Day 3 Bullet train to Kyoto

Rolling out of Tokoyo to the central station where the boys did a sprint for snacks from the 7/11 for the 2 hour train ride to Koyoto. Time was short to catch the train. Thank goodness for the polite locals who helped by reading our tickets and pointing directions as we sprinted around with Arigato as our only Japanese.

The bullet train was busy but not packed with locals and tourists. The train uses maglev technology where magnets simultaneously push and pull the train, levitating the train above the tracks and helping it reach speeds to up to 200 miles per hour.

Even though the drinking age is 20, Fin managed to buy alcohol as part of his train snacks.

We arrived, grabbed another GO taxi, and headed to our hotel Monday Kyoto Karasume Nijo. After dropping off the bags in our room, we headed on foot to the Nijo Castle. Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto  residence of Tokygawa leyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1868). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and expanded the castle by adding a five story castle keep. 

After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijo Castle was used as an imperial palace for a while before being donated to the city and opened up to the public as a historic site. Its palace buildings are arguably the best surviving examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era, and the castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994. It was colder in Kyoto than Tokoyo and the castle grounds were beautiful. The boys sprinted ahead which left Dom and I to try and watch the sunset from the highest point in the gardens. Dinner for Dom and Fin was a tiny Ramen cafe. With Beers at the Balcook Grill.Læs mere