Day 7 - Kyoto

Today started with a trip to the Tsukiji fish market. This is meant to be filled with some of the most colourful and exotic fish in Japan, and the place to try some of the freshest sushi in the world. At least, that's what we had heard. Our personal experience, however, was a little less exciting: we arrived to find nothing more than a couple of squashed fish on the floor, a few stray cats, and a load of men driving forklift trucks. From what we can gather, there is a lull between the early morning tuna auctions and the rest of the day at the market, and we managed to get there right when there was nothing going on. Unfortunately, we were pushed for time, as we needed to head back to the apartment to check out at 10, so we couldn't wait around for things to pick up, so we've decided to give it another go on our last day in Tokyo at an earlier, and hopefully more interesting, time.

After a breakfast of microwave scrambled eggs to use up the last of our shopping, we checked out of the apartment quickly and headed out to Tokyo Station, with Sarah's now broken bag in tow, to catch the Shinkansen which would take us to Kyoto. We needed some nommins for the journey, so we picked up some bento at the station, which is kind of like a Japanese packed lunch. Helen got tonkatsu bento (pork, to keep her safe from the fishies), and Sarah, of course, chose the kiddie Pokemon bento, which came with stickers and a bag =D

After a sleepy train journey, we arrived in Kyoto. Our original plan saw us going on a casual wander around some of the interesting sites surrounding the station before checking into the apartment at 5. Unfortunately, we forgot to factor in just how hot it would be after we got off the air-conditioned train dragging our heavy bags along with us. We decided that the resourceful traveler would seek shelter from the midday sun whilst quenching their thirst and hunger, so we did just that, and hid in McDonalds until check-in time.

We started out with some Oreo McFluffys and a large Coke Zero and Orange juice, which helped cool us down. Nearly 2 hours later, we went back to the counter to grab some Japan-exclusive Teriyaki Chicken Burgers and more drinks, so that we wouldn't feel quite so bad about sitting there for so long. This clearly wasn't the issue that we though it was though, as the couple sitting next to us had finished their small drinks before we arrived, were STILL THERE when we left, and in fact cracked open their own little picnic half way through.

We left McDonalds and went to the apartment, expecting a similar setup to the one we had in Tokyo. We were in for a surprise, as space isn't quite such the issue in Kyoto as it is in Tokyo, our apartment here is about 3 times bigger that the other one, has 4 separate little rooms, a washing machine and is only just down the street from the station. We also discovered the joys of Japanese children's television, when we saw a song which was trying to teach children English in some ridiculously mental way.

The video below has no sound, unfortunately, and some very shaky camera work because Helen was laughing so hard, but the link has a short clip of the music that goes with it.




Click the link and then press the musical note to hear an extract from this highly educational tune.

Tomorrow we're off to Arashiama to see some temples and meet some monkey friends