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| Mont-Bell (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Cat Bags (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
Success! I've been wearing my new jacket on my daily morning walks!
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| Jacket - Marin County 2023 |
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| Onion Soup (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Crème Brûlée (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| White Wine (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Cafe Bistrot Bar Exterior (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Cafe Interior (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
We were looking for a ramen place, using the somewhat vague directions provided by the hotel staff, when we walked by this French restaurant. After some quick back and forth discussions we ventured inside and were quickly ushered to a table. The menu was in French and Japanese!
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| Cafe Menu (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Meerkat (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Meerkat (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
Apparently meerkats are allowed as pets in Japan. This interesting creature was holding forth outside the pastry shop that was our go-to breakfast spot in Kyoto.
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| Morning Pastries (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Kamo River (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Water Cascading Down Stairway (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
The next day the clouds parted and the sun came out. A flooded stairway that we had observed the day before was still flooded.
Around mid-morning we received news that the trains were now running. Jim and Margaret headed for Kyoto Station (we didn't) only to find a mob scene trying to get tickets. In response, Margaret demonstrated some great iPhone skills and managed to rent a car. She ended up driving to the Takayama area, with Jim navigating and providing reminders of Japan's left-hand lane system.
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| Rain, Bicycle, Umbrella (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Shared Umbrella (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
Photo on top was taken through a taxi window as we were on our way to Kyoto Station. The forecast called for rain to diminish later in the afternoon, so we were hoping to get a train to Nagoya, then transfer to the Hida Express bound for Takayama.
Alas, when we arrived at the station, train service to Takayama had been cancelled due to heavy rains. After some discussion (continue to Nagoya and stay overnight there, or stay in Kyoto) we returned to our Kyoto hotel.
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| Cancelled Trains (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Kyoto Sign, Rain (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Umbrella, Rain (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
Photos taken with an Olympus E-M1II camera with a 25mm (prime) lens. I've used this rainy weather combo before in Japan.
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| Margaret, Rain (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Kamo River, Rain (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
We were scheduled to leave Kyoto for Takayama on Friday, but based on the weather we were able to get a late checkout time at our hotel. I was able to go for a rain walk with Margaret using the extra time.
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| Rain, Entryway (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Rain, Maple Tree (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
I knew that, due to the season, we were going to get some rain during our trip. But I didn't anticipate that we would get so much rain. The effects of Typhoon Mawar reached as far as central Japan; the forecasted rain amount was a little startling.
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| Rain Forecast for Kyoto - Japan 2023 |
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| Gummy (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Chocolate House (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
Top photo taken as we were walking around trying to get some geisha district photos. Alas, didn't work out for us, so we ended up at Daimaru buying some chocolate. Chocolate was good!
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| Dogs, Dog Owners (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
Much exclaiming by the owners over the cuteness of the dogs.
Related to me by Margaret, who had a front row seat. (Kamo River in the background.)
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| Margaret, Dogs, Dog Owners (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Wedding Photo (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
They were being photographed on the veranda overlooking the temple grounds. Seriously, they look like they could be actors in the latest J-Drama.
We walked back to the train station, by then quite hungry. We decided to try Dragon Burger, which turned out to be quite good. Jan A, from San Jose, says on Yelp: "I mean wow! I'm from California and man, these burgers are very comparable to the states! Shoot might be even better. If your looking for gourmet burgers in Kyoto, this is the place to go." That's right, Jan A!
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| Dragon Burger, Fries, Beer (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Moss, Azaleas (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Azaleas, Moss Squares (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
Photos taken on May 31st, nice cloud cover overhead.
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| Rock Garden Rooflines (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Pine Tree, Wall (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Maple Trees, Rock Wall (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
"It is one of the Kyoto Gozan or 'five great Zen temples of Kyoto'." - Wikipedia
Like Fushimi Inari, Tofukuji, a Zen Buddhist temple complex, had not been visited by us before. But it was on Jim and Margaret's itinerary, so we found ourselves leaving Fushimi Inari and taking the train to the Tofukuji Station. Interesting - I somehow hadn't seen it mentioned while planning all my previous Kyoto visits (going back to the 1960s.) So this was a nice surprise, even though it shouldn't have been.
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| Crowds (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Schoolkids Photo (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
Very popular spot. After our experiences at Kinkakuji and Arashiyama the crowds were to be expected, so we didn't mind as much. Also, lots of students on field trips with accompanying photo ops.
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| Schoolkids (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Torii (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Torii (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
Foxes (kitsune), regarded as the messengers, are often found in Inari shrines.
- Wikipedia
One of the Kyoto must-see sights which we had somehow never been to before; Jim and Margaret provided the impetus for our visit this time. There's a loop trail up to the top of the mountain, which we didn't do, but Jim did.
I particularly liked the fox statues. Although, to be honest, I prefer my 1966 photo over this one.
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| Fox (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Nishiki Market Food Stand (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
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| Restaurant (Kyoto) - Japan 2023 |
We took a shinkansen from Odawara Station to Kyoto. Later in the afternoon we made our way through a very crowded Nishiki Market for some okonomiyaki at Warai. Then we wandered through the food basement at Daimaru before making our way back to our hotel.
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| Umbrella, Tree, Fog, Rain (Hakone) - Japan 2023 |
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| Tokaido Checkpoint (Hakone) - Japan 2023 |
I hadn't known about the Tokaido checkpoint (aka Hakone Barrier) until this visit, which reflects poorly on my trip research methodology. Very picturesque in the rain and fog.
The Hakone Barrier (箱根関, Hakone Seki) was a security checkpoint which was established by the Tokugawa Shogunate on the Tōkaidō highway connecting the capital of Edo with Kyoto in Edo period Japan. In 1923, the site was recognized as a National Historic Site.
But the real discovery during our walk was when we passed by Laundry Happiness. Yes, we had to return: Hali did laundry while I got some additional yen at the post office.
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| Laundry Happiness (Hakone) - Japan 2023 |
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| Sculptures (Hakone) - Japan 2023 |
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| Mountain Laurel, Sculptures (Hakone) - Japan 2023 |
My iPhone kindly informed me that the beautiful plant right above is a Mountain Laurel. Could be!
The weather was on and off drizzly - umbrellas optional. Nice even light though.
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| Umbrella (Hakone) - Japan 2023 |
