From One "Palace" to Another, Day 9 (Wed., 6/23) in Japan

After another nice breakfast buffet (check out Kate's "hush" brown potatoes), we did a short walk, passing a nearby temple, the local police station, and a few other sights. Many people commute via bike -- you say them in their regular business clothes, no bike helmets. When it rains they either bike while holding their umbrella or they use an umbrella clamp on the bike. Bike seats for children are either on the front or back of the bike. The best is watching ladies in lovely dresses with heels riding their bikes.

We checked out of the hotel but had them hold our luggage. The concierge gave us a bus map and explained which buses go to Nijo Castle. This is where the shogun had his seat of power, rivaling the Emperor, whose Imperial Palace was nearby. (This is when Kyoto was the capital of Japan.) Along with many schoolchildren, we arrived at the castle. The castle actually contains two palaces: the main one (a national treasure) is Ninomaru Palace (originally built in 1603), the Inner Palace is Honmaru Palace (originally built in 1626, although various parts burned down and it was replaced by a part of the Katsura Imperial Palace which was built in 1893). We were allowed to tour the main palace (having placed our shoes in cubbies), but no photos were allowed. This palace has "nightingale floors" -- the shogun was very concerned about being caught unaware, so the floor boards creak (or sing) when you walk on them. The palaces are surrounded by gardens and moats (see the photos).

After taking the bus back to our hotel and reclaiming our luggage, we re-entered the train station, bought bento box lunches,and found the track for the Shinkansen heading to Okayama. Apparently many school children came to Kyoto this week -- it looked like there was going to be a train just for them heading back to Tokyo. You'll see photos from the train including apartment buildings and rice paddies. In Okayama we changed for the local express train going to Kurashiki station. We walked the few blocks to our hotel, where we stayed last year. Much to our amazement, we are in a suite. We think much of the hotel is taken up by a business conference (the dining room was full in the evening with businessmen listening to a lecture). We have a living room and bed room with a tv in between that swivels so you can watch from the sofa or bed. Then there is a little hallway with the toilet room on the left and the bathroom (tub, shower, counter) on the right. In Japanese homes there is often a separation of the toilet and the bathing facilities (when we're back in Mishima, I'll show you Jeff & Yuko's apartment), but I'd never seen it in a hotel before.

We did a brief stroll through Kurashiki (photos will be included in day 10), picked up dinner at the Family Mart, and settled in for some World Cup review. We did go to sleep before the US game started. Another oddity in this room (which we did encounter last year in some of the hotels), the key card goes into a slot just inside the room. This turns on the power for the room, lights, a/c, etc. This way they make sure you turn everything off when you leave the room.

Here are Day 10 Photos.