KYOTO

 We left Osaka  by train for Kyoto, 36 miles away. Saw some fall colors.

Passed the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery.

Kyoto Station is impressive.

A shuttle bus comes from the Kyoto Westin Miyako twice an hour.  All hotels have at least one large Christmas tree.

Check in went well.  Nice room.  Went to the Club Lounge to do my blog.

Lot's of stuff to drink, but the food was only appetizers.

Nice breakfast buffet.

We debated going to Kiyomizu, where the Fall colors were almost past the peak.  However, this is a Saturday, and the advice was that there would just be too many people there.  So we instead caught the subway to walk up and down Shijo-dori, or Gion.  The internet here is very fast.  The next 24 photos took less than a minute and a half to download.  On some cruise ships, that would have taken all day.

Kyoto Minamiza Theater.

To Yasaka Shrine.

Yasaka Shrine.

Certainly our best viewing of Fall colors on this trip.

Supposedly, Maikos and Geishas walk in kimonos on the street in Gion.  However, most the following are probably just dressed up normal people, and those who rent.  Only a little more than $25 for 6-8 hours.

Three giant round daikon (turnips).

We thought that if there was a line to get into a restaurant, it must be really worthwhile.  So we joined one, eventually went in, and saw it was for soba.

Cold soba and beer.

Hardly worth the wait.  After a transfer, the station is a short walk to the hotel.  Back to the Kyoto Westin Miyako.

Well, I'll end my posting with 6459 steps.

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