Today was our last half-day in Kyoto. In the future, I might suggest we spend at least 3 full days in a town like kyoto and not try to hit too many locations, but alas, that was not the trip we planned.
Kiyomizu-dera is the most famous temple in Kyoto, quite beautiful and a nightmare for anyone with acrophobia. I casually sauntered over to the edge of a railing near a large shrine assuming it was several feet to the ground and nearly passed out. Oh, it's quite a bit farther and supported by old wood beams put together with no nails. Still, well worth it.
I had the oddest lunch at a tofu factory, with fresh tofu skin in soy milk, with small garnishes and soy sauce. The bowl was a wooden bucket of some sort. Surprisingly delicious.
The Kyoto Aquarium was maybe an odd choice for tourists, as the target audience seems to be schoolchildren, but I loved it. Adorable baby seals, a large reef tank with a sea turtle and some of the most gorgeous jellyfish I've ever seen. It's probably the best aquarium I've ever been to.
If you're visiting Japan, I can't recommend Kyoto enough.
The Skinkansen is less interesting when one doesn't have the window seat. Still, a marvel of engineering. Imagine a train that can get you from LA to SF in only a couple hours. You could have that! I'm trying to imagine California with the train network Japan has. Too bad the political will for it is non-existant.
We're in the Shinjuku section of Tokyo for the next couple days. The Granbellhotel is quite posh. Tiny room, but the automation inside is crazy. There's a massage button on the toilet I'm afraid to push, but the fan turns on when you sit down. Every door has a fancy light panel with the room number. It's really quite nice. We're next to J Mex, Hotel G and Hotel the Hotel is just down the street. Yes, THE Hotel the Hotel. We also passed some host bars on the way in. That's where young Japanese men are dolled up to provide a nice evening for women.
Dinner at McDonalds. Yes, THE McDonalds. I just wanted to see how different it was in Tokyo. Answer: not much!
Tomorrow, we explore the city. I am not prepared.
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