Shinkansen

Shinkansen back to Tokyo

/ brisbanefrannie / 2 Comments

We had another rainy morning so headed to the station and had coffee there before getting the Shinkansen train to Tokyo.

If you’re in Japan you must experience their trains. Especially the Shinkansen. It’s the Bullet train and clocks speeds of around 264 km per hour. Amazing.

The stations have a great assortment of bento boxes, sandwiches / from Family Mart, drinks machines everywhere making taking a snack very easy. On these longer trips 2.5 hrs to cross the country most people bring their food. But by the end of the journey there isn’t one bit of rubbish left behind. Amazing!!!

We got off a stop earlier than Tokyo main station because we realised that Ueno Park was closer to our hotel. We changed to a JR train and in two stops were close to our hotel – the Asakusa View Hotel Annex Rokku. It’s fairly new and off the Main Street and close to all the little laneways of restaurants and shops. It’s a complete contrast to upmarket Ginza where we stayed when we first arrived.

As we were arriving Chris & Jill were leaving! They are heading home today.

I like the change of areas. I had a big walk around to get to know the place while Steve did the washing. These hotels all have cooperated laundry rooms. For 400 yen ( $4) you can do a load of washing. Drying is 100 yen.

Beautifully lit gates

We headed off for a drink and dinner and wandered the covered market streets.

Lots of street art

We were looking for bar but most here are all restaurants as well Until we found Zen which looked like a wine bar but did turn into a restaurant. It was a great little place

We stayed and had a great meal. Steve had the ginger pork and I had octopus rice hot pot.

We walked back to the hotel via Lawsons – like 7 eleven. Only so much better than our Australian ones. We got a few supplies and now I’m preparing for a bubble bath and Steve’s having whiskey bought from Lawsons and watching the baseball finals.

Rainy Train Journey.

/ brisbanefrannie / 1 Comment

We had plenty of time to get organised this morning. We were all leaving on the 11.03 out of Takayama.

The station was awash with early bird travellers. There was a big line of people and lots of suitcases. Most people were heading to Tokyo , so probably at the end of their holiday – like our friends the McGregors. Steve and I sent our luggage on but our friends brought theirs.

So there was a lot of scrambling once we were allowed into platform 1 !

The poor conductor was waving his arms trying to hurry everyone. The train risked being a minute late to leave the station!!!

Once on board everyone seemed to settle and we enjoyed being indoors on this rainy day.

The clouds hung low

The countryside was very green. Lots of trees and water flowing and power stations.

Before we knew it we were farewelling our dear friends Peter & Elizabeth. They very nearly had to cancel as they both had been to NZ and caught some nasty virus. But they came and rallied and we loved having them with us. We’ve had many trips together.

We all changed trains at Toyama. We had less than 6 mins. We had to move fast and Chris and Jill had their bags.

We made it – just!

Then the 35 min trip to Kanazawa. This city is known for its castle and gardens.

After finding our hotel the rather old world place we went walking.

First to the Omicho markets. Much more a food market than the Nishiki market in Kyoto.

All undercover market

We bought some fresh prawns and sushi and stood at bench tables eating along with a beer for the boys.

We left and headed for the Castle it was starting to sprinkle but not enough to deter us. We headed up the hill with Chris dancing g Ali g. Very light in his feet singing ‘ I’m singing in the rain’

We left the castle grounds. Crossed the road and arrived at the Kenrokuen Gardens.

These are very famous…. Kenrokuen” means “garden that combines six characteristics.” These six characteristics are spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, water sources and magnifient views. Not every garden in Japan can combine all of these features but Kenrokuen does.

It’s beautiful.

The trees are starting to show their autumn colours.

Unfortunately for us it wasn’t sunlit but it had a moodiness that comes with rain and cloud cover. We still enjoyed the peace as many people would have avoided the gardens in the rain.

The rain got heavier so we decided to head off. We walked down a hill to our hotel , passing along a garden path behind the hotel.

Many sculptures lined the path back to our hotel.

We dripped into the hotel foyer and headed to our rooms to dry off.

Jill and I hatched a perfect plan. We didn’t want go out again in the dark and rain so sent the boys for supplies. They cane back with beer, wine, sashimi and sushi. Perfect room picnic.

Fast Train to Kyoto

/ brisbanefrannie / 1 Comment

Travelling with 6 people we decided on 2 taxis for the trip down from the hills to Odawara Station to catch a Shinkansen train to Kyoto. It’s a fast train. In fact around 264 km – one was clicked in at as it sped through the station!

Stairs in the station painted with a mountain scene.

We arrived in plenty of time and had a coffee before going to the platform and joining an orderly line to board the train. A train guard was madly waving his flag at anyone who accidentally put their foot over the yellow safety line. – even with a fence before the track.

We bought first class seats and they were very spacious and comfortable for the 2.5 Hr trip.

Arriving in Kyoto was amazing. The station is huge but so well signposted. With a little help from our friend, Chat GPT, we got directions through the station to the bus platforms and got the city bus 7 to our hotel. We’re feeling very chuffed that we’re managing our travel so well. Jill is our organiser and has her phone at the ready to give directions and we, her minions are the eyes looking for the signs. It’s working well.

The hotel is the same chain as the one we used in Tokyo but not quite as good. But after I ‘nested’ / unpacked and got organised it’s working well. It’s certainly in a good position. Not far from the famous Nishiki market and also just near the canal and river crossing to Gion.

We had a quick lunch and split up. Steve & Chris headed to the Train Museum and museum of Kyoto, ( sadly they found it closed but lived the trains) Jill and I chose to wander the laneways and end up at Nishiki Markets and the McGregors wandered across the Kamagowa river to Gion area.

Jill and I had a great explore. As well as great shops along the way , we stopped at a shrine and a temple.

Prayers and blessing written in the fans

The shops were a buzz with shoppers and trendy looking young Japanese.

The next temple had a cemetery behind it.

Buried in the Cemetery is Izumi Shikibu who was described as the great woman poet of her time and the first chief priest of this temple.

“MY life is drawing to a close, I cannot longer stay,

A pleasant memory of thee

I fain would take away;

So visit me, I pray.”

Izumi Shikibu

Then into the markets with dozens of food stalls. All ready to cook something delicious for you. Meats, seafoods of all kinds , tempura,

I had to try something, so got a fruit stick with the finest layer of toffee over it.

Strawberries and grapes
A fish shaped soft pastry with custard inside. Yum!

I found an umbrella shop and bought a beautiful navy and white umbrella.

We bought socks, glass nail files, shoe laces , and tasted some great honey cordial.

No I didn’t try this …. But would like to

After changing we walked across the river looking for a roof top bar but were disappointed to find it closed. We settled on a glass of wine in a small bar and a cheap and cheerful bowl of ramen for dinner.

Loved the one called Novelty!

We walked home in light drizzle through a trendy nightclub area and spotted my first geisha.

Loving Kyoto already!