Skewers in Tokyo and Kyoto

Walking to Restaurant (Tokyo) - Japan 2024

Touchscreen Menu (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

Skewers (Tokyo) - Japan  2024

During our 2024 trip to Japan we ate at two skewer (yakitori) restaurants, one in Tokyo and one in Kyoto. However and alas, I didn't keep any record of the names of the restaurants! But I wanted to have a record of them on the blog.

Above, photos of our Tokyo restaurant that I found by doing a Google search of "skewers near me." After a short walk using our iPhones we came to a busy street, looked for the restaurant, didn't see it, walked back and forth a while before realizing that it was on an upper floor accessed via elevator. As I recall, the food was nice enough . . . we were somewhat constrained in ordering because I was still getting over my "bug." No beer!

***

Below, photos taken in Kyoto. We found the restaurant by walking around our neighborhood. This time, no constraints! Beer! 

The corn was unusual . . . very good. Other items were quite tasty. Like I said above, didn't get the name of the place. Note to self: keep a dining journal next time!

Restaurant Menu (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Pork Belly (?) Skewer (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Corn (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Farewell to the East

Kansai Airport Ad (Osaka) - Japan  2024

We departed Japan through the Kansai Airport in Osaka, where we had arrived some weeks earlier. Quite a jumbly experience! Of course we had to lug our suitcases up and down escalators and through crowded shopping displays.

Then an uneventful flight home.

Farewell to the East (George Wunder)

Express Train Sightems

Bicyclists (Osaka) - Japan  2024

River, Buildings (Osaka) - Japan  2024

Some nice views seen on the way to the airport. I used a Sony RX100. 

I'm showing the locations as Osaka, but that's a guess.

Express Train to Kansai Airport

Kyoto-Kansai Airport Express (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Railcar (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

OK, so now we had to deal with our fully loaded suitcases, taking a taxi from the hotel to Kyoto Station, then navigating intricate corridors and escalators to the correct platform. 

But we did it!

Monday Cat Blogging

Cat (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Nice. Seen on one of our walks looping down to Teramachi Street and back.

Kyoto Breakfast

Nishiki Market Entrance (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

The City Bakery (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Bakery Order (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Of course we didn't find this bakery until the very end of our trip. 

"This is a bakery from New York City. Founder Maury Rubin has a unique background as a TV producer, and his creative pretzel croissants and hot chocolate are popular. At the Kyoto Nishiki St. Shop, the bakery offers a wide variety of products every day, including fifty to sixty different kinds of breads, pastries, and cakes made by the bakers and pastry chefs’ original recipes and some are available only in Kyoto."

Hali managed to bring a chocolate babka back to the US!

It took a while to pack all our clothes, gifts and such for the return trip.

Packing to Leave (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Dinner at Nishimura

Nishimura Sign (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Nishimura Course (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

We saw this restaurant while walking down Teramachi Street. Looked interesting, so we had one of the ladies at our hotel make a reservation for us. Very good! As usual I filled up pretty fast.

Another review from the web: "We just arrived in Kyoto and by chance discovered this restaurant. Absolutely phenomenal meal - everything tasted delicious and the presentation was beautiful. It is a great deal for the quality of the food you receive. The owner was very friendly and welcoming and made us feel at home. We would highly recommend coming here!!"

Nishimura Course (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Kyoto Sightems - 2 (Window Displays)

Window Display 1 (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Window Display 2 (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Nicely done window displays seen during our walks.

Window Display 3 (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Kyoto Sightems - 1

Family Photo (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Pedestrian (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

These photos were taken with an iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Shrine (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Return to Dragon Burger

Dragon Burger (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Dragon Burger Burger (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Yum! We had an enjoyable lunch here with Jim and Margaret in 2023, so here we were back in 2024. Again, quite good!

Yum!

Dragon Burger Beer (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Monday Dog Blogging

Dog (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Was it that cold? I don't think so, not when compared to our frigid morning in Kamikochi. But everyone has a different threshold.

Tofukuji - 3

Path, Maple Tree (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Roofs, Moss (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Early November. The leaves were starting to turn on the maple trees, but not all the way.

Tofukuji - 2 (Details)

Post Ornament (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Tile Roof (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Architectural sightems.

Wooden Doors (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Tofukuji - 1

Entrance, Maple Tree (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Pine Tree, Gate (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

We had visited Tofukuji the year before with Jim and Margaret, and had liked it a lot. So we thought it would be nice to plan a return trip just for fun.

We used Kyoto's train system to get there . . . very convenient, but super crowded.

Back in Kyoto

Kyoto Station (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Night Street (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Finally, the last stop on our itinerary! We stayed in Kyoto at the Hotel Monterey, where we've stayed a few times before. A skewer dinner that night, then a walk the next morning through early morning narrow Kyoto streets.

Morning Street (Kyoto) - Japan  2024

Nagoya

Building Reflections (Nagoya) - Japan  2024

Pedestrians Crossing (Nagoya) - Japan  2024

We've stopped in Nagoya several times, but only to change trains. This time we were catching a shinkansen to Kyoto. Photos taken from an upper train platform using a Sony RX100.

Someday we'll have to actually, you know, go into the city.

Monday Dog Blogging

Dog (Takayama) - Japan  2024

Seen as we were checking out the various shops on this particular street.

Takayama Sightems #4: Cat Statue, Morning Fog

Cat Statue (Takayama) - Japan  2024

Morning Fog (Takayama) - Japan  2024

Last morning in Takayama: chilly and foggy. After visiting the morning market, we checked out of our hotel, walked over to the train station (without luggage, which was on its way to Kyoto) and boarded the train (somehow unaccountably late) for Nagoya.

Takayama Sightems #3: Dried Flowers, Leaf

Dried Flowers, Bicycle (Takayama) - Japan  2024

Maple Leaf, Pine Needles (Takayama) - Japan  2024

I think it was Hali that noticed the basket of dried flowers. Leaf and pine needles were seen walking by moss-covered temple steps.

Takayama Sightems #2: Miyagawa River, Morning Market

Miyagawa River, Sunrise (Takayama) - Japan  2024

Morning Market (Takayama) - Japan  2024

We bought something at the market, but I can't remember what.

EDIT: Per Hali, in the comments: "We got some dried Persimmons, fresh Apples, and Pastries. I think there was one more thing, but I can't remember now."