Our plan for today.
I think this means if the roll is low, finish it instead of throwing it away and starting a new one. But it's written that we have to use up all of this roll.
I love that there are bidets everywhere in Japan.
This is one route to Nara from Osaka.
However, that's with the Kintetsu train company, and we have regional tickets on the JR train company, so we have to take a different train.
So even though this area pass might have saved a bit of money, it also restricts our travel a bit.
These are the routes we can take with our pass.
It's supposed to rain in Nara.
So I searched online where to buy these plastic overshoes. Looks like most of the general stores: Daiso, 3 Coin, Seria.
We have a couple of laundry bags, one for clothes that are only a little dirty and that we can wear again, and another for dirtier clothes we need to actually launder before wearing again.
This is the Namba station, where we arrived from the airport. However, we need to go to the JR-Namba station, a few blocks away, since we're on the JR line.
A tiny little strip of green.
Fun storefront.
There are multiple other people walking this way, so maybe they're going to the JR-Namba station.
Is this the Namba station we need?
Nope, this is the Namba station for the Osaka metro.
We have keep going this way.
A few more blocks.
To the JR Namba station.
Now, do we need to go down to 3-4?
Or 1-2?
As long as we get on a train headed to Nara, we should be good.
The local ones have more stops, so in general those would be slower, but sometimes those leave earlier, and therefore arrive earlier than the rapid ones which leave later. Although Google Maps tells you all of that.
On the train.
Some other travelers flipped the seat back to face the other way, so we did that, too. That way you don't have to sit facing anyone.
A Hello Kitty train.
The train is filling up a bit.
Ogii getting pictures of the scenery.
Pretty sakura trees.
Some tall buildings.
Crossing a river.
Hills.
The small towns we passed looked similar to small towns in most other countries.
Except the houses here all have tile roofs.
Cars stopped for the train.
Fields.
And we're here.
At Nara.
First stop: the coin lockers to drop off one bag and half of the stuff in the other bag, so the only thing we have to carry is one backpack with Ogii's laptop.
The lockers cost around $2 to $6 depending on size.
You need this ticket to get our items back out. It's a pain if you lose it, as you have to call an employee to come open it for you.
A little French bakery in the train station.
Looks good.
Breakfast.
There's a little mall in the station, too.
Although as it was 8:30am, most of the stores were still closed. Only the grocery store on the lower level was open.
A display.
Of porcelain dolls.
And other period items.
The bathrooms have sit and squat options for toilets.
Although they tend to not have paper towels or blow dryers; it seems that most Japanese people carry a small rag to dry their hands afterwards.
They have a sign directing us to Nara Park.
You can take a bus, but it's only about a 20-minute walk.
So we decided to walk.
Not too many people out yet.
Sanjo Street goes straight to the park.
It has a pretty sidewalk.
And has many shops.
Many have pictures of deer.
An unmanned store; that's neat.
Crane and gacha games are popular in Japan.
A small shrine.
Don't litter or the deer might eat it.
A temple.
Neat sculpture.
Hawaiian woman painting.
Higashimuki Shopping Street is right before the park.
Deer.
Even deer at McDonald's.
We wanted to stop at Daiso.
To pick up some rain shoe covers.
They were right out front.
I don't know if they'll fit me, though; the largest said US size 6.5. Next time, I should buy them in the US before leaving.
Ogii bought these same bowls at the Daiso in Hilo.
I wanted a charging cable, too.
Shrine out front.
Walking to the park.
Sign telling drivers to watch out for deer.
There are some.
They chase you if you have food.
Many more.
Ogii petting one.
They seem pretty tame.
You can buy crackers here.
To feed the deer.
Ogii feeding them.
They get very aggressive if you have crackers. They even bit Ogii a few times.
Pretty sakura tree in the park.
Ogii under it.
Petting a deer.
Selfie with a deer.
Many people, many deer.
Many poops.
On my shoes.
A little one.
Interested.
Close.
Sorry, no food.
When the wind blows, the cherry blossoms fall like a blizzard, which is called sakura fubuki.
We had originally planned to see a few more shrines, but it was getting darker and starting to sprinkle a bit, so we decided to head back to the train station. Gotta dodge all the deer on the sidewalk.
Manhole cover with a deer.
A little confectionary shop.
With many small items.
Deer impressions.
Cookies to test.
More snacks.
With deer origami.
Kimono rental.
Stained glass deer.
An optical shop.
inside.
A lensometer for figuring out your prescription and edger for making new glasses.
Now more of the stores are open, so Ogii can shop a bit.
This shop had ice cream in the shape of a rose.
A paper store.
