Our bullet train adventure!

Today was a big travel day for us as we made our way from Tokyo to Kyoto. Our Shinkansen wasn’t until 11 a.m., so the morning was calm and unhurried. We packed up our things, grabbed some breakfast, and eventually made our way out the door toward the station.

A quick local train ride brought us to Tokyo Station and yet again navigating these train stations is an adventure in itself. After only slightly losing our way we finally located the Shinkansen platforms. The moment felt a little triumphant and definitely a huge relief!

We reached our platform early and waited eagerly for the train to arrive. When it pulled in, we managed to be the first ones on, scoring the perfect seats. Settled in and ready to roll, we prepared for the two hour journey ahead.

The bullet train… what an experience. Smooth, quiet, unbelievably fast. At one point it hit around 350 km/h and the scenery outside blurred past like a moving watercolor painting. We even caught a glimpse of the base of Mount Fuji, but low clouds kept the peak hidden. Fingers crossed we get a clearer view on the way back.

After about 2 hours and 15 minutes, we glided into Kyoto Station. First impressions? It feels noticeably calmer than Tokyo, but we’ll see how that holds up once we start exploring properly.

Our accommodation was only a short walk away. We arrived early, so we passed the time relaxing in the communal lounge until check in opened. Once inside, we discovered our room had a traditional Japanese style setup with mattresses on the floor instead of beds. A little different from what we’re used to, but honestly very cool.

By early evening we were hungry and exhausted, so we made the unconventional but exciting choice to try a TikTok famous spot known for… spaghetti bolognese. Yes, in Japan! But after days of Japanese cuisine, the idea of a hearty bowl of pasta sounded perfect. The restaurant was about a 30 minute walk away, and we were seated right away.

We both ordered the popular bolognese topped with a mountain of Parmesan. When it arrived, it looked incredible and tasted even better. Jayde declared it the best bolognese he’s ever had.

After dinner, we strolled back to our accommodation, got ready for bed, and crashed almost instantly.

Tomorrow marks our first full day exploring Kyoto. We can’t wait to see what the city has in store.Read more