A capital old place - Kyoto and Himijei Castle.

 We decided to base ourselves in Kyoto for several days and after a late start we arranged to leave our big bag at the hotel until our return to Tokyo, and caught the Shinkasen from Shingawa. Once I figured the ap out it was easy to purchase our tickets as we arrived at the station. Nearly lunchtime so we had the exciting experience of choosing bento boxes for snacking. 

About 45 minutes into our journey we finally saw Fuji-San. Not the best photo but at least recognisable despite being taken as we were wizzing past at 300-odd km/hour

Mount Fuji

Bento on the train

We found Kyoto busier and more crowded than Tokyo was, and the understandable resentment some locals have towards the tourist hoards was sometimes apparent. It was an easy bus ride to our hotel and we were glad we only had small carry on cases with us because of the overcrowding. 

Kombini snack of the day was a strawberry sando. Sounds weird but was light and tasty! Matt decided izikaya was the dinner of choice and said he'd found a bar with a great reputation. Found it on google that is, because actually FINDING it was quite the mission in the labrynth of  tiny alleys.

Mission Achieved!

A small room with space for maybe a dozen people belly up to the bar it was deserted when we entered but was soon full. We were the only tourists and were looked after by the owners and another guest who managed the karaoke bar upstairs. The food was amazing. Housemade kimchi. Deep fried oysters. Huge butter scallops. Chicken thighs. And all washed down with a dry sake (and beer). Adding up to the princely sum of Y5600 we decided it was a great experience and only a block or so from the main street.

Back to our small but well thought out hotel room we planned our next few days adventures.  

The next day was forecast to be a lovely 30 degrees as we caught another Shinkasen to Himeji to visit the famous White Heron Castle (as featured in numerous movies). The castle was simple to locate, you could see it as you exited the station. A wonderful restoration with the pathway to the castle itself winding through gardens with the last of the cherry blossoms still blooming. Once we reached the main keep it was a one way trip through the no-shoes-on structure up six staircases (which got narrower and steeper as you progressed). On our descent I took some of the backwards like climbing down a ladder! 

Amazing craftmanship and a beautiful space. Also it was MUCH more comfortable looking than a stone European structure of similar age! We then visited Koko En Gardens and I particularly enjoyed the water features. We were suprised to leanr it is a modern garden constructed in the Edo style as it looks as though it has been there for ever.

 

By the end of about 5 hours walking feet wanted a rest! So we caught a bus back to the station and while we had intended to take the local train back to Kyoto it was a long wait so we decided to get the next Shinkasen due in 10 minutes.

Final adventure of the day was shopping in Don Quiotje before dinner in one of the many restaurantes under the station.

I'm not sure what I just tasted but I think Matt captured what I thought of it!

Other Kombini snacks today - the famous egg sando and a banana crepe which had an actual banana in the middle. Cheaper than buying a piece of fruit.  Kit Kat flavours both based on drinks - match and milk tea.