April 14	Home	Calender	Map	Japanese	April 16

April 15

To Kyoto / Miyoko's House

We activated our JR Rail Passes today, which basically gives us free use of the Japan Rail system. This means we can go almost anywhere in the country on those famous "bullet-trains". And today we go to Kyoto.

Kyoto is famous for a few reasons. It used to be the capital of Japan. It also has a bunch of temples and shrines, and alot more of a traditional look and feel than Tokyo. It is probably one of the most visited places in Japan, by tourists.

That being said, Jen and I didn't visit even one temple while we were there. We kinda walked through one, if that counts. My main purpose for going to Kyoto was to visit my friend Miyoko, who I met 3 years ago while traveling with other friends.

It took us about a half-hour of walking, an hour of searching, then shopping at a 100 yen shoppe, then more searching before we found her place. Her husband, Inoue-san, runs an izakaya (a Japanese drinking and eating house). Apparently they remodeled it, and so it was impossible for me to recognize it from the outside.

I caught Miyoko by surprise, I think, but regardless - without missing a heartbeat - she allowed us to stay at her place that night. We had a few yaki tori (grilled chicken on sticks) courtesy of the house, and then retired to her room, which is upstairs above the restaurant. There we talked until late at night. Late enough so that Jen fell asleep, while we chatted.

So, just a little background on Miyoko: she's about 65 or so, started travelling around the age of 45, and has seen a good part of the world - more than anyone else I know. She has the energy and flexibility of a 25-year old gymnast. Apparently last year she travelled to Europe. She spent 2 months, went through something like 16 countries, and, including airfare, only spent a few thousand dollars (she's of the cheap traveler ilk - even sews her own travel clothes).

Eventually, after much talk in English and Japanese, I, the weak 27 year old, went to sleep, while she stayed up for a few more hours.