Globetrotter Journeys

I’m sure glad I took an earlier train. If I had waited for re train that I was told to catch I would have never made my train to the onsen village. Kyoto station has got I have one of the worst signage problems I’ve ever encountered. I have a pretty good sense of direction but it took me about 20 minutes, 6 people, and two full circles around the station before I found my coin locker. On top of that is another 20 minutes getting from my locker to the right train platform. So frustrating! This onsen is in high need!!

The train is definitely a different style of trim than what’s used in the cities. I found tjebight one and there were already lines formed or the non reserve areas so it was good I got there when I did.

What a cool place! Just this little town with a village like setting enclosing this grand castle that watches over. You can see lake biwa, the largest lake of japan.

It was lunch time so I stopped at this random pasta place. They had a lunch set with soup salad bread tea and a pasta dish for really cheap. So I tried it. The soup bread and salad came out in little dishes.

Unfortunately the rain didn’t stop so I had to get an umbrella. I’m glad I did because it rained the entire time. As you weave the way through the town I the castle, cherry blossoms are in bloom and add a hint PC color to the otherwise monochromatic color palette of the castle.

Once you cross the moat, you walk all the way up the hill through the winding platforms forming a sort of staircase to the top. At the top, a beautiful panoramic view of the town below adds to the regality of the idea of being in this historic castle.

There was a long queue for the entrance, and in typical Japanese fashion everyone stood happily waiting until we got toy the foyer where you Havel ba tour umbrellas and shoes. Then there was a mad dash for the bags as if they were going to run out. They didn’t, so we were soon on our way through the castle.

There really wasn’t much in the castle, but cling to thtr top was fun. The stairs were practically at an 80 degree angle and I was amazed that no one stepped out of line to forego the climb. Old grannies were climbing up these huge steps with the rest of us!

After taking some pictures, I headed back towards the station just to make sure I was in time for my train onward to the hot springs village.

After checking out, hitting up citibank, and getting breakfast, I headed for the station to get the Shinkansen for hikone. It’s an overcast drizzly day so I’m happy about moving along and getting use out of my jr pass.

After my long walk I arrived back to the hostel and rested in the room while I chatted with teru, a guy who’s traveling from Hokkaido. He’s in university for architecture so came to Kyoto to learn about the styles. We went around the area to find a place when we came across a tiny noodle shop. We went in and the menu had 3 options. The one that I liked was a bowl of noodles, fried chiken, and salad. Teru liked that one as well. When we started our order to call out the name of the set, it turned out to be a “ladies set” so we said yup, two ladies sets please. :)

After dinner we came back an I tried to plan what I was going to do a I ouknt stay at the hostel more than what I had booked. Cherry blossom season is obviously a peak time to be going to japan so places are quite full.

After talking with the other travelers and looking at the guidebooks, I planned the next day of my trip.

I will head for hikone to visit one of the national treasures of japan–a castle that has the original structure still In contact. After visiting that I’ll head for kinosaki onsen, a village famiuse for it’s outdoor spring baths. I was able to book a night in a traditional ryokan so stay tuned for how that unfolds. After staying there, I’ll head for Nagoya to visit shoko, a friend from San francisco, and then after Nagoya, I’ll visit takayama, another sleepy village with unique houses and crafts. I’m excited to see parts of japan I haven’t before, and definitely am excited to get away from the tourists!

Walked from miyako odori to heian jingu and through philosophers walk.

Everywhere in Kyoto has signs for the grand miyako odori, a yearly dance that displays the skills of the geisha. I went this morning and was able to get a nose bleed section seat for a good price. After I was heading out, a woman stopped me on her bike and started asking where I learned Japanese. After a short walk she asked to meet again at 2pm after the dance for tea. She also gave me a special tiket to have tea ceremony with the geishas after the dance.

After the walk I go on the train and heads for fushimiinari since I had a couple hours before the show. This temple is famous for it’s thousands of torii gates.

After arriving in Kyoto station, I made my way tithe bus stand to get the bus to the gion district. The line da huge so I opted for the subway. After a short EIDE an a pretty straightforward walk (considering the lack of street signs in japan) I made it to the hostel. After checking in, I started my walk down the most beautiful street that was full of cherry blossoms and a small sleepy shrine. Then just as I took out my camera, a maiko stepped out on full paints face for a small photo session. Not even an hour on Kyoto and I captured what may be the best piece of photography of my life. I couldn’t stop taking photos. Each one was a work of art. I cannot wait to post them!

After a bit I headed to find some lunch.

This Morning I headed out for Tokyo station to be the Shinkansen for Kyoto.I left without beakfast as I wants I eat on the train. Mama and papa walked me out to the station to bid me a safe trip.

Tokyo at rush hour hasn’t changed. People were Cranmer in the cars like sardines. One guy was pressed up against the window so tightly he was able to sleep because he didn’t have to stand.

Once at Tokyo station I looked for some food and got a tea muffin and orange juice. The scenery from the train is amazing. Mountaintops still have snow and the land is covered with pink.

Finally fujisan had the full view with its majestic presence, snowcapped and peaceful. It’s really incredible to see and pictures are unable I capture its grace and significance. Todays weather was heavy winds in Tokyo-so strong train delays happened. Luckily this meant great views for the Shinkansen as it was a cloudless sky full of sun.

All this peace and relaxation of course is easily ruined when a family boards with loud-mouthed kids and are allowed to shrilly scream and talk throughout the entire trip. Japan now has specific cars for smokers. They even have specific cars for women only for safe travel at night. When will there be a child only car that allows the rest of the passengers to not have to suffer too? I’ll write japan railways with my grand idea. Scratch that, I’ll write not only railways but airlines, public transportation services as well as restaurants. :)

Today the weather wasn’t so great soarter a little shoppin in akihabara and a visit to mos burger I was on my way. Akihabara was pretty surprisin how much this fun Japanese electronic capital has change to merely a china town filled with foreigners and cheap souvenirs. The most shocking thing as hearing Chinese not only through loud speakers but also throughout the store announcements. The charm of being able to deode everything by myself has been lost with the globalization of Tokyo. Obviously this is true for most major cities and as or Tokyo, their bid for the 2016 olympics means being accessible by the entire world. I spent the entire afternoon windin down the streets of neighborhood after neighborhood stumbling upon fin eateries and old wooden houses. It reminds me of being on a movie set- it’s like do these places really exist in real life?

The skies remained loony and chilly as I reached Tokyo station and saw the major construction going on.