Japan 2008 – Day 6 – Last Morning in Kyoto and onward to Tokyo

Was our last morning in Kyoto today, but we still packed alot in and it was a lovely sunny day which was amazing!

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Due to the slightly sparse rail network in Kyoto, we used buses for transport today. The pass we bought was 500yen and entitled us to a days unlimited travel – not bad at all. All buses have 2 sets of doors, one set at the back, and the normal front doors we’re used to on UK buses. You get on through the back and get off through the front which means there are no traffic jams! Another interesting thing is you pay as you pass the driver and leave via an automated machine. Again an example of great efficency that puts us to shame.

Ok, first we headed over to the golden pavillion, very shiny! Nice gardens too.

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Next was Kamigamo shrine in the north of Kyoto – somewhere we’d seen in wedding brochures and wanted to see for ourselves. It was pretty nice, needed a lick of paint certainly but it had some lovely little bridges and a stream running outside it. As we were leaving we did actually see a wedding procession heading in!

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Finally we bussed down to Nijo Castle – which is opposite our hotel and was left till last… oops. Fantastic place though, the inside of the castle is curently being restored but we were still allowed to walk around inside, really love the classic architecture style, makes me want to get on with the attic room! The grounds here were amazing too with some really nice little landscape gardens and huge moats.

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So with that massive morning out the way we collected our bags from the hotel and headed to Kyoto station to catch a Shinkansen to Tokyo. Arrived in Shinjuku about 6pm, that station will never cease to confuse me and I got us a little lost. Some directions from a Koban set us right though and it turned out we are actually very well placed, with Shinjuku Southern Terrace and Takashimaya Times Square just moments away.

Another really nice hotel!

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We quickly freshened up and headed out to enjoy some Tokyo! Emma wanted to go to O1O1 to check out clothes and afterwards I dragged her to Akiba for a play in some arcades and a stroll around Yodobashi Camera.

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So yey, we’re here! We were comtemplating a trip to Fuji-San tomorrow but looking at the travel information it’s pretty far away so we’ll see.

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