2013 Travel Dispatch #2 (Osaka, Kyoto)

Woke to rain this morning, this is looking out the window of our Osaka hotel room. Things were pretty wet and continued to be so throughout the day.

Not a major inconvenience at first because we just had to get to and on the train and head for Kyoto, mostly dry except for the "getting to" part.

This it inside Kyoto Station. Obviously a much more modern place than one imagines when you think of its ancient and cultural reputation. 

Getting from the station to our hotel (ryokan, a traditional style Japanese hotel), was the biggest challenge of the day in a number of ways. First off was the challenge of orienting ourselves in a totally foreign (in more ways than one) city and second was navigating the streets and traffic in the midst of the heaviest downpour of the day. By the time we waded into the ryokan, we were soaked to the skin and our luggage had not faired very much better. We arrived about noon and were informed that our room would not be available until 4:00. They did allow us to regroup and dry off a bit, but then it was back to the strange streets to fill four hours until we could move into our room.

We were directed to a huge store nearby that, among other things, had a very large and fun camera department--as well as some very interesting restaurant options on the top floor--lunch!

This was one of the displays at the camera store. This is the most popular camera in Japan, the Pentax K-50. And, as you can see, it comes in a wide variety of colors. Chartreuse anyone? 

After lunch, and the modern shopping center, we ferreted out a more traditional shopping experience. A covered, it was still raining after all, but sort of open air street market that had shops and stalls that pervade all manner of things. Many of which we never did identify.

At the very end of the market area, was a lovely little shrine. Our first exposure to the side of Kyoto we had come to see.

By this time, we were somewhat footsore, weary and soggy but it was finally after 4:00. We returned to the ryokan, checked in and had a chance to relax a bit before venturing back out to find dinner in a very small, very traditional little cafe. It was sort of a Japanese version of a tapas bar and was delicious. Definitely ate some stuff we've never eaten before, good though. 

And so it goes. The weather tomorrow is supposed to be pretty much a repeat of today. Japan is currently "enjoying" their 27th typhoon of the season. Don't know what its name is, but it's probably something like "Another GD Typhoon?" We do a couple of Temple and Shrine tours tomorrow so it should be interesting.

Photography by Burdette