To Kyoto by Bullet Train

A Favourite Snack

I have become addicted to these triangular shaped sticky rice packets that are filled with salmon roe and covered in seaweed.  They are called Onigiri. I don’t know if these are supposed to be a breakfast food or not. I know I should try different things for breakfast but I love these so much that I’ve been eating them every day. 

Bullet Train to Kyoto

It is cloudy and rainy today, but still warm, about 21°. Fortunately the Metro is practically next door to our hotel so we can be underground the whole way to Tokyo Station where we catch our train to Kyoto.

John is quietly excited because he has reserved seats on the bullet train. He reserved seats on the side of the train that should have a view of Mount Fuji. Since it’s cloudy and rainy, I am not optimistic with our chances of viewing the elusive mountain.

The train is the same for both front and back, meaning that it can travel in either direction without having to turn around.

As soon as the train stops, passengers get off and a cleaning lady gets on each car. They immediately flip the seats around so that they are facing in the same direction that the train will be travelling.

The train departs at 11am and arrives in Kyoto at 1:15pm reaching a top speed of 285 km/hr. Again, no sightings of Mt Fuji along the way.

Here is what we were supposed to see.

Here is what we saw.

Arrival in Kyoto

Thank goodness it’s not raining in Kyoto. We grab a cab to our accomodations.

We are staying in a ryokan in the Kawaramachi area of Kyoto about a 15 minute walk from the main train station. Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns that have tatami matted rooms and communal baths. This place has a hot spring bath spa and offers an authentic Japanese breakfast. We cannot check-in yet but can drop off our luggage. We head out to see the sites.

First stop is at the Porta Dining area at the main train station. They have hundreds of restaurants in an underground area. We have a delicious yakitori meal.

Nijo Castle

From here we grab a cab to Nijo Castle. The castle was built in the 1600s. The details in parts are quite lovely, however there is always some tourist getting in the way of my perfect shot.

The gardens are very lovely. I can only imagine what they would be like during cherry and plum blossom time.

Our Ryokan

It starts to rain so we head back to our ryokan and we check in. Our luggage is already in our room.

Our hostess explains how to wear the kimonos and jackets they leave for our use. You always have the left side of the kimono folded on top because if you have the right side of the kimono folded on top it means you are dead.

Click here for a video of our traditional Ryokan

Traditional Public Bath

Note: For obvious reasons, there will be no pictures for this section.

Our hostess also explains the procedures for using the baths on the sixth floor. There were also baths and kimonos in our hotel in Tokyo, but I wanted to have my first traditional Japanese bath at a ryokan.

John and I get into our kimonos and head to the hot baths. Men and women have different sections and you have to go into the baths naked.

You take off your clothing in the change area and go into the bath area. You first sit on a very low stool (which I fell off at one point). Then you pour water in a bucket and scrub yourself down with a little body towel. You also wash your hair with the nice hair products they supply and then attempt to wash them out by throwing buckets of water over you head. Personally, I find a shower much easier.

Now that you are all nice and clean, you put your hair up in an elastic and go into the big soaking pool. Ahhhh.

When done, you go into the change room where you have all kinds of products, creams, hair dryers etc. , put your kimono back on and return to your room.

Unfortunately I forgot our room number and floor. After wandering around the wrong floor, still in my kimono, I had to go to the lobby to ask for my room number.

Click here for an accurate description of Japanese Public Baths.

Upon finding my way to our room, John and I share a bottle of delicious sparkling sake as we plan for our next few days in Kyoto.