April 6

Today we will hike Mt. Inari and visit the Nijo Samurai Castle. It is an absolutely beautiful day. Blue skies and temperatures in the 70s. We have a rendezvous time of 8 am. Of course, Matt and I are up and showered well before then. We decided to give the coffee at 7-11 a try when we discovered Soto Coffee was closed. The coffee at 7-11 was amazingly good. Good as almost anywhere else I’ve bought coffee and it cost less than two dollars. 

After the guys were up and ready to go, we headed out. We stopped at Family Mart for some coffee and breakfast food. Matt and I shared an egg sandwich. This is the whitest bread you’ve ever seen in your life and they even cut the crusts off! But it tasted good. The coffee here is not nearly as good as 7-11 but it is passable. 

We taking a different train today which is closer to us. We were on the train in a few minutes. We missed our stop the first time and had to head back but not much time was lost. We got off the train and our hike was just a few minutes from the train station. We are hiking the Fushimi Inari Taisha with many other thousands of people. Much like all the activities we have done, there are so many people everywhere. This hike is famous for its thousands of of vermilion torii gates. It wasn’t very difficult and we enjoyed it. About 800 feet of elevation gain over 1.5 miles. I think it is safe to say that you will never do another hike like this one in your life. There are torii gates everywhere, of every imaginable size, hundreds upon hundreds. Altars and other religious relics. There was a nice view of the city from the top but it is a bit hazy today. Still very nice. 

After our hike, we boarded the train to head for the Nijo Samurai Castle. We have a 2:10 entrance time for our tickets so we stopped for lunch. Mohan, once again, found a highly unusual place. This place was a tiny little hole in the wall that seated only five people at a bar like counter while the cook and his helper prepared your meal in the smallest space. How they did it, I have no idea. But the food was wonderful. Matt and I both had fried chicken with some pickled vegetables. So yummy. After lunch, Mohan found us another unusual spot for coffee. This place roasted their own beans and the coffee was to die for. We got some local pastries too. Matt and I shared a slice of pineapple cake, unlike anything I’ve ever eaten but so good.

After coffee, we went to the castle. Now, this is not a castle like any castle you’ve seen before. This is a samurai castle, built in the 1600’s. Austere with takami mats everywhere. There is nothing in it but rooms and paintings on the walls. The stuff we Westerners accumulate for opulence is not what happens here. Not really a whole lot to see. But interesting, nonetheless. And of course, we had to follow all the rules, which includes no shoes. This castle was where samurai rule started in Japan and also where it ended and rule was handed back to the emperor. Such a different line of history than what we know in the West. The grounds were beautiful too, more cherry trees and beautiful plants. 

Now, what to do? We decided to head back and rest a bit. I am so tired that I am ready to drop. Matt and I have both had a little something going on. I’ve felt fine but aware my body is fighting something and he has a cough. But overall, we are doing well. After blogging a bit, I hit the bed and passed out.

And now, we are headed out for dinner to yet another place Mohan has found. He has been great to make sure we are having every culinary experience available to us here in Japan. 

Our search for a dinner location was very difficult as everyone in Kyoto was looking for the same thing! The first place had a line so long that they said they would not be serving anyone else that evening. The second place said they would seat us at 9:45. Not workable. We finally ended up at a Chinese dumpling restaurant. Mohan wasn’t a fan. The rest of us thought it was good and it worked for us. By that time, we were starving so we were happy to find a place that could seat us immediately. 

After dinner, Dan took us to another karaoke bar. I told him I would go if the lines weren’t long and it wasn’t stinky. Lo and behold, nobody was in there at all. It was a super fun place and the bartender loaded us up with all kinds of snacks. He played tambourine along with us singing. It was such a fun experience. We sang a bit and then Matt and I headed back to our place. Dan and Mohan stayed on to enjoy more time there.

Hit the bed and passed out again!! We are walking 20,000 or more steps most days and my body is feeling it for sure. But such a good time.