Meandered through the streets of Hiroshima to the train station. I continue to be amazed how most city streets are single-lane affairs shared by cars, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Street in Hiroshima
An interesting shrine I saw on my way to Hiroshima station.
I found some cool manhole covers along the way. I have a book at home that has 700 manhole covers from across Japan in it arranged by theme, and I’m pretty sure both of these are in it.
Hiroshima manhole cover showing chains of origami cranes, like one sees at the Peace Park.
Manhole cover showing Hiroshima Castle.
Hiroshima station was packed. I had to wait in line quite a while to exchange my voucher for my rail pass, which is effective from today. The Shinkansen I took from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka was packed. I had some Pringles on the train; they are much smaller than American ones, less curved, less salty than even the reduced salt ones I normally buy, and less flavorful. But hungry people with limited food options can’t be choosy.
I have tiny hands. These Pringles are very small.
I then bought a ticket from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto. This was not a Shinkansen train, and it was very difficult finding the correct platform. I literally made it on at the last second. Unlike the Shinkansen, there was hardly anyone on this train.
Cool wooden-backed seats of the non-Shinkansen train I took from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto.
After arriving to Kyoto, I found my hostel for the next few nights. They let me check-in a little early and I took a small nap. The beds here are more like traditional hostel beds, though they do have a privacy curtain, USB charging ports, and a small reading light. I can tell already that it will be a bit harder to sleep tonight; the person in the bunk below me also was napping and he snores.
After my nap, I headed back to the station to get some food from the incredibly large department store there. I have now seen - but certainly didn’t purchase - Japan’s infamously expensive fruit. The apples ranged from ¥400 ($2.70) to ¥900 ($6.05) each depending on the variety. Grapes were ¥1800 ($12.10) to ¥2300 ($15.45) for a small bunch, and I saw a ¥6800 ($45.68) melon.
Kyoto Station
I also got a glimpse of the Kyoto Tower, which has been mocked in just about every guide I’ve seen as being a silly looking rocket. I don’t think it looked too bad.
Kyoto Tower, which unfairly gets mocked.
The coolest part of Kyoto Station is this illuminated staircase that stretches up 11 stories. The lights show animations accompanied by sounds and music.
Staircase showing an animation of people walking through the station.
And now the stairs are showing Japanese patterns.
Today was mostly traveling, but I’ll have two full days in Kyoto, so check back tomorrow!