Steam rising from a volcano was the first thing I saw approaching DisneySea. I knew Soaring Fantasy Flight would be my perfect debut attraction and worthy of a 90 minute wait. The ride runs like a roller coaster through a volcano dropping, accelerating, twisting until the car pops out of the volcano crater through steam and PLUNGS down faster and faster. Cool.
OVERVIEW
WALK: 8m from Plat Hostel Keikyu Asakusa Station to Tawaramachi Station (G-19) / enter Via 1
TRAIN: 3m, 2 stops from G Ginza Line – Shibuya – Platform 1 to Ueno Station (H-18)
WALK: 4m follow JR Ueno Station District Gate
TRAIN: 10 m, 6 stops from Ueno Station on Hibiya Line – Naka-Meguