Bullet Trains, Department Stores and Transfers

The Train to Tokyo

Here is a video about the transportation choices between Kyoto and Tokyo

We took a cab from the hotel to Kyoto Station

Nozomi (のぞみ, "Wish") is the fastest train service running on the Tōkaidō/San'yō Shinkansen lines in Japan. The service stops at only the largest stations, and along the stretch between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata, Nozomi services using N700 series equipment reach speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph). The trip between Tokyo and Osaka, a distance of 515 kilometers, takes 2 hours 22 minutes on the fastest Nozomi.[Wikipedia]

Reserved seating is riding in comfort.

Plenty of legroom, desks, and snack service.

We arrived at Shinagawa Station in (the state of) Tokyo for the transfer to Yuko's house:

Notice the yellow walkway guidance for the blind.  These are almost everywhere in Kyoto and Japan.  I found them annoying because the rolling luggage always seemed to get caught - and they came to hurt the bottoms of my feet.

At one of the train connections to Yuko's, we stopped at a department store's basement Food Hall.

Another Big Day Starts with Kyoto Imperial Palace

Kyoto Imperial Palace

3 Kyotogyoen, Kamigyo Ward, 

Kyoto, 602-0881, Japan.

The palace is enclosed by long walls and consists of several gates, halls and gardens. The palace grounds can be explored freely, but the palace buildings cannot be entered.

The Walls of the Imperial Enclosure

The Kyoto Imperial Palace (京都御所, Kyōto Gosho) used to be the residence of Japan's Imperial Family until 1868, when the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Tokyo.

A map of the grounds can be found HERE.

Carriage Loading Area

The Shodaibunoma (諸大夫の間) building (below) was used as a waiting room for dignitaries on their official visits to the palace. They were ushered into three different anterooms according to their ranks.

Anterooms

Yuko and Amy in front of the shinmikurumayose

Jomeimon Gate with a courtyard on the other side.  Inside the courtyard below.

Shunkoden: Sacred Mirror Hall

The shunkoden was built to place the sacred mirror on the occasion of the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Taisho in 1915.

The Oikeniwa Garden

The Kashua Building (?)

And now, a short walk to a little shopping at the Nishiki Market and Lunch

This is a 400-year-old iconic market studded with stalls offering all manner of Japanese edibles.

Nishiki Market is a narrow, five-block long shopping street lined by more than one hundred shops and restaurants. Known as "Kyoto's Kitchen", this lively retail market specializes in all things food-related, like fresh seafood, produce, knives and cookware, and is a great place to find seasonal foods and Kyoto specialties, such as Japanese sweets, pickles, dried seafood, and sushi.

This is a new LAW that the vendors are not happy about

Octopus and other stick street-food

Squid

At the Market, we stopped at a fresh fish store for lunch.

We were led past the chairs you see on the left into a back room with three tables for a private lunch.

Here is my mixed fresh fish over rice. The carafe on the left is warm broth to pour into the bowl on the right to add rice or fish to as you might desire.

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Next:  Bullet Train to Tokyo

Dinner at Donguri Sanjo Kiyamachi

Donguri Sanjo Kiyamachi

Japan, 〒604-8004 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, 木屋町東入中島町98

The center of the tables is a griddle cooking surface

The kitchen

Highballs are a popular cocktail in many restaurants

I was hoping to see the chef more as she prepared the meals to be delivered to the tables

Yuko has ordered us a variety of tasty items

Gyoza

Okonomi-yaki

Spicy Beef Sauce and Cabbage Sauce

Kyoto-style Sundae with Black Sesame Ice

Black Sesame Ice

Home to the Hotel rest for another busy and exciting day tomorrow

Kyoto Experiment: Kyoto International Performing Arts Festival

chelfitsch & Teppei Kaneuji

Eraser Mountain

Playwright/Director: Toshiki Okada

Scenography: Teppei Kaneuji

Cast: Izumi Aoyagi, Mari Ando, Yuri Itabashi, Takuya Harada, Makoto Yazawa, Yo Yoshida, Leon Kou Yonekawa

This Poster for Eraser Mountain seems to have nothing to do with the show...

Toshiki Okada is a Japanese playwright, theater director, novelist, and founder of the theatrical company chelfitsch. He is known for "his use of hyper-colloquial Japanese and his unique choreography."

The Set

Outdoor Festival

Outdoor DJ Booth