Chasing Cherry Blossoms Mar/Apr 2023

[rbjhan]

On the way back, took some more shots of the canal.

What did I say about Japanese and sightseeing boats?!


So so lucky this trip in terms of sakura...

 

[Quickstatus]

Drone it?

 

[rbjhan]

Drone it?

Pretty sure that would be illegal too
I mean, even Parks Victoria ban it...

 

[rbjhan]

Back to Kyoto Station, lunch was gyutan!


My strategy of having late lunches (3pm ish) worked really well in Kyoto and Tokyo. Didn't have to wait most of the time.

Back to hotel for another soak...

 

[rbjhan]

Dinner was booked on IKYU, Agiyao, restaurant specialised in seafood.

Sashimi

​

Firefly squid


Crab from Hokkaido.


Tempura


More fish


Nodoguro I think?


Some shellfish...and sea urchin


Maguro on rice


Probably my top 2 restaurant of this trip

 

[RooFlyer]

Dinner was booked on IKYU, Agiyao,

It may be a high and example, but what would have been be the cost approximately of that dinner?

Also the canals. When they built & what for - agriculture/ irrigation or transport of goods?

 

[rbjhan]

It may be a high and example, but what would have been be the cost approximately of that dinner?

Also the canals. When they built & what for - agriculture/ irrigation or transport of goods?

Fine dining is considerably cheaper than Australia.
About $150. Note that I don't drink....

Lake Biwa Canal has an interesting history, see wiki below
But essentially all of the above and some...

Lake Biwa Canal - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[rbjhan]

New day! I decided to try something else for breakfast. Chose Shinshindo (it's a quite famous bakery shop in Kyoto). Tamago Sando and some horrible coffee - no you don't want to get me started on Japanese coffee, trust me.


First stop of the day was Yodogawa Riverside Park, in Yamata-shi near Kyoto.
There are about 220 cherry trees here on the river bank.

From Kyoto Station, took JR train to Tofukuji, switched to Keihan Raiways and got off at Iwashimizu-Hachimangu. Then just follow others, everyone's here for the sakura

The park was about 10 mins walk.
Could already see it on the bridge.


There's a viewing tower nearby, 300 Yen to enter. Highly recommend.


Great views on top.


Hachimangu was on top of that hill.

 

[rbjhan]

There's a charge of 100 Yen to enter the park - a new thing I believe. I don't mind paying coz the local government put in some effort to make sure the place is clean and tidy.

Everyone got handed two garbage bags at the entrance. Upon exit you hand them over to the cleaning crew - there were 5 or 6 people sorting through all the rubbish when I was leaving. And the whole park was pristine! Despite so many people having picnics here, not a single bottle or anything else on the ground. Only in Japan, I tell you.



Most people were near the entrance...


Further along the walk it gets quieter.







But the sakura was definitely fading... compared this picture to the ones I took in Toyama or Fukui...you can see a lot more green!


There were food stalls and I bought some grilled gyutan

 

[rbjhan]

Returned to Keihan Railways, changed at Chushojima, destination Uji.

Keihan Uji station was on the other side of Uji River, so to go to Byodoin you cross the river first.




And you can't possibly miss Nakamura Tokichi!


I ordered a みどりの世界 "green world" yes I know my translation sucks

 

[rbjhan]

Byodoin 平等院 is by far the most famous attraction of the city.
The temple represents Buddhist Pure Land. The most important feature is the Phoenix Hall, the building on the back of 10 Yen coins.

You can enter the Phoenix Hall for an additional 300 Yen, however the tour was conducted only in Japanese (I've done it before) so skip it this time.




There's an excellent museum next to Phoenix Hall, highly recommend.
Photos were not allowed though

 

[rbjhan]

Dinner time again!

仁王門 無為, recomended by a friend. It's near Keihan Sanjo station.


The menu...hmmm....luckily I didn't really have to understand this since I already ordered the omakase course.


Starter


This was the moment, when I realised there's a Geisha in the restaurant!
Ooooh never seen an actual Geisha working before

I didn't want to ask for a photo coz that would be rude...remember she was working...
So only took this shot.
She was actually with the old guy not in this picture sitting on my right.
The other 3 fancy dress people to her right were one group.


Excitement of the day!

 

[rbjhan]

Okay back to the food.
Sashimi


Tofu


I dunno, this looked like spring roll to me




Grilled fish


Chawanmushi with a twist


My course didn't include rice, so I ordered some sea urchin sushi.

 

[Quickstatus]

I don't understand...¥100 to enter park and you are also invited to help clean the park?. Or was it a cleanup activity day?

The sushi:
A lot of sushi shops in AU don't make the filling through the entire roll. Which is a bit of a rip off. What's the go over in Japan?

The gyutan:
Does it taste like beef?

I just realised that Sakè has not been a feature of your TR. Did you partake in any?

 

[rbjhan]

I don't understand...¥100 to enter park and you are also invited to help clean the park?. Or was it a cleanup activity day?

The sushi:
A lot of sushi shops in AU don't make the filling through the entire roll. Which is a bit of a rip off. What's the go over in Japan?

The gyutan:
Does it taste like beef?

I just realised that Sakè has not been a feature of your TR. Did you partake in any?

It's rude not to clean up after yourself in any public space...there are no bins. So no this is not a special day. The park would be this clean every day.
I'm not sure how to explain, but not being inconsiderate to others is a major part of Japanese culture. That's why you are also not supposed to talk on the phone in public, don't use a tripod in crowded places, etc.

Japanese sushi, yes generally I find the rice portion is smaller than here. Also females can ask for a smaller piece (rice, not the fish).

Gyutan, hmmm, it's a bit hard to describe but no it does not taste like meat, the texture is completely different.

I did mention somewhere that I don't drink, you must have missed it.

 

[Quickstatus]

you must have missed it.

My apologies

 

[Quickstatus]

females can ask for a smaller piece

Can the size be specified?

 

[rbjhan]

My apologies

No worries!

 

[rbjhan]

Can the size be specified?

I dunno...never tried it myself.
How do you specify it anyways? It's not like the chef is weighing it or something...

 

[lakeman]

Thanks for this and your previous report !
Very enjoyable.
Like the train transport themes and the ryokans.
I have done small parts of what you do but baulk at some of the roe and shellfish options.
You are brave to do this solo