Kobe, Japan 52f cloudy and rain showers
What a difference moving north of the equator makes. Instead of dealing with stinking hot weather I am now layering to adapt to the cooler temps. We are going to hit a stretch of rain over the next week or so which brings another set of issues. Cold is fine, wet is workable but cold and wet is a different level. But no one controls the weather so we will adapt and keep moving.
Japan has a very long and complex history – I’m saving some of that for the Nagasaki post. Its culture is built on respect and always working together for the common good instead of yourself. Competition in school is fierce. Working long hours is common and only recently has the concept of work/life balance even been considered. Saving face is of utmost importance. Japan's history to current time includes many examples of people who have committed ritual suicide as an act of responsibility for a situation.
We have 2 stops in Japan - first up is Kobe, followed by Nagasake. Since my main interest in Japan is Nagasaki, my plan was to have fun day simply capturing daily living. We arrived at the port with gray skies warning of the weather ahead. The rain however was light and intermittent.
Before disembarking, we were greeted at the port by a band and people lined up on either side waving Japanese flags.
I wanted to take the Shin-kensan train – Japan’s high speed rail system that we refer to as the Bullet train. Japan started their concept of high-speed rail before WW II but was put on hold. Restarted in the 1950’s the high-speed rail system now runs through all of Japan. Depending upon the type of line and power, speed can range for 200 – over 300 mph. My guide admitted that China has some trains that travel at a faster speed, but Japan prefers safety over records.
We decided to go to Kyoto which is northeast of Kobe. From there we got on a hop on/off bus to get a general sense of the city. It all worked as having someone familiar with the logistics (which of the 14 ticket booths do you stand in for the bullet train ticket) meant we could move quicker through the short time I had in port.
We started our journey to Kyoto by walking to the subway station to transfer to the train station. That took us through Kobes’ Chinatown section. We were greeted by the Smiling Buddha.
The area was filled with food stands mainly but also some stands with daily household or personal items.
This is a typical Japanese older style shopping area with stalls facing the street but also under a roof covering. Several blocks are pedestrian only and I think you could find about anything you needed for daily life. Some of the stalls were actual store fronts of jewelry or other higher value goods.
We took the subway for several stops and then walked across the street to the train station. The Kobe train station was very nice – 2 levels filled with shops and restaurants. 7/11 is all over Japan and at the train station was actually an upscale larger store. I should have checked to see if they sold a Slurpee as what sells in the US won’t always sell elsewhere.
It is school break in Japan and the station was filled with people going on vacation. We purchased our bullet train tickets in unreserved seating as is common. The crush of people meant we stood in the end of a car for the trip to Osaka where enough people left, we could find seats. One would expect Japanese transport to be efficient and regimented. For the bullet train, there were specific spots to line up for each car you were assigned to. The lines were further defined by seats. Car 3 with seats in rows 1-8, stand here. The train arrived on time; each car lined up with the entrance portals. When the train stopped, the portals or gates swung back, people exited and only then did people board. The train took off on time, closing the gates prevented anyone from trying to jump on the train at the last minute. The train to Kyoto took about 25 minutes with a stop in Osaka.
If the Kobe train station was a delight, the Kyoto train station was unbelievable. 3 levels with the lower 2 all kinds of shops. While it didn’t have a full-service grocery store, you could buy all you needed for dinner, gifts, flowers, convenience stores, lottery tickets, personal items/pharmacy and there was a high scale small shopping mall attached that had stores such as Tiffanys. Once you worked the 12-hour day, you could bring home dinner without stopping at stores along the way. Or visiting people, you could pick up the customary small gift along the way. Sit down for a meal or have a cup of coffee. It was fun to walk through. We also picked up the On/Off bus at the train station.
Kyoto is one of the oldest cities in Japan and was originally the capital. Today the population is approximately 1.5 million. Kyoto was on the list of potential targets for the nuclear bombing but was removed at the last minute. The secretary of war Henry Stimson successfully argued the removal due to the cultural significance. It is thought that since he honeymooned in Kyoto, he had a personal reason for this as well. Being removed from the list, Kyoto did not suffer the same level of damage from WW II and retained much of its historical significance. Interesting how such strategic and life altering decisions can be influenced.
Most of my pictures are from the On/Off bus. There wasn’t a lot of time to get off at various stops and get back to the ship in Kobe. Kyoto had a couple of temples I would have loved seeing but you can’t do everything in a short time.
I was surprised to see multiple women dressed in kimonos. I assumed incorrectly that the kimono was more of a traditional costume, reserved for special occasions. It was Sunday so perhaps that is temple finery. My guide also said it was the end of a school term and kimonos are becoming fashionable to wear for graduation pictures and functions.
Architecture consisted of buildings from the colonial times ( Japan governed by other countries), older traditional Japanese buildings and of course new skyscrapers, apartment buildings etc. Here is the example of the colonial style of building - more European.
I think there was a temple or shrine on every block – there are 12,000 temples and shrines in the city. Here are some examples:
Kyoto river flows through the town and this area, in better weather, is a park that families will visit, picnic, enjoy the fresh air. It is considered Good Luck to walk across the river on the flat stones. So much good luck that people will cross and recross many times.
The site of one of Kyoto’s oldest theatres – obviously refurbished throughout the years.
Houses /businesses along the Kyoto river that becomes more like a canal in residential/business areas. These are the more traditional Japanese style mixed in with a more modern style.
Gates are extremely popular in Japanese culture, temples etc. These gates set up over roads are constructed by businesses to gather Good Fortune. Maybe they could just cross the river on the stones?
Ok I take weird pictures – no surprise. At a stop light, I saw a small crew repairing some of the pavers in the sidewalk. They had a variety of appropriately looking hand tools but notice the brooms are a bunch of twigs on a stick.
And the streetlights – I’m thinking the shape mimics the paper lantern but I’m guessing.
Finally, the Kyoto tower. In nicer weather, the view would be superb.
Then it was back on the train to make last call on the ship. I will say that the Japanese taxis are a treat. The drivers have a jacket, hat and white glove uniform. The seats are not only covered but have an additional white lace cover on the backrest. The dashboard has far more gizmos than I have seen but I’m sure with the Toyoto manufacturing and the love of all things electronic, it is pretty common there. And they remotely open and close the back doors for you. Even in a taxi, money is not passed from one hand to another. Also in shops, the money is placed on a small tray, passed to the attendant and any change is passed back in the tray. Also, they have vending machines that keep bottled drinks warm. You can get coffee or tea any time of day!
Darkness came early with the cloud cover and here is a different Kobe skyline and port bridge.
I only saw 1 branch that was just beginning to show cherry blossoms. Perhaps moving a little south to Nagasaki will show more blossoms.
Ja ne !
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