Kyoto Days

[tomcat]

...SD and I visited for a week recently: throngs and hordes of foreign tourists and local high schoolers on field trips made visiting the temples and shrines challenging...only the bamboo forest (Bamboo Foresto in Japanese) offered a peaceful stroll as we arrived well before the masses were alerted to our presence. Otherwise, we ate very well, walked miles down alleys and side streets and were generally impressed with how tidy and clean the city was and how polite its citizens were. Everything worked without complication or bribe...from immigration to train schedules to taxis. We decided that our next trip might be to revisit Kyoto but without stopping at the infested temples but, rather, spending vacation time taking a look at the areas around they city...(the guy in the blue uniform below is an example of Japanese fastidiousness: a sanitation worker polishing the trash bin. The baby octopi were stuffed with quail eggs: SD said they were a bit chewy...

[happynz]

Very nice, and happy birthday.

[hallelujah]

Did you get to Osaka too?

[Stumpy]

Cheers and HBD. Looks like a GREAT trip.

[BLD]

Fantastic. Only spent a couple of nights in Kyoto and was very impressed with it. I think it's always rammed with tourists ? From Kyoto it's super easy to jump on a shinkasen and hit the lovely little city of Kobe for a Kobe steak lunch and be back in Kyoto that afternoon. Or head to Osaka to sample some great street food . Kyoto makes a good base . Great post

[tomcat]

Did you get to Osaka too?

...we flew to Kansai airport in Osaka (Kyoto doesn't have one) and trained it to Kyoto (75 minutes exactly)...

[cyrille]

We had beautiful weather in Kyoto.

Would be a great spot to live.

[nidhogg]

...we flew to Kansai airport in Osaka (Kyoto doesn't have one) and trained it to Kyoto (75 minutes exactly)...

You take the Shinkansen service? Cool experience.

[BLD]

The Japanese rail.pass available only for tourists is a screaming bargain you can use the shinkasen, subways, some ferry's. Can't go wrong. What an awesome place I would go back in a heartbeat. Infact I can now fly direct from Perth ( bumfuck nowhere) to Tokyo. Oh bad choice of words please don't take offence op. And happy birthday. Also Vietjet have just announced perth to ho chi Minh city direct . Starting November. That's perfect for me. Then transit to Lao happy days

[beachbound]

Happy Birthday, TC. Great choice for a birthday vacation.
I lived in Kyoto for a little over a year 1999-2000. Special place. (Summer’s are brutal, though)
Did you visit Nijo Castle?
Some nice restaurants and shops along the Kamo river.

[tomcat]

You take the Shinkansen service?

...No, not offered on the Haruka (Osaka-Kyoto) line. The Shinkansen experience is yet another reason to return to Japan...

Did you visit Nijo Castle? Possibly...we visited quite a few castles/temples/shrines etc...
Some nice restaurants and shops along the Kamo river.

yes, we explored that area: see the clam ramen above...

[malmomike77]

Nice pics TC but somehow TD seem to be filtering out your undoubtedly superb commentary

[david44]

Very nice, excellent pix as usual.

Do you plan to visit Funabashi, Tsukiji or Shinjuku for different tastes of the capital?

Knowing your good taste you may well enjoy my favorite place on Honshu

東京藝術大学大学美術館　The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts

[MarilynMonroe]

Nice pix, tc. Glad you had a nice time. I'd love to visit Japan just for the food and the temples of Kyoto.
Especially nice during Cherry Blossom springtime. xx

[Bettyboo]

Lovely pictures, thanks for sharing.