Kyoto Day 1 Part 1

Set off in early morning to Kyoto and took rapid train (not Shinkansen) by Hankyu Railway and reached Kyoto in 40 minutes. I always thought going from Osaka to Kyoto the best way is by bullet train and the price is so steep that buying JR Pass is better. Apparently there are many cheaper options available. We left our bags at the hotel and set off on his Shrines/Temples tour. Most of Kyoto main attractions are all shrines and temples and that was precisely great for his shrine otaku tour. He had made a list to visit 6 - 7 shrines at least during our days in Kyoto and had warned me about the numerous slopes and stairs to climb throughout the trip. 

Early morning in Kyoto was serene that's until the peaceful atmosphere was disrupted by multiple groups of tourists then. There were sights of ladies dressed in kimono and I realised most were Taiwanese tourists! Japanese girls only dressed like that only appeared from late afternoon when the sun and heat was not as strong.

Early morning set off from Osaka station

8am quiet Kyoto street

The famous Gion street

Yasaka shrine

Chion temple

waiting for clock to stuck 9am to collect his stamp

Inside Yasaka shrine

Entrance of Kodai temple

one of temple that has less foreign tourists and we were able to walk around and enjoyed

View from Kodai temple

Kyoto Gokoku shrine that worship fallen soldiers 

Kiyomizu temple

Jishu shrine inside the temple

so beautiful!

so long queue and of course we did not join in. 

Osaka Night

Thanks to S reserve army training session, we get to go to Osaka! Or least eat their authentic and famous Osaka takoyaki! We took 1 hour plus flight to Itami airport and used the airport bus (40 mins) to transfer to Osaka station. By the time we settle at our "small, basic with no wifi and conditioner" hotel, it was close to evening. Thereafter we went to famous entertainment district, Namba. The choices were overwhelming and so many tourists including us lol! What's coming to Osaka without eating their takoyaki so we ate one of the takoyaki restaurant before calling a night since S had training the next day. 

Vacation starts now! 

Should be another famous takoyaki store

the one we queued, you have to buy their takoyaki first thereafter moved up to level to eat other stuff. 

S looking bored

subsequent orders 

okonomiyaki also yummy! 

this is another famous version of Takoyaki without the sauces! You can supposed to dab it in the soup given along and eat it. I love it more than the normal type. 

The famous glico icon!

wanted to eat here before we came, but my family persuaded me its only for tourists who doesn't know better and extremely expensive. Here in my countryside it famous for affordable and tasty seafood like scallops, why pay high prices.... But... the shop looked so tempting wasn't it? 

walking back to hotel

Birthday Lunch at North 40-40

This year is our first visit to North 40-40 finally since the few tries we wanted to go was either fully reserved for event or closed. Went to celebrate S birthday and as usual we were never be disappointed with the food quality. Happy Birthday!

appetiser 1

appetiser 2

fish with fried potato

rice koroke

"tv show" まれ, dessert

Basketball Game ( Aomori VS Sendai )

S made friends during his reservist and one of them happened to be a basketball assistant coach for Sendai Team. They had a match against Aomori Team in Hachinohe and so we went to support him and his team. Since we were in Aomori Team homeground, their supporters show up in their shirt and towel and the daring S was one of the few (maybe only one in the second level) in Sendai Team shirt. I brought mine along but its was quite hot to wear another layer and the size was big so I decided not to wear it. 

This is my first attending a live basketball match and it was very entertaining, even during the breaktime, time out were filled with performances from the cheerleaders and kids. I was not expecting it to be so exciting and was glued to their movement throughout the match. Kind of scary to cheer for Team Sendai since everyone else kept their silence or booing. Regardless, Team Sendai won, Ya!

warming up before the game, yellow is team sendai and blue is aomori team.

the cheerleaders from Aomori Team

during time out

all the breakout regardless long or short were filled with dances