Bullet train to Kyoto

We caught the Shinkansen (Bullet train) from Tokyo to Kyoto today. What is the best way to describe Japan Rail ? 

Basically, its everything that City Rail in Sydney is not. The trains (all trains, not just bullet trains) are fast, clean, cheap and on time. 

To give you an idea how much better trains in Japan are compared to Australia, we took the Bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto which is 513km. The train travelled this distance in 2.5 hours. Paul and Sue live exactly 510km from us in Sydney. A train from Central to Kempsey takes 8-9 hours, then its a 40 minute car trip to their house at South West Rocks. Thats not including the 50 minutes it would take to get to central from our house.

The trains also arrive at their destination exactly on time. On time running in Japan is measured in seconds.

One thing that is inefficient here is the issuing of the Japan Rail Pass. We got the voucher in Australia, but we had to have the pass issued here. It took about 30 minutes, the rail pass is hand written with about a zillion different stamps on different bits of paper. Something like that at home would be done electronically.

On the Bullet train we spoke with a really nice man going to Toyahashi for a business meeting. He has a three year old son, so Emma gave him one of the small toy Koalas we brought with us for gifts. Sharon's brother used to live in Toyahashi before he moved to Nagoya. 

The Bullet trains don't have a lot of room for luggage, they are not really designed for it. We definitely brought too much stuff with us. Once we arrived in Kyoto we took    a taxi to the hotel, which cost us about $10. Much the same as in Sydney.

Many business people use the Bullet train, considering the check in times at airports, its a far more efficient way of traveling here in Japan, also the train stations are in the centre of cities, airports are not. You would never dream of taking a train from Sydney to Melbourne for a business meeting.

Once we were settled in the hotel (Aranvert hotel) we headed out to walk around Kyoto and have an early dinner. We cruised down the Nishiki market, which is really a covered street. Lots of different shops selling food, paper, shoes, material, pottery etc. Lots of food is on display in the open on the street. I doubt that would be acceptable safe food practice under Australian regulations. 

One really weird looking item, not sure what it was, but it looked like eel in satay sauce. Check out the pics on flickr, I'll put a comment on it. 

Sharon and Sue bought a soy based ice cream from a shop just off Nishiki street, I was expecting it to be disgusting but was pleasantly surprised. Later we checked in the guide book Sharon purchased in Tokyo, and its a well regarded store. 

After that we found a large department store with various restaurants on the 7th floor. We had dinner there, We all had soup based dishes, all filling and very tasty. I really can't work out how some of these places make any money, they are all wonderfully fitted out, the food is excellent, served quickly, yet they are not packed with people, and again we had another meal for 4 adults and one child for less than $50. They are either really busy at lunch or much later at night. With Emma we really have to have dinner before 7pm

We were all eating with chopsticks, Sue must have been struggling somewhat as the waitress was watching us and offered her a fork. 

On the way back to the hotel we walked down Ponto-cho lane, very narrow with lots of lanterns, and stacks more restaurants. We will probably head back there for dinner another night. Japan really is a foodies paradise. 

Took the subway back to the hotel, it seems somewhat more confusing than the Tokyo subway, but I'm sure we will get used to it in a day or so.

The hotel is quite nice, reasonably spacious and the included internet is top notch. Costs nothing, 25mbps down, 5mbps up. The hotel in Tokyo was probably a little nicer, but we can't complain.

todays pics :-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sg_harrison/sets/72157604451606762/