Kyoto, Japan
It was a short flight about two hours to Kansei Airport, Osaka, Japan on a new plane and they served lunch. The smog over Japan blurred the mountains below us with its murky haze but as we descended into it, the smog became innocuous. MK Sky Gate Shuttle which we booked in advance took us from the airport to the New Miyako Hotel, Kyoto for 3000 yen each (about $30 US each). It took about 1 1/2 hours with fairly light traffic and the driver paid numerous freeway tolls. We were the only two in his van so I don't think he made much money on us. All the drivers wore chauffeur uniforms, peaked hats and white gloves - very posh and sophisticated.What a pleasant surprise to find our hotel so well-located across the street from the south side of the Kyoto station (good planning on my part) - the side with all the little restaurants stretched out in a row with their plastic food replicas and smiling proprietors tempting us in to partake of their specialities. It was also the side to easily access the Shinkansen (Bullet trains).
What the hotel lacked in size was made up with amenities - our favourite being the fresh crisp cotton kimonos. They also provided razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste, combs, shampoo, conditioner, shower caps, tea making equipment and a box of assorted Japanese teas.
While taking a shower, I had the strange sensation that I was in our motorhome, feeling a rocking motion - no it wasn't an earthquake but the entire bathroom was a modular unit that we stepped up into and it must have been free-floating. The toilet was an unusual contraption; it had a knob to adjust water pressure, a button for bidet and another button for 'spray' - not sure what the difference is.
We decided that to beat the jet lag and accustomize ourselves to local time, we would stay up until 10pm (6am home time) but we barely made it to 7:30pm. With the window wide open and the rattle and hum of the JR trains across the road, we were lulled into a most wonderful sleep not to wake until 6:00am.
posted by O'Leary @ 7:00 PM
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