Autumn colours in Japan + coughtails by the pool in Fiji

[drron]

In Kyoto last December and in August 2023 we travelled around by Metro which was less crowded than busses and stops convenient to most tourist spots. Pretty cheap too.

 

[rbjhan]

As beautiful as it is, Kyoto in peak season is nightmareish.....and getting worse by the day!
Sigh....

 

[rbjhan]

In Kyoto last December and in August 2023 we travelled around by Metro which was less crowded than busses and stops convenient to most tourist spots. Pretty cheap too.

I rented a bike ha ha
Kyoto's metro is way too limited sadly...

 

[drron]

But I have no balance and can't ride a bike. I managed to get to what I wanted by Metro though some times with a 20 minute + walk. but i find the walk interesting and enjoyable.

 

[Drakecula]

But I have no balance and can't ride a bike. I managed to get to what I wanted by Metro though some times with a 20 minute + walk. but i find the walk interesting and enjoyable.

We have been doing a LOT of walking. But like you say, the walks are quite enjoyable.

 

[rbjhan]

We have been doing a LOT of walking. But like you say, the walks are quite enjoyable.

Yeah I was averaging about 30K steps per day in Kyoto.
But then my ankle said NO

It will be interesting next trip, Feb is not exactly bike friendly weather...

 

[Drakecula]

What's that? More temples and autumn leaves? Yes please! Another day in Kyoto, another day where my feet feel like they're falling off. Worth it though.

We were stopped a couple of times by students practicing their English. One asked what my favourite animal was and giggled when I said cows.

Some places visited today include Kiyomizu-dera, Ninenzaka, Kodaiji Temple, Chionin Temple, Maruyama Park, Yasaka Shrine (where we saw a wedding party getting photos), Gion (no geiko/mako spotted) and Nishiki market.

We also popped into see Shoseien garden lit up in the dark for a special exhibition which was pretty neat.

27,000 steps today... Seems like it's time for a soak in the awesome cypress bath again.

 

[rbjhan]

Damn that picture on Ninenzaka does my headache!
Did you go into that Starbucks?

 

[Drakecula]

Damn that picture on Ninenzaka does my headache!
Did you go into that Starbucks?

No we didn't. Should we have? I'm not a coffee drinker so Starbucks isn't on my radar, I just liked how they'd styled it to fit in with the street.

 

[Drakecula]

We left Kyoto this morning and have arrived back in Tokyo. The shinkansen was bumpier than I expected, but managed not to spill my bento box lunch. Took a snap of Tokyo station. Not sure we saw the outside of it on our last visit.

We're staying at the Mercure Hibiya (another deal I got through Accor Plus) which is located right next to major train lines. Thankfully not too noisy from our room which is on that side.

Cool art deco theming inside.