immediately think it's another concrete jungle. So this was what I had aimed to do. Luckily the map was very easy to navigate. In fact it's very easy to navigate in Japan.
I bought a city bus pass from my hostel reception for 500Y (which is about £2.50), got hold of the city map (which was huge) and said my goodbyes. A single journey on a bus is 230Y so it made sense to buy the pass. You can't avoid it as you enter at the rear of the bus then pay and exit at the front of the bus beside the driver.
My first stop was Nishiki food market which has local (and international) shops around. I took bus 4 round the corner on Kawaramachi dori on the left hand side of the road and reached Downtown Kyoto in 10minutes. I got off at Shijo Kawaramachi. Filled with great cheap vintage finds (so for me!), eateries and souvenirs so I was happily strolling through the streets and shopping tunnel shop by shop. I walked through the Nishiki food market one block North of shijo-dori and watched sellers chop up ingredients and cook food in front of you. Food I have never seen or tasted. It smells like fish for a while until you get to the green tea section of everything made of green tea (which is huge in Japan).
I got to Shijo Horikawa bus stop from walking straight down (and turning left to the main road) and caught the 203 to Ginkakujo-michi bus stop for the Ginkaki-ji temple in North Higashiyama. It's quite a walk uphill from the bus stop but there are many stalls selling mixed ice creams (literally half vanilla and half green tea in a swirl) in a cone or Japanese snacks.
Ginkaku-ji is a premier sight in the city translated as Silver Pavilion (it's not silver though). In 1482, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa had constructed a villa here as an escape from the chaos of the civil war. I genuinely cannot imagine how people lived during the wars of the world. It fascinates me when meeting a survival or a child of war times. Anyway, after his death, it was converted into a temple. I'm not sure why and why he was so significant but the build of the home was impressive. Entrance fee is 500Y and the walk around is serene despite the light rain! The stoned steps uphill gives you an observatory view of Kyoto and the temple. The garden is well looked after with pink floral details emerging from the ground.
Walking back downhill, by the time i reached the bottom i was soaked. I stopped by Central Kyoto for Kyoto Imperial park and Palace but it was raining heavily at the time so I didn't stay long (bare in mind I was holding my check out bag and I was wet). The park has a lot of history I won't bore you into but it is high priority among Kyoto's wealth of sights. You see the villas, the gardens and important sections around and within the area. It should take you an hour to go all around on a tour.
I didn't. I took bus 102 straight to the kinkaku-ji michi stop for Kinkaku-ji temple. It took about 15minutes northwest of Kyoto. Kyoto's Golden Pavilion which floats over a pond was even more of a beautiful sight even though the surrounding was more plain. Built as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Apparently it looks better in the snow but it wasn't snowing. It was raining so the temple looked so bright and pretty (basic vocabs but the best I could do).
It's a short stroll around the park and there are many shops selling wishful products and traditional souvenirs at the end of the pathway.
From the exit, I walked to three different bus stops to find bus 59 going to Arashiyama. It took me 40minutes to find the right one going the right way! When I was finally on, it took 20minutes to reach a bus station for a transfer for bus 11. I changed and stopped at Arashiyama Tenryu bus stop for a visit to the Arashiyama bamboo grove which begins outside the North gate of Tenryu-ji temple. Tenryu-ji temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with beautiful gardens, mirror ponds and colourful flowers. Both visits are ranked as one of the must-do experiences in Japan.
This was my last stop as my list was complete and it was perfect timing as I grew tired. I took bus 28 to Kyoto Station which took a long half an hour. Luckily there was no air-con as I was cold and wet. I watched the city as I was leaving and while my nose were runny. I got to the station to change into some dry clothes and attempted to find the platform for the Shinkansen train to Tokyo! Every one says it's a big deal but to be honest it's like the Virgin trains but wider. It doesn't feel fast at all. We in London have trolley service in long distance trains so there was no difference to here. The seats are far apart and they have smoking cabins. Most trains in Asia have smoking cabins actually. If you have an unreserved ticket (you're very likely to find a seat), sit in carriage 1 and it's has the most available seats.
The ticket man came and I casually looked for my ticket in my purse but it wasn't there. This is annoying because then it seemed like I was making an excuse. I used the ticket to come through two barriers so I definitely had one. The man was smiling and nodding then after 5 minutes he said he would come back. He did after 5 minutes and I was still looking! I took out everything from my bags ad pockets and he kneeled down to watch. He looked under the chair and around the floor as if I lost my earring! I kept looking then I finally found it between my clothes (I seriously don't know how it got there). He nodded enthusiastically and stamped my ticket. Before leaving each carriage, a worker on the train turns around to bow, smiles then continues the way they were going in the first place. aw!
The Japanese are so kind and friendly, always smiling and keen to help. I have not seen an angry face since I got here. They like to laugh quickly while their shoulders bounce. I found this too cute.
I arrived Tokyo after 2.5 hours and slowly got off the train. Cleaners immediately entered the train to switch the chairs around (facing the next direction), replace the White paper heads (on the top of the chairs), clear the rubbish and mop the floor. They had 9 minutes! I have never seen anyone work so fast!
I took a look at Tokyo station from the outside and it looked so medieval and modern at the same time! I took a stop to Tateishi on the private railway for a discovery of the real Tokyo; the real Japan. It was dark so I couldn't see so much but I had seen the pure life of the Tokyoites. Japanese bars were full of people standing and food were being fried on the street.
I called it a day and took the one way subway to Asakusa for 200Y on the Orange (Ginza) line and walked to my hostel in the continuous rain!
I played Mario Kart on the Nintendo Super Famicom (which is extremely old!) while making myself dinner in the kitchen. I bought some noodles, egg and tomato sauce which sounds disgusting but is actually really nice. The supermario game was so old I couldn't believe how well it played when I tried to play. Each race is 5 laps (which is long as today it's only 3) and the levels are so easy! The gold coins are flat on the ground and the control pad is tiny! Or maybe I just have big hands.
I have one more day in Japan so I planned to head to Mount Fuji tomorrow first thing! Bed now I think.
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