I’ve arrived in Kyoto for the first of two “trips within trip” of this Japan trip via Tokaido Shinkansen, 2 hours, 43 minutes exactly.
Even though Kyoto City is just over 1 million people, I don’t find it as overwhelming as Tokyo. It feels more comfortable and the people seem more relaxed.
I’m staying at a guesthouse called J-Hoppers. It was founded by a motorcyclist who did one of those “Around the World” motorcycle trips. He was so inspired by the hospitality he received that he decided to open up a guesthouse to return the good graces he received on the road in his home town of Kyoto.
This is the nicest guesthouse I have ever been in.
The facilities are clean and new, the staff isn’t surly and there’s free food in the fridge!
Even though I’m in a dormitory (for $25/night!), it’s still nicer than my last place.
And the bathrooms here are more like someone’s home as opposed to a subway’s. They even have the heated bidet butt dryer toilet seat on all of the toilets! Wah!