Day 14 travelling by bullet train to kyoto

Caught subway from outside hotel to Tokyo train station. We had already bought reserved seat tickets for kyoto- damned expensive but not as expensive as Leeds to London. Arranged to leave our cases at the Tokyo hotel, so only carreid rucksacks for this trip. Arrived in Kyoto  around 2.5 h at hell of a speed.  Managed to get subway to our Kyoto hotel and booked in.  After a wash and rest, started to tick off places to see- Nijo Castle- and Imperial Palace Park on way back to hotel.  Both within walking distance of our hotel.  The castle closes at 5pm to the tune of Aulde lange syne- what would Rabbie Burns think?  Spent time in an old and impressive Japanese garden comprising a family shrine and tea house for an adviser to the emperor. Gardens were huge and did not have enough energy to visit the palace. On way back to hotel we looked for somewhere to eat our evening meal- a place that took credit cards as cash is dwindling fast. No luck but later  we walked 2 blocks from our hotel and found a quaint restaurant that had two sliding doors to open before entering-quite mysterious but full of laughter and friendly service.  Shoes off and we sat at a table that had a sunken floor underneath - well a pit- so that we did not have to sit cross legged.  Chose 2 set meals of chicken- quite delicious and since this was aspecial place and importantly accepted our credit card- we ordered a half bottle of wine.

A wonderful evening a short walk back to the hotel and bed.

Elwyn modelling one of the Japanese style dressing gowns provided by the hotel

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The moat and fortified walls at Nijo Castle

The ceremonial tea house in the grounds of the imperial palace

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Shrine on a small island in the grounds of the  Imperial Palace

Our mysterious little restaurant hidden away in a back street

 

Everything set up for traditional dining, but instead of  sitting cross-legged on the floor, you could dangle your legs in the  hole underneath the table

More delicious food - including meat!