After a very interesting cab ride from Ueno Park to Tokyo Station, we found our platform and awaited our train. This run leaves every 20min from Tokyo Station. Train comes in, everyone gets off, a team of cleaners tidies the train, flips the seats around so they all face “forward” again and it reloads for the next trip. Like clockwork. It’s a well-oiled machine. The website says these trains get up to 270 km/h (about 165mph); it took just over 2 hours to make the trip to Kyoto.

For as busy as Tokyo Station was this morning, it was nothing compared to Kyoto Station. It was crazytown; tons of large school groups, too. We managed to exit, get oriented and started out on the 8 block walk to our hotel in the mid-day sun. Fortunately one of our two rooms was ready when we arrived so we dumped our stuff and hit the town. Downtown Kyoto has several large shopping arcades so we aimed in that direction in search of lunch. After sandwiches we strolled the arcades, including Nishiki Market – a food market with history dating back to the 1600s.  Stalls of fresh fish were mixed with boutique-like sweet shops, vendors selling knives, laquerware and chopsticks, fresh vegetables and every spice known to man. 126 shops in all – very intriguing.

On our walk in from the train station the guys spotted Pizza La – a small takeout/delivery place just a block or two from the hotel. They trekked over this afternoon and picked up two pizzas – we’ve been craving pizza! Not too bad, but certainly not on par with other meals we’ve had on this trip.

Out again this evening to check out Jet Set Records. Picked up a few interesting items then headed across the river to more restaurant/shopping streets all light up in the evening glory.  Wandered through the Gion district, Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district – as in geishas. We saw numerous cabs with navy-suited businessmen accompanied by women in traditional kimono dress. In fact, we saw more women in kimono today than we did in a full week in Tokyo.

Busy day tomorrow – dedicated to sites in Kyoto proper. Here are some pics from today. Off to recharge the camera batter and rest up for tomorrow.

Welcome to Kyoto everyone! 🙂

More shopping arcades, including Nishiki Market.  There are probably 6 “streets” in total in the pedestrian mall.

Fun finds at B-Side Label, a local sticker outfit.

Pizzas from nearby Pizza La. The mess on the right was our fault – transportation mishap!