Sarah, Amy and I woke up early to find that Dan, Rami and Ray were still sleeping, so we decided to walk around and maybe find some breakfast. We found a crazy little corner store with ridiculously good looking, almost fake looking, fruits!
After Sarah got some strawberries, we went down some small alley and found the coolest little grocery store. Everything was perfectly packed – fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood – everything!
After getting back to the hotel we met up with the rest of the group and just decided we’d take a train to the Shijo Shopping District and walk around.
We got really hungry, so we stopped by some Tenkaippin near the Keihan Railway Gion-shijo place where you have to place your order at a ticket vending machine before coming in. There were a lot of these types of restaurants around Japan – so damn efficient!
This is a shopping district, so we shopped!
I was waiting outside of a shop and then all of the sudden a whole fleet of people in traditional Japanese attire walked down the street. Obviously, I had no idea why, can someone translate?
A the T-section of the shopping strip was a park. I still have no idea what the name of it is, but this was where the group of people congregated for a picture. Just inside were a lot of shrines and places with long strings with this prayer paper folded up and tied on them.
While walking down further, we ran in to a huge cherry blossom sitting area fully equipped with tables and tarp. I found a little stand with a ring of fish and had to grab one. It was delicious! We rested at a table and grab a couple beers.
Nearby, we found a really huge cherry blossom tree. It was completely blocked off and everyone stopped to take a picture.
I’m not sure how this park is maintained, but giant ravens flock around this area. Maybe it’s be because of the food. We ran into a group of girls all in traditional attire, a little creek, a teeny tiny waterfall, and walkways with run off on each side – so smart!
We met up with Brent and Kristine and had to wait for the dinner place to open. Kind of lame, but we had time to rest along the river and had some really good food!
After getting back to the hotel, for whatever reason we got hungry again, so we stopped by another ticket vending fast food place…YUMM.
On our way back, we just wandered around and even caught a couple break dancers doing their thing.
Next up, Hiroshima.
[Japan Trip 2010 | Tokyo 1 | Kyoto 1 | Kyoto 2 | Hiroshima 1 | Hiroshima 2 | Tokyo 2 | Fuji Q]