Kyoto/Osaka – Walking Ixus

January 9, 2008August 22, 2022

A belated Kyoto Station story

Note: Yeah, this happened when I was in Kyoto last November. It’s been a busy month!

After my long hike up and down 伏見稲荷大社 (Fushimi Inari Taisha), I stopped off at Kyoto Station (eki) to confirm my ticket to Tokyo the next day. On my way out, I wound up doing a double take when this girl who was having a smoke recognised me. Me? Who do I know in Kyoto?

Then it hit me. Moonwalker Bar! Last night! Red cardigan sweater! Why do I remember this trivial detail instead of “wow, whatta babe” or her name? Then it hit me again. I think I got into a slightly drunken debate with Yuki-chan about types of sweaters and she was wearing a red cardigan. Yuki-chan was wearing a black pullover. Yeah, that’s it. And that’s how she remembered me!

Kyoto Station Bus Terminal where Yuki-chan spotted me

We wound up borrowing each other for a couple of hours, getting to know the other (and for me to practice non-existent language skills).

and then she promptly started to giggle! (universal language) A lot!

And that was pretty much how our conversation went (in broken Japanese & English and a lot of laughing), until her long distance bus arrived to take her back to her college. And the reason why we guys don’t shoot from the hip when it comes to the opposite sex.

Now what was this (besides two months late)? Was it fate, coincidence, beauty or weirdness that makes a good travel story? Who knows. I know that she’s studying painting and wants to one day open up an art gallery/cafe somewhere in Tokyo. Somehow I can imagine being in Daikanyama and talking about sweaters while having a doppio expresso crema when I see her again (purely by chance). Think I’ll get comped? Only if I’m wearing a cardigan that day.

November 25, 2003August 20, 2022

Dotonbori and Den Den town

Needed a long sleeve shirt to fight off the cold. Went to Den Den town to go shop at Muji. Great store, BTW.

Wanted to putter and see Gilco Man. Off to Dotenbori.

Got hungry. Ate at Ramen Stand. They had these platforms with tatami and little tables. You sat on the tatami that are on the platform. Slurp.

Not me, a fellow backpacker from the Hostel. Ramen was good and quick.

Got thirsty. Went to Kirin Beer Restaurant. Had a sampler.
Like I need instructions on how to drink beer…

There are instructions. Quaff. Sit. Burp. Repeat.

Got tired. Went back to Kyoto on the limited train. Sleepy time.

November 25, 2003August 20, 2022

Kyoto Imperial Palace

After waking from my shochu & sento enhanced slumber, the rain stopped and I made it out to the Imperial Palace. I ran into a fellow traveller from the New Koyo in line to enter. We tried to contact each other when we got to Kyoto, but was difficult since we were staying in different places.

Kyoto was the capital until the late 1800s when the seat of government was moved to Tokyo. The palace is still here and it’s now used for enthronement ceremonies.

Notice how this building is chained off?

The grounds are open to visitors, but the buildings are closed which means admiring them from the outside.

It was impressive. Especially the gardens. Like my backyard could look like this!

November 25, 2003August 20, 2022

Rain and Foilage

Today (Monday) is Japan’s Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday.

Everything official was closed but everyone was out to enjoy the scenery that Kyoto is famous for.

I went to a famous soba restaurant that has been around for about 300 years in the same location. Yummy but pricey…

A really old restaurant with really fresh soba

After lunch, I took a stroll in the Eastern part of Kyoto in the big park and toured some temples.

And as soon as I left, the skies opened up. Rain and rain and rain.

When I got back to J-Hoppers, there wasn’t a lot to do because it was raining. Myself and two others wound up going to a Sento (public bath), grabbing dinner and ending the evening with shochu and beer at 0300.

That’s not good because I have to get up early on Tuesday to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace. Getting up early….brrrrrr.

November 23, 2003August 20, 2022

Kyoto Arrival

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!

There’s a common area where you can make meals and eat

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!