Spring Break - Traveling To Kyoto

Chris came home from South Korea on March 27th, and then Cassandra had her birthday on March 31st. So end of March was busy to say the least. We were running around getting things organized and taken care of, like the most important thing that we had to go together was to file our taxes. We always do them on base, it's free, it's convenient and it's efficient. But, we both have to be there to sign the papers, so it had to wait until Chris came back.

We had been talking about taking a vacation when he is back, and we were hoping that he would be here for Spring Break. He was supposed to be, but everyone that knows a little about the military knows that that can change in a heartbeat. So, as prices were expensive for airfare and hotels we didn't want to book anything for sure until we knew that he actually would be here.

I was very stressed about this, as the closer you get to the date, the more expensive the prices, and as the beginning of April also is a very high travel week in Japan, the hotels were booking up fast. The schools in Japan is all year around, and they don't start their new school year in August like most American schools do, but they have two weeks of break in the beginning of April, and then they start their new school year. The Japanese don't have much vacation, so this is a time where most travel.

It was also the time of the Spring Break from all the American schools on the bases on Mainland and here on Okinawa, so many Military friendly hotels were all fully booked. It also happened to be that the very famous Cherry Blossom Season, the Sakura, would be peaking the first two weeks in April, and Kyoto is known world wide for it's beautiful Sakura, and many photographers and tourists tries to book their trips here during this short season.

So with all this said, finding tickets and hotels that wouldn't break the budget totally, wasn't easy. It was expensive anyway, and it took a lot of patience to try to find something.

Anyway, after finding a hotel in somewhat center of Kyoto, we booked and also got our tickets for the airfare. I was so relieved, as it looked like we weren't going to be able to go. Unfortunately, the budget for vacations are not limitless in this household, and it had to be somewhat affordable.

So even more so, I was very relieved and very excited to start packing over the weekend! We left on Monday, April 3rd and to be traveling back to Okinawa on Friday the 7th of April.

Ready to go! 

 Waiting for boarding.

We flew to Osaka airport, and had to take a train to Kyoto. Japan's high speed bullet trains, also known as Shinkansen trains, offer visitors an experience like no other with speeds reaching up to 320 km/hr! They are connecting several of Japan's bigger cities and islands.

We found the right track and we are ready for speed!

We passed by many villages and cities and everywhere you can see how crowded and tight the houses are located. It's very small with very little space.

 Passed by Japan's big Chocolate factory - Meiji.

Light green trees in the middle - Bamboo forest.

 Hills covered in tall growing Bamboo forests.

 Arrived safely in Kyoto after 1 1/2 hours.

 Outside the big trainstation - Kyoto tower.

We took a taxi from the station to the hotel. 

Happy to lay down and rest after traveling most of the day!

 Benjamin and Isabella received little goodie bags. 

Toothbrush, toothpaste, indoor slippers and a small towel.

Bathroom- super small, but functional.

Searching up wifi information!

 Ready to explore. 

Here outside the hotel. Small gate almost impossible to know that it's a hotel behind there, and the kids who are used to travel and to stay in hotel said that it doesn't look at all like an hotel. But behind the gates, they had a big lobby and elevators up to the different floors.

First we needed to get everyone fed, as they only had been snacking during the day, so everyone was hungry. We didn't look around too much, but went into one of the restaurants that we found on one of the main streets. They had the usual yakatori sticks, fried chicken, soba, dumplings and all kind of food, and lots of rice alternatives, so we knew that the kids would find something that they would eat.
 

 

After dinner, we decided to walk around a bit to explore and maybe even walk to the well known covered market place "Nishiki-Dori". 

We made a stop here at the coffee stop and asked the owner where to go, as on my map we should be almost there. And yes, a few steps more down the street, we had the entrance, that you could totally miss if you are not right in front of it! Big textile signs and lots of lights, lanterns and crowded alleys with so much market stuff. 

Many shops and stands at the market were closed or just about to close, as we were there a bit late, after 7pm maybe. So all the fresh food, and all the fish markets were cleaning up as we walked by.

 A Shrine in the end of one little alley.

There were a big maze of alleys and also outdoor areas with shopping stands.

 A big area with one Sticky pic machine after the other..

It said on a sign - hug me!

After walking around for hours, we were pretty tired and after getting a bit lost walking back to the hotel, it was nice to get into bed for a nights sleep to get a somewhat early start to explore Kyoto the next day!