Kyoto

Osaka is amazing! Staying in the Osaka Hilton, just across from the train station, was the perfect place to be.

We took an express train from Osaka up to Kyoto, just for the day. In hindsight, we could have stayed in Kyoto for days. So much to see, so little time. We arrived at the Kyoto train station and walked out to see the iconic Kyoto Tower Hotel. Not really knowing what we were doing, we started walking. Boy, did we put in some miles that day! We walked and walked, I think the total was well over 10 miles?

Just a short trip from the train station, we ran across the Higashi Honganji Temple. We then attempted to hop on the double decker tour bus, but missed it by seconds, so we began walking to old town. Maybe we were there too early, as shops and restaurants were mainly closed.

It was midday and we were all a bit peckish – I’m being kind. We were tired, tired of walking and hungry. Finally found a hole-in-the-wall place. There was a kiosk where we ordered food and there was a small bar with stools, to seat maybe 10 people? Beer, sake, sweet potato chips and great fried chicken. There was spicy miso for the chicken. We were all much better after food and drink! Walked, of course, to another temple known for afternoon tea with a geisha, but there were no available appointments. Loud and noisy as there were many large tour buses and construction on a new hotel right next door.

On the way back to the train station we hoped to stop in the whisky bar our new friend, Makiko recommended. We had passed a few massage ‘parlors,’ and we were all in need of foot massages with all the walking we were doing, clocking about 7-8 miles by now. A couple of places were a little sketchy. We entered a tiny – and I mean tiny – elevator to descend to what we all thought was a legit massage therapy business but when the doors opened all we saw was a brick wall! My claustrophobia kicked in and I kinda freaked! We now believe that there were cameras and when they saw three woman and one man, they said – NOPE! Guess it wasn’t the kind of massage business we expected, wanted or hoped for.

We did find a place to get those desperately needed foot massages, I think Adam was the only one who was propositioned for a different kind of massage ;-).

Cost us a pretty penny, but gave us the foot power to make it to the whisky bar Makiko’s friend owned and recommended we visit. Little advertising and a very steep set of stairs, but we made it!

We completely enjoyed Sake and Whisky. We admired the hour glass and inquired about its purpose: Guest visits are for one hour. Oy! We did not know there was a time limit. When I went to pay (this one’s on me!), the wifi went down so the bartender had to hand write all my information and process ‘later.’ Poor guy was on the phone asking the owner how to deal with payment via paper. All was good and we walked down those very steep steps and made our way back to the train station, back to Osaka on the search (or hunt?) for Ramen!