A Japanese Christmas and a Thai New year.

[drron]

The Coastguard and Odaiba Island.








And the Odaiba beach area.


Naturally when the trains went past they passed each other where I was standing. So first one headed back to Takeshiba.




Then the other heading to the Island.


The train off the bridge headed for Takeshiba - the station for the IC.

 

[drron]

I like my trains.






Now back down. They have a model behind perspex showing the wires that are providing support.






Now back outside.


Barges.


Obviously to transport cement as the conveyor belt from this factory ends at one of the barges,

 

[Seat0B]

I finally got my fried oysters tonight.

How could you pass up the broiled pork innards with miso, @drron - or the lamb hearts or lamb tongue for that matter

 

[Seat0B]

Perfect for posting in the teleport thread

 

[drron]

Continuing my walk back to the IC. I would hate to live in these units4 levels of road traffic and a rail line at their back door.


Some locals are saying winter hasn't started but maybe spring has.




I think a flowering plum.
The little river with the big flood gates from the other side.




And the last 2 photos taken with the old camera. Two absolutely ridiculous cars to own in Tokyo.

 

[drron]

Now my iPhone photos before getting the new used camera.
That night we just had drinks and shared the crab and salmon roe pizza again.


The young waitress could do with some lessons pouring a beer.


When we left we did unwillingly decide to take a piece of cheesecake back to the room to share.


The night scene.


In the morning 2 small boats trying to control a barge whilst the tug looks on.


Now I set off on my search for a new camera catching a Yamanote lin train from Hamamatsucho station after taking the IC shuttle to there. Couldn't find a lift of escalator but they did have a special wheelchair door for the train.


I have already documented my search for my next camera. I only took one photo on my way to the second shop.


However I did find proof that sometimes Google Maps takes you on a wild goose chase. Standing outside Shibuya station it said Map Photos was an 11 minute walk. But having bought my camera and standing outside Map Photos it said the west exit where I was was only a 2 minute walk. And it was.
So to finish the first photo with my new purchase from our window.

 

[drron]

That night we went to the Gourmerium to have an early dinner at 1600. Security followed us.


We picked out a seafood restaurant and with the help of Google translate picked out what we would have. Of course we got inside to find they had an English menu!






However they also had a specials menu and I recognised fried oysters so I changed my mind. I got the set with 2 oysters, sashimi amberjack, rice and miso soup. Mrsdrron had the salmon plus salmon roe donburi. They insisted on her having the set so she chose the Udon which I had.



I had a beer but there was no wine and they had run out of ginger ale so mrsdrron had a coke.


It all tasted really nice.

 

[drron]

Outside there was a shallow pool which made for some great reflections.










Now Mrsdrron was missing her wine so back at the IC we went to the bar and she had her sav blanc whilst I had a G&T made with a really nice Japanese craft gin - Wa gin

 

[drron]

The next day was a shinkansen ride to Kyoto. Started with a big breakfast.


Got the 1115 hotel shuttle to Hamamatsucho station and caught a Yamanote train to Tokyo. We were only carrying our carry ons havinf used the Takubin service to send our large case to the Hilton Osaka where we will be checking in in 3 days time.
An easy transfer to the shinkansen lines but on our platform none of the little food stalls have reopened after Covid. On other platforms some were open so we went downstairs again to get some lunch for our train trip.
So our train.




My seat.


Had some interesting neighbours across from us. An old Japanese couple probably in their 90s. Before sitting down they spread Newspaper on the floor.


They were well prepared.


Each of them had 3 bottles of drink with some more in a bag on the floor. the 3 each that were on their trays they had finished by Nagoya. No wonder that they had to make a few trips to the front of the carriage.
Six of us were on the Mt.Fuji side and our son across the aisle. His seat neighbour as soon as he sat down and got organised reclined.

 

[drron]

Here are our meals. mrsdrron had a salmon and salmon roe donburi.

Now I ordered a beef tongue with cod roe. The boxes were numbered and I wrote the numbers down and handed that list to the sever so that there would be no mistake. She had a little discussion with another of the servers and handed me the meals. This was the box.


When I opened it it wasn't what I ordered but the next box which was wagyu beef. It was 200 yen more but I was charged on what I initially ordered.
I also had a spicy Tonkatsu sandwich.




You go through a lot of urban area until well past Yokohama.




But then gradually more rural touches.

 

[drron]

Naturally Fuji was hidden by cloud. One day I hope to see it in all it's glory. But more of the country. Most rice paddies jus had the old stubble. a few were used for vegetable and occasional ones replanted.














Then Nagoya came and went.


After Nagoya we began seeing snow on the mountains.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

And then we reached Kyoto and said goodbye to Nozomi 31.

 

[drron]

Then we had a Starbucks whilst waiting for the hotel shuttle.
Check in at the Crowne Plaza was a bit of a circus. I had booked 3 rooms and the fellow was having difficulty working out who should be put where. So I said my room is the one without breakfast in the rate. Ah so you are Diamond. Hai. So now he was happy. No upgrade as basically the king room with Castle view is their top room but floors 6,7 and 8 have renovated rooms and we were on 6. Much the same view though.








The room.








And a Japanese way of screening the window.

 

[drron]

More colouful view at night.






Then we went down for a drink. Their rooftop bar has been temporarily closed for nearly 4 years. They Have a Koto lounge as the only place to get a drink and we had 3 drink vouchers as one of the families rooms smelt of smoke so they moved rooms and got the drink vouchers. First though we looked around the lobby area.

 

[drron]

Outside the lounge.




So you are given a drinks menu. not much choice.


But when you produce your drinks coupons you are given a different list.




Service though is atrocious. Only 1 other person there and after your drinks are served the staff disappear and you have to gon searching for them. and again to sign the bill. The same thing happened again tonight.
They have 5 specialty restaurants but only 2 open. Their everyday buffet restaurant is open for breakfast but only Friday, Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. But basically you are paying exorbitant rates now in Japan.

 

[love_the_life]

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Outside the lounge.
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So you are given a drinks menu. not much choice.
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But when you produce your drinks coupons you are given a different list.
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View attachment 359959

Service though is atrocious. Only 1 other person there and after your drinks are served the staff disappear and you have to gon searching for them. and again to sign the bill. The same thing happened again tonight.
They have 5 specialty restaurants but only 2 open. Their everyday buffet restaurant is open for breakfast but only Friday, Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. But basically you are paying exorbitant rates now in Japan.

Was this the CP Kyoto? Very disappointing that service levels seemed to have slipped as the high level of service was one of the joys in visiting Japan.

 

[drron]

Was this the CP Kyoto? Very disappointing that service levels seemed to have slipped as the high level of service was one of the joys in visiting Japan.

Indeed it is. In fact Kyoto has changed a lot in attitude. Very passive/aggressive treatment by quite a few. I have read elsewhere that many Kyoto residents are fed up with the number of tourists that come as now there really isn't a low season for them. On the other hand still many lovely people only too willing to help.

 

[drron]

It appeared that the breakfast buffet was not that great. Small amounts of everything but the dishes never emptied. It turned out this was one of the most enjoyable buffet breakfasts I have had. Juice selection wasn't wonderful with graoefruit and apple but they did have a machine to make fresh orange juice. I will now show what was on the buffet.
Chicken and pork dumplings these were called. very nice.


And some you don't need names of.










Japanese pickles.




Fried chicken and chips.


And the day's pilaf. I didn't try this one.

 

[drron]

Bean salad and very sweet corn.








Marinated seafood then marinated smoked salmon. Both delicious.




Cold seafood pasta.


Then the fruit.






Persimmon, blueberries and pineapple. A perfect start to the day.