Day 2: Back in Kyoto
23 February 2023, Thursday
Check out the view from the hotel! Overseeing the whole town... π
After a night at Star Gate Hotel, we were refreshed from the flight and ready to start our first full day in Japan! We headed back to Rinku-Town station to purchase our Icoca cards (basically an EzLink) and to get back to the KIX airport to redeem and take the Haruka Airport Express to Kyoto!
(Booked the Haruka Airport Express tickets from Klook - SGD$17.95/pax)
The whole redemption process was seamless (thanks to the step-by-step guide by Klook). There was a green ticket machine that would read our passport while scanning the redemption barcode that the associated travel agency provided via pdf (after confirmation of purchase with Klook) and the train tickets were issued immediately.
However, one thing to note, this ticket is NOT a reserved seat ticket. So, definitely get in the queue early for the non-reserved cabins for a good seat. Otherwise, there is probably a separate step to get a reserved seat ticket on top of this redeemed ticket which I had obviously missed out on.
The whole journey from KIX airport to Kyoto Station took about 1hr 20mins.
I booked a hotel just next to the Kyoto station (for convenience) and it was really pleasant (despite it being a little on the smaller side).
Hotel Keihan Kyoto Ekiminami
Map: Japan, 〒601-8001 Kyoto, Minami Ward, Higashikujo Muromachi, οΌοΌ
After resting a bit at the hotel, we were off to find lunch (at the station itself) and how nice to have Japanese Teishoku for a proper first meal in the country.
(I have no clue when I started to enjoy calamari... never used to like them)
After the satisfying meal, I told my sister that we could just walk along Kamo river from the station to Gion while enjoying the weather, sights and all (what I didn't tell her was how long it would actually take, since it was at least 3-4 train stations away π)
It was relaxing, just taking in the breeze while watching people cycle/picnic/hang out by the river bank.
Unfortunately, while we arrived in Gion just fine, there were just so many signs of "NO PHOTOGRAPHY AS IT IS PRIVATE PROPERTY".. that I just gave up taking any pictures in the area at all.
It was pretty crowded as well, despite it being a Thursday.
So we walked around, and concluded that it was over-hyped, or perhaps its just us not walking the right lanes. But we did past by this sweet potato dessert/snack shop which became the highlight of the day because those sweet potato chips were awesome. LOL.
I, then suggested, that we walk to Maruyama Park just to take in some nature.
Yasaka Shrine & Maruyama Park
Map: 625 Gionmachi Kitagawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0073, Japan
I was really happy, as I got the perfect replacement profile photo after many selfies at the park. hahaha. Might be being a little too bias but the greenery, the sunset and the weather was just wonderful.
We started to make our way back to the nearest station, and passed by the Chion-In Temple. It looks massive... might be worth coming back to explore beyond the gate. haha.
Back to Kyoto station, we wanted to get dinner but le sister wasn't feeling well, so she didn't have an appetite. As it was also dinner time, the eateries were all filled with queues and we just settled for bread (from the bakeries) and a burger from McDonald's.
This was the Roasted Soy Sauce Double Thick Beef burger. Umami~~~!
Just to record an episode of dumbness, I was supposed to get the set rather than just the ala carte burger, but I obviously panicked when I had to order in-person because there was no self-service kiosk in sight. LOL. I need to stop saying 倧δΈε€« to every question that I don't understand.
Next post: [Travel Log] JPN 2023 - Day 3: Arashiyama & Kiyomizu Temple
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