Long day to Kyoto

Relatively of course, commuter train across Tokyo, not busy that you would need the pushers, but shoulder to shoulder even on a Saturday morning.

Tokyo station is more conventional than Shinjuku, a huge football field size of concourse and well signposted. Here of course to ride the Shinkansen.

It doesn’t disappoint. I think the front end designer does not do subtlety, it is staggeringly beautiful. Yes that is my breakfast spoiling the lovely interior.

Breakfast

On the go, pretty as a picture, but yes, egg but not sure of the other, even in the eating. Crispy breadcrumbed something. Prawny, porky? Delicious anyway.

Mount Fuji

The designer of this doesn’t do subtlety either. If you was to give a child or me, a piece of paper and say “draw a snow covered volcano” this is about what you would get. After leaving Tokyo, you see it in the distance, fleeting views hiding behind buildings and hills. Then after this game of peekaboo, wham, there in all its lonely mountain type glory.

The journey

It’s not amazingly fast, or the most direct, it has 6 stops, what it does is keep average speed high at 2miles/minute. The staff are amazing , on the arrival of the previous service, the cleaners, in their pink uniforms meet it in, one to each coach. The new train crew stand at attention in line to greet it. On departure, platform staff, white gloved like all are , do a horizontal type wave in the direction of departure. Whilst underway, the on board staff bow on entering the coach, and on leaving turn and do the same. There are announcements in English, one especially I like, (has been on all the trains travelled so far) keep mobile phones on silent and use in the vestibule only. The route generally follows the coast with large plains and mountains in the distance. Almost all built up with occasional farmland. By far the majority of the buildings are post war, with a smattering of traditional. Masses of large industrial plants, with all the big names spotted, Yamaha, Sony etc.

Kyoto

Was Japan’s capital until it lost out to the new kid in town, Tokyo. It’s held on to its past with both hands and uses it to its full potential. There are temples everywhere, lots converted from Castles of the old shoguns. Yogen-in Temple has the floors of the castle over turned and used as the ceiling. The 400 year old blood stains of the old Shogun’s Samurais are visble on the floor as they lay bleeding out after commiting harakiri. They were in a battle they couldn’t win. No photos where allowed. Probably to save scrutiny.

The old town escaped bombing in WW2 and is mostly complete, it drags visitors in. It’s main, narrow thoroughfare is like the York Shambles,  full of tat and green tea shops. There are no hen nights though. Instead of hen nights the young Japanese ladies don traditional costume. It was a beautiful sunny and dare say that swelled the numbers of those dressing up. My inhibitions stopped me photographing them. There are temples though.

There are also Geisha, all face make up, hair do’s, wonderful kimonos, and little footsteps. Not little feet though, I looked. The wonderful image of them was only spoilt by them carrying 7-11 bags and the hoards of slightly dodgy looking old fellas with cameras stalking them.

Trains

There is museum, again like York,  and rather a fine one. Static and hands-on  displays, set in a great environment. There are lots of photos of those, but I’ll spare you.
Sorry I fibbed.

Anybody who has had the misfortune to travel with me, knows I march… The battery went flat from the end mark, so need to add back to the station. So probably need to add a couple of miles. On visiting the Temple, had to take my shoes off, my was that a relief!
Journey back to Tokyo
All the efforts need refreshment.
Local beers of Kyoto.


Then food on the train. That’s a noodles wrapped in an omelette sandwich, a tuna centred rice triangle wrapped in a vine leaf and the softest lightest sponge filled with cream. Washed down with an Japanese organic beer. It’s not easy this travelling.n