2010.07.25 Uji Byoudo-in

Had plans to meet Ai and Saki at Uji Station in Kyoto @ 3pm, so I took the Shinkansen over from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto Station for lunch.

Got a Log Kit Sasebo Burger from the food court mysteriously located on the 10th floor of the station.


JR Uji Station


Interesting mailbox


Genji Monogatari-themed decorations?


I misunderstood the plans to meet up so I changed the meeting place to the JR Uji station but things worked out. Sometimes, I should slow down and make sure I understand what people are saying before I say "I got it!" then answer something different.

Saw Ai and Saki arrive at the station, but wasn't completely sure it was them so I waited a little longer before I went over. They were waiting by the gate, so I figured it was them and went over.

At first it seemed like we were wandering aimlessly, but the plan was probably to maximize sightseeing. No sense going straight to Byoudo-in because the scenic route is so much better!

More Genji Monogatari sculptures


I don't know what that pose is all about.


Ai saw some ducks so she ran away. Ornithophobia (fear of birds)?


There is also a service to have birds catch you fish (that you eat). Hmmmmm.


The original Byodo-in was soo much better than the mini-sized Hawaii version!






After Byodo-in the plan was to get something cold to eat and try dispel the heat.

Not only do I take pictures of my food, but I also take pictures of other people taking pictures of their food too!



It was kinda scary since we could hear thunder all day. The sky looked kinda ominous.


On the way back, it was suggested we check out the 'zero yen' store. The concept is that customers can eat as much salad and tea as they want for free. The salad dressings and teas are for sale.



(?) tea, Goya (bittermelon) tea, guava tea, regular green tea

A "free lunch". I ended up buying 3 bags of tea later. 2 bags of the goya tea since it was cheaper that way(?).


Back at JR Uji, it was time to head back to Osaka. I taught Saki and Ai the meaning of crossing one's fingers. I wish I could say they were hoping I'd be back soon, but they were hoping for good test results, instead.


Uji is a great place and I would want to go back, although I'd probably have to see what else there is to do/see there. And obviously, not visit during the summer.

Was kind of tired by the time I got back to Osaka, and because Justin mentioned being free in the evening (but not giving me his contact info) I waited around for a call/text but nothing came. Eventually, I decided to go out to get some dinner. There were lots of people on the train in yukata. Somehow, I had forgotten that the Tenjin Matsuri finale was tonight and was probably over or ending around that time (9-10pm). Went to Dotonburi and ended up at Creo Ru and ordered up a takoyaki x kushi katsu x okonomiyaki set and grape chu hai.



Came here back when I made it out to Osaka in 2008, but somehow the okonomiyaki was nowhere near as good as I recall. Maybe my okonomiyaki sense went up since then? Rode back to the hotel wishing I had gone to the food court in Umeda Station instead.

I should have tried one of these places instead.

2010.07.19 Back to Kyoto, Checking out Gion

Had no set plans for today but my friend Kanae, who lives in Kyoto said she had the day off so I figured it'd be a good opportunity to see some places I hadn't before. Went to get my JR Pass so I could catch the Shinkansen there and back, or so I thought. Apparently, my idea of two weeks had been quite different than the people at JR so I had the pass re-issued from the 20th. Bought Thunderbird tickets but they never came so I wasted money.

Once I got to Shijo Station, the game of text tag began. Since train stations are usually quite big, depending on which exit one leaves from could have them quite far away from where they intended to go. Sometimes, I wonder if it even makes sense to walk like 600 meters to another adjoining station only to ride the train for one stop since it might only be another 1000 meters away.

After half an hour and 20 texts back and forth, Kanae found me.

Then it was off to look around the Gion district.


Hawaiian-themed shirts in Japan are always amusing.

Having passed by the restaurants with their wooden decks overlooking the river, I kind of wanted to go to one but the costs seemed prohibitive. Kanae took me to the only 'cheap' one. Somehow Starbucks had managed to open a store with a traditional Japanese style patio!




Champagne taste on a beer budget for sure.


This sign is important since the reading of the kanji is quite unusual. More info to come later. Sorry.





Apparently, there's a story about this tree but I forgot it. I'll look it up and edit this later. Sorry.

2010.07.17 Gion Matsuri, Toei Eigamura

Sad to say, the decision to try wear geta 'straight out of the box' was not a well thought out one. Granted, I wouldn't look right wearing sneakers or running shoes with a jinbei but as soon as I put on the geta, all my bad premonitions seemed to come true.

Despite the issue with the geta, what I could see of the Gion Matsuri was fairly impressive. To see such large wooden-wheeled carts the size of buildings being pulled down the street by men was unbelievable, especially when realizing this sort of thing has done on for a thousand years!

So many people!


I don't know what the guys on the roof do but that has to be scary standing on a 3 story tall cart with wooden wheels in the hot sun with no harness or anything.

There were also people making ice sculpture replicas of the shrines!

Bought a pair of sandals at the station but, eventually they started hurting my feet even worse since they were hard rubber and had ridges meant to 'massage' the wearer's feet!

Since the festival ended early, the next stop was Toei Eigamura to see the ninja show and Kamen Rider/Super Sentai stuff! Due to the Gion Matsuri, all people wearing yukata were given a 50% discount on their tickets. Unfortunately for me, jinbei didn't count.

Super Sentai pics:




Kind of makes me want to start watching some tokusatsu!

Actually, I just started watching Samurai Sentai Shinkenger and aside from the cheesiness, it isn't bad. I doubt this one will be ruined by Saban because it's too Japanese. Their helmets have kanji on them and their phones turn into calligraphy pens to facilitate transformation.




Outside the refuge of the air conditioning were several recreations of jidaigeki-like buildings.




Looks like a recreation of the Yoshiwara, possibly?

The ninja show was amazing, although I think photo/video was forbidden due to safety reasons. Last thing anyone probably wants to see is someone get hurt due to being blinded by a camera flash.

Despite the insistence of the people at the Kyoto visitors office, there was in fact a mikoshi happening at Yasaka Shrine that night according to the taxi driver. Unfortunately for me, my feet had given up at this point and I was forced to retire before getting to see it. All the streets had been blocked off and the sidewalks were packed! At this point I just started walking barefoot down the street near the hills leading up to Kiyomizu-dera until I could flag down a taxi driver to take me to Kyoto Station.

Got my Thunderbird tickets but neglected to get a receipt. Hobbled back to the hotel and got off my feet as soon as possible.