With origami paper.
Manhole cover with a fire truck.
These deer are closer to the train station than the park.
Back at the train station.
The small mall here is open now.
Mahoroba Daibutus Pudding was on our list.
There it is.
Many options.
We got a few puddings.
Getting our stuff out of the locker.
Again, the local train leaves sooner, the rapid train leave later, but they both arrive at about the same time.
A woman only train car. I guess we have to go over to the next one.
It even says on the ground in front that it's women only.
Here is our train.
Now we know to switch the seat direction.
This train was pretty empty.
Ogii sat on the left side to get pictures that way.
And I was on the other side for pictures that way.
Apartments.
Gardens.
Cherry blossom trees lining a river.
Houses with cherry blossom trees.
Tennis.
A little park.
Fields.
A temple with steps up to it.
In the US, you'd see many cars at the train station parking lots. Here, it's many bicycles.
Wide river.
At Kyoto.
There is a mall at the tration station.
With many shops.
L'Occitane.
Ogii checking it out.
Kyoto Tower.
First time taking a bus on this trip.
Getting on.
It was pretty busy.
Instead of paying when you get on, you pay when you get off.
A food Hall.
A variety of choices.
A paino anyone can play.
Nice seating.
Ogii had sushi.
Nice variety.
With soup.
And dessert.
I tried out the steak place.
Their burger.
Ben's Cookies was nearby.
Those look really good.
So we bought a box.
Sakura over a stream.
Crossing the Kamo River.
There are many tanuki statues of the chubby, smiling Japanese racoon dog, a symbol of luck and prosperity.
We stayed at Hotel Sasarindou.
The entrance had an old Rolls Royce.
Different strengths of reading glasses at check in.
Tourist map. We're just to the east of the river, in the Gion district.
If you leave your bags there, they just leave them in the lobby with a net over them. They'd all be stolen in most other countries in the world.
This glass along the ceiling has a warning to watch your head. Most Japenese people probably don't have to worry about it, but taller tourists do.
A little entrance room for our shoes.
The room was huge for Japan.
Nice bathroom.
With an all-tile shower room. I love these; you can steam up the entire room.
Robes.
I recognize that logo.
Amazon delivers everywhere.
Just to the east a few blocks was Yasaka Shrine.
There are a ton of vendors there.
Staute of a woman and a bunny.
Inside.
Pretty.
Another entrance.
With us.
More vendors.
Lots of food.
Ogii with one of the tanuki statues.
Interesting architecture.
A photo stand-in.
A post office.
We bought some post card staps.
Wings.
More sakura trees.
Little shrine.
Neat wood carved store name.
Statue of Izumo no Onuki, who performed Kabuki dances here.
Another angle.
Pontocho Alley, with many little shops.
Shinkyogoku, a covered shopping arcade.
Can they prove they have the best prices in the entire country?
There were many people.
Shinkyogoku is north and south with larger stores; to the west is Nishiki Market, which has smaller stalls.
With all kinds of food.
Seafood.
Candy.
More seafood.
Down one of the side alleys.
Wagyu.
Sake.
Squid skewers.
They heat them right there for you.
Octopus with quail egg inside.
This delivery woman saw some friends driving by in a car.
Little statue.
A paper store.
With some post cards.
Other cards which are very complex.
From the traditional washi paper.
From natural materials.
An upscale clothing store across the street.
Not our style, but fun to look.
What is this?
Ah, it's a high-end restaurant.
With one of the coolest entrances I've seen.
Back to the shopping streets.
Ogii buying some gifts.
Clothing.
Kindal is a high-end thrift store.
Ogii shopping.
Some cool cork Nike shoes.
Reebok pumps.
She likes this hat.
Fun shorts.
I'm not paying over $500 used just because it's by Hermes, though.
Contact lens store.
Ogii had found the Kyoto Sumo Club.
They had hot pot for dinner.
Sake.
We had great seats, the closest ones other than the couches on the floor.
Geisha show.
Sumo matches.
Starting.
Finishing.
They had some funny interactions with the audience, too.
No peeking.
On the other side.
Another round.
Llast one.
Throwing.
Down.
Then they picked some audience members to fight them. They were both worried about this big guy.
I was chosen as well.
So far nobody has beaten them.
But the big guy got off really quickly and pushed the sumo wrestler out.
Now my turn.
It was like running into a wall. I was hoping I could dodge to the side when he came at me and have him keep going out, but he was too smart for that, and he threw me out.
Photo afterwards.
A video of some of the show.
Us with the geisha and wrestlers afterwards.
Neat donut place.
Car with some extra lights.
Some items from the sumo club.