A Kyoto Experience...

We were on our way down Lake Kawaguchi and Mt Fuji to board the Shinkansen to Kyoto.

Lunch was at a ramen store we spotted at Mishima Station. The store wasn't elaborately set up but it was
sufficient to satisfy hungry commuters. Daddy had a steaming hot bowl of beef soba. It was an experience
for us too because we had to stand like the Japanese to eat our lunch.

The journey to Kyoto from Mishima Station was 2 hours long, we arrived at Kyoto and headed straight for our hotel, New Miyako Hotel. The room was small in comparison to the 2 we had stayed previously but it was cosy.

It was already dark after we had settled down and we went roaming around our hotel. Dinner was at MacDonald's and we tried the different burgers they had.

Their prices are comparable to what we have here in Singapore.

In the evening, after the children had slept, the 2 Daddies went out to get supper; instant noodles and some
snacks for our journey on the Shinkansen back to Tokyo.

The next morning, we had breakfast at one of the stores near the Kyoto Subway Station and C was enjoying
every bit of her breakfast of udon noodles.

After that, we went to explore the Kyoto Imperial Palace. We bought a 2-day travel pass and boarded the train towards Marutamachi Station. After a 5 minute walk, we reached one of the many entrance of the Imperial Palace. The grounds of the Palace was huge and it was truly a sight to behold.

C had fun picking up pines along the way and the girls managed to even spend some time at the play ground there.

Some pictures we took while we were there at the Imperial Palace.

Then we made our way to the Toei Uzumasa Eigamura Movie Museum.

It wasn't as easy to reach the museum because the directions I got off the Internet was not clear enough and we had to make a pit stop to ask for directions. Well, it was killing two birds with a stone because it was a great lunch.

This was the store we had lunch and the owners were very kind to give us a map of the place.

After like a 10 minute walk, we reached our destination.

In case you are wondering, yes this is a real movie set. Movies and drama series about Samurais, and the Edo period are filmed here.

We even caught a performance.

Then it was time to say goodbye ...

Us, taking their Subway: traveling like the Japanese would. :)

Dinner in the eveing was food packed from JR Isetan at Kyoto Station. C insisted on Japanese food again and I asked her if the food was nice. She smiled with her mouthful of sushi and nodded. Daddy and I are glad that our Precious is having a great time.

The next day, we explored the Nishiki Market

Food sampling was common in the market and the girls sure had a fun time tasting the different types of delicacies found there.

This little shrine was found at the end of the long lane of the Market.

Next, we ventured to the famous Gion region.

Unfortunately, we didn't manage to see any geisha.

But we went to Yasaka Temple.

So sweet! :) The Groom said we could go ahead and take pictures of them.

C was amazed with how the people at the temple sounded the bell after their prayers and she wanted to try too.

Then after a hurried lunch, we made our way to our Wagashi workshop.

This place was tucked away from the main street and we had to stop on several occasions to ask for directions in case we went the wrong way.

A 4-person workshop cost this much. But it was worth it because this was truly an experience to have.

Where else would we be able to do this?

There are different sweets for the different seasons...

C and I trying our hands ... it was not easy!

We made a flower and leaf. Just look at the ones done by Sensei! It takes 10 years to become this good. The ingredients, we learned are also very costly. It was no wonder why the sweets are so pricey: they are difficult to make and top-grade ingredients are used. We had wanted to get some back but Sensei told us that the sweets are best eaten within 2 days.