The day was supposed to start off by heading to Mount Fuji. However, the weather was crap and as we were to find out throughout the course of the Japan trip, it seems that we would have no fate to see Mount Fuji. So we switched to shopping at Gotemba Premium Outlets at well...Gotemba. Boy was it a horrid choice. Firstly I did not enjoy shopping all too much. Secondly, it was a crazy 2 hours plus train ride there. Thirdly, the shopping wasn't too fantastic either. I realised that the things aren't really all that cheap. Although there's a sale, I would say it's generally more affordable for the Japanese as it is cheaper in Gotemba than anywhere else in the country. Oh and lastly, cos we almost missed our bullet train / shinkansen to Kyoto upon return to Tokyo. Mehhh.... Anw I just sat at certain corners to people-watch and observe Japanese families on their Sunday out shopping.
Even the pick-up bus is telling you to spend.
Hmm....GAP? Pass.......
Even the ferris wheel has to emphasise the premium outlets
Hmm....GAP? Pass.......
Even the ferris wheel has to emphasise the premium outlets
The rush back to Tokyo was tense. We had to go back to our hostel to claim our luggage and then head over back to the same station to leave on the shinkansen. Should have utilised the luggage locker services to cut down time. But more on that the next time..... Anw we missed our initial train but luckily it was easy to get onto the next train as it was probably not too crowded at night. Grabbed one of those bento sets to dine on the train. I also noticed that when the train arrives, each entrance would be stationed with at least one cleaner who would then proceed to clean the train and arrange everything neatly for the next ride. And they work so scarily efficiently that they are done within a few minutes. Impressed.
Finally arrived in Kyoto late at around 11 pm. The shinkansen was fast, smooth and generally very comfortable for me. However, it seems like Kyoto pretty much looks very dead by 11 pm and there wasn't much activity going around. Totally unlike Tokyo. Add to the fact that we kinda missed printing out directions to our hostel, we quickly found ourselves a bit lost in the midst of the quiet night. Thankfully for all the lords of Lonely Planet, our hostel was actually featured under the Accomodation section of the Lonely Planet guide which I had borrowed from the library since coming for the trip. Thank goodness!
The sign which caught my eye in the dead of the night from afar. Actually thinking back now, our hostel was very much within walking distance from the train station. Just that the first time navigating the maps in a city in the middle of the night(Lonely Planet maps ain't too detailed but still was our only lead) while lugging backpacks is definitely tiring. Anw, just relieved to finally see the sign!
We even had specific "stern" instructions...guess we were really really late :p
After a tiring long day, this was certainly a welcoming sight. And so it will be for the next few days stationed in Kyoto..
The sign which caught my eye in the dead of the night from afar. Actually thinking back now, our hostel was very much within walking distance from the train station. Just that the first time navigating the maps in a city in the middle of the night(Lonely Planet maps ain't too detailed but still was our only lead) while lugging backpacks is definitely tiring. Anw, just relieved to finally see the sign!
We even had specific "stern" instructions...guess we were really really late :p
After a tiring long day, this was certainly a welcoming sight. And so it will be for the next few days stationed in Kyoto..
Updates next on Kyoto!
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