Away we go. We are leaving Kentoji, the basecamp of our Kyoto visit.
The adventure of travelling by public transport.
Firstly the subway. Always threatening to be a squeeze, but no problem today. Into the big Shin Kyoto station to catch a bullet train and train number three for the day to take us to our final destination, Kanazawa. This was a long trip, we past an enormous lake and some beautiful snowcapped mountains,
which, thinking about it, should have been a clue. We piled into taxis, thanks Lyle, and in short order we arrived at our very Japanese hotel. Our beds are futons on a wooden platform and the shower arrangement is very strange. The nozzle isn't over the tub
We strolled around the neighbourhood and discovered we are in the same city block as the upmarket shops. Tiffany's, Chanel and well, Louis Vuiton, very us.
Dinner was a special treat, we walked to an Izakaya. It is a type of family run restaurant.
We had ten incredible courses, which were challenging for some. First of all was a little rectangular pot which contains 3 snails and their toothpicks. Then our waiter proudly served the sashimi. It was magnificent. Lots and lots of pieces of cold seafood - raw, of course. Various fish octopus and prawns which were all served on a bed of the thinnest threads s of radish set on ice. The courses kept coming. I loved their hot radish soup with mushroom and jelly. Hot jelly? I don't know.
And the courses kept coming. We actually said "no" to dessert. So our final course was ramen noodle in a clear smokey stock. Delicious, but cold. We were sooooo full it was hard to eat. Weirdest course? Seaweed and vinegar soup, with finely grated ginger - cold, of course. We all made our way home, on foot. It IS getting cold here. Thanks for a great night, Lyle