Japan Trip Diary 2 (Day 4 - 6)

Day 4: 12 April 2006

Today we headed out to Kyoto via the shinkansen. It was my first time on the shinkansen and I was really impressed. We actually headed out to the train station during rush hour and it was a SEA of men & women in black! Don't think Japan rush hour is something anyone should try... Really unpleasant.

It was raining all the way from Tokyo to Kyoto so we didn't manage to catch Mt. Fuji... was quite sad about it. We reached Kyoto at 11am, checked into our hotel and had lunch at a restaurant nearby. We weren't too impressed with Kyoto upon arrival.

We headed out to Nara and really enjoyed ourselves there. It was a pleasant walk up to the deer park with little shops and sakura trees. Thereafter, we headed out to Osaka for the okinomiya and takoyaki which apparently originated from Osaka! The okinomiya we had (recommended by my friend) was DELICIOUS!!! Definitely worth our trip out there. We shopped abit in Osaka before heading back to Kyoto.

Day 5: 13 April 2006

Today is not so good. I lost my ipod. Quite upset about it. But trusting Abba that He will restore it back to me. After all, I had prayed His blood over all my belongings when I started out on this trip. Know that you all will believe in agreement with me.

Anyway aside from that, I had a really pleasant day. We went to Arashiyama-Sagano - the place that inspired me to go to Japan and Kyoto in the first place. I set foot upon the beautiful and serene bamboo forest... and I really loved it there. We visited this temple for its beautiful sakura trees and moss garden which the Japanese are famous for. We also took a train ride called the Torroko train (romantic train) which has an open-air cabin as it rides through valleys and tunnels. The sights were magnificent.

We had wanted to take this Hozu boat ride but unfortunately we couldn't due to high tide. But it is highly recommended 'cos we went there and it was beautiful.

The other thing about today is that we RAN alot... we ran to the train station to catch the Torroko train. Then were late for our Kyoto Imperial Palace tour and had to run from the bus stop to the palace office (which was like SUPER FAR)... we literally ran around the entire palace perimeter! sigh... very tiring leh... never run like that for very long. Oh did I mention that in Japan, be prepared to WALK alot? We literally WALKED and WALKED and WALKED... Don't think I did so much exercise for so long. Anyway the visit to the palace was ok... nice architecture but nothing to rave about lor... maybe I'm not that much of a 'cultural' person? But I did enjoy the 'surprise' tour which the palace officer brought us through this secret tunnel to get to our tour group faster. So in a way, praise the Lord for if not for us being late, we won't be able to go through this restricted area.

After the Imperial Palace, we went to another famous Kyoto sight - the Kinkakuju (Golden Pavilion). Again, there is NOTHING there except to see another very beautiful building which is a GOLD pavilion set at a small lake.

After the Golden Pavilion, we took the bus to the Gion district to enquire about the Miyako Odori which is like this geisha and maiko performance that is open to the public only in April. We were told to come for the next day show. So we headed out to Ishibei - apparently Kyoto's most beautiful street. Hmm.. we were quite disappointed lor... very difficult to find and I didn't even know we reached the street already! And when reach, only so-so lor... But ok lah.. saw some maikos rushing for their appointments.

Day 6: 14 April 2006

Happy Easter (or belated)! We woke up early, checked out and headed to the Koban (police) at Kyoto. Wah... really difficult to make police report you know... language a big impediment ah... So eventually filed a report and continued our plans. We went to Kobe to try the famous kobe beef but unfortunately I had thrown away directions to the kobe beef restaurant by mistake and was totally lost. I felt really bad that my friends had to walk round and round trying to find the restaurant. ALSO PLEASE PRAY FOR LOW PHONE BILLS. 'Cos the phone calls to the restaurant was quite bad. Eventually the restaurant people got Daimaru staff to help us with directions. The restaurant is quite nice but I feel kobe beef really quite over-rated lor... Very expensive also (as expected).

Thereafter, we went to Gion to watch the Miyako Odori. Wah!!! Really LOVE this show man... Got some traditional tea performance by the geisha and then the actual show was really entertaining. Highly recommended leh. The geishas and maikos really gentle and charming leh...

After the show, we had dinner at Gion and headed back to Tokyo via the shinkansen.