After being hidden in cloud yesterday, today Mount Taido was clearly visible …
… as we entered the Japan Railways station in Nikko dating to 1912.
We took the local train through countryside to Utsunomiya Station where we changed to our first Shinkansen to Tokyo, which caused a little concern as the ticket we had was only one of two tickets we needed! Fortunately all was well and we didn’t miss our train, but the only snap I have is this arty one Chris took.
It seemed that the urban sprawl began here and continued all the way to Tokyo.
At Tokyo, we struggled slightly changing platforms, but our pre-booked ticket got us through and we lined up in the right spot to board the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train.
Travelling at a maximum speed of 285 km/h between Tokyo and Kyoto, the scenery whizzed past the window and almost made me queasy to watch. Instead, there was a more exciting attraction inside as we had time to get snacks before we boarded.
This was my first bento box, and how lovely it was! Unfortunately no vegan options, so Chris had Onigiri with pickled plums and a cream puff!
So this was a special seasonal box, and I just have to share the translation.
Autumn in all its glory, a feast for the soul. Cherishing the five tastes and five colors of Japanese cuisine, and using “boiling, grilling, and frying” to enhance the flavor of the ingredients, this is a “Taste of Japan Expo” featuring thirteen delightful dishes perfect for autumn, allowing you to enjoy the flavors of the season.
Starters – Simmered tofu skin with white dashi sauce and topped with black beans and Enoki mushroom and kelp salad
Grilled – golden snapper marinated in Saikyo miso, Teriyaki chicken thighs and Roasted egg
Boiled – Taro, carrots, butterbur, red maple leaf-shaped gluten
Fried – Maitake mushroom tempura and Pumpkin satsuma-age (deep-fried fish cake)
Matsutake mushroom rice topped with salmon roe and sudachi citrus
Pickles – Kishu Nanko plums and Pickled red turnips
Sweet – Persimmon dango
How amazing is that … and so delicious … for £7.50!
I had carefully booked seats on the Mount Fuji side, but true to form, the summit was covered in cloud as apparently it is for 285 days of the year.
Arriving in Kyoto, we took the metro a couple of stops …
… and checked in to MyStays before going to explore.
It was already starting to get dark as we crossed Shoji bridge …
… and saw people sitting along the riverbank.
We took a walk around Gion, but to be honest, it was so crowded and my camera doesn’t work so well at night. Two places we had noted with vegan choices had queues of around an hour, so when Kyoto Engine Ramen said 20 minutes, it was a result … and very tasty ramen too!
