Japan Autumn Trip 2017 Part 2

Day 4 - Osaka

Yesterday night, we tried the Izakaya Restaurant near our hotel. Actually we didn’t know it was an izakaya (Japanese style pub), its name is Kushiyaki Gen 串焼き and they served お通し (otōshi) or sometimes 突き出し (tsukidashi), this appetizer is given to each and every alcohol-imbibing customer, and sometimes even to those only sipping on soft drinks, regardless of whether you’re drinking at a chain pub or a family owned watering hole. The customer has no say whatsoever in what the snack will be, and even if it remains completely untouched it is added to the bill, costing on average 200-500 yen (US$2-5) per head. And so, we were charged 300 yen/person. It’s a bit weird to us, but as we looked for information on izakaya, we then knew what Otoshi means.

So, it’s the day to go to Kyoto. Felix & I already reserved for 8.40am shinkansen from Shinagawa. But it turns out we missed the shinkansen. It was really hectic, because we need to transfer 2 times to take the shinkansen. First, we need to go to Morishita Station and took Toei Oedo Line back to Daimon Station (we still use the 48hrs Tokyo Subway Discount Ticket). Then we need to go to Hamamatsucho Station to take JR Lines towards Shinagawa Station. The thing is, we took the wrong exit again. No lift. Actually there was and we’ve been there, it’s just that no one realized that. So, again, we took all the luggages up by stairs. Gosh, so much homework T_T (so we concluded, there must be one person who go up first to check). But once we are up, we were very lucky to spot Tokyo Tower from a far. Such a nice view.

Then, I had to hurry and return the reserved seat ticket and reserve seat for 9.40am Shinkansen to Kyoto. Then from Hamamatsucho Station, we went up by lift to JR Yamanote Line and showed the staff gate our JR Pass. We just need to ride 2 stops to Shinagawa Station. After arriving at Shinagawa Station, we had to transfer to Shinkansen Track, which is a bit far from the JR Track and yeah, as we are quite afraid to miss the train, we ran to find the Car 14 track – the last one. It’s quite epic LOL, because that’s our first time. So, please be prepare to walk quite far to reach your shinkansen car number.

At 12.11pm, we reached Kyoto Station and before leaving our luggage at the hotel, we had lunch at Kyoto Station. The food is quite pricy and doesn’t taste that good. But still, it’s edible and quite nice. Afterwards, we walked about 500 meter to Sakura Terrace The Atelier, a hostel kind of hotel. The shower room is located only at first floor and there is bathroom in each floor. After we put the luggage, the original schedule is that, we should hang around Kyoto today, but Felix suggested we should go to Osaka.

The trip to Osaka was almost one hour by JR trains and requires a long walk towards Osaka Castle Park. We had time when me took the wrong direction on Osaka Loop Line and so we had to change to the opposite direction.

From Morinomiya subway station, we took subway to Nippombashi Station for 230 yen/person one way.

Then at night we went to Shinsaibashi Suji Shopping Street for shopping, ate Ichiran at Dotonbori and went back to Kyoto.

Funny thing is that, the walk is really far, I would have fainted there actually because of those two Japanese guy who said they know the walk to JR-Namba Station.

We end up going here and there, though I should have believed Google Maps. Or even better, we should just take the subway to Osaka Station from Namba Station for 230 yen one way instead rather than walking that far to JR Namba. And so, we reached hotel at 12am, the weather was really cold and I would say, everyone was really tired that day, including me. Since it was night, we didn’t really notice the area, so instead of just crossing the street, we had to make a U turn to reach the hotel. So stupid right.

Day 5 - Kyoto

The next day, I woke up at 5am and do the makeup till 7.30am. We walked back to Kyoto Station and took JR San-In Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station for Arashiyama Bamboo Forest to take the best photo of the day. It was so pretty, like a real Heaven exists on earth.

The walk from the Station to Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is quite far, so be prepared.

As it took quite sometime to take picture there, we finished the shoot at 2/3pm in the evening, and the sun was about to set off.

I tried the famous Sencha Ice Cream (even in cold weather, I just can’t resist ice cream) and Dango.

We had lunch first near Togetsukyo Bridge Arashiyama. I ordered Pork Tonkatsu, as I was craving for Maisen Tonkatsu (though I end up didn’t eat it at all). The food is really nice. After we took some more pictures near the bridge, we went straight ahead towards Arashiyama Station.

As it’s quite far to walk back to JR Saga-Arashiyama, we decided to just use subway from Arashiyama Station to Gion, by stopping at Kawaramachi Station (220 yen). Once we reached Gion Area, the weather started to rain. So we cancelled the prewedding photoshoot and went to Gion Tanto to eat Okonomiyaki and Fried Rice and it was so delicious.

Afterwards, when we wanted to go back to our hostel, we spotted Sake Bar, and so we stopped for a while. Its name is Jam + Sake Bar. The place is quite nice and it’s just right in front of Gion Shijo Subway Station. Then we just took subway to Tofukiji Station (for 150 yen) and took JR Nara Line to Kyoto Station and walked to our hotel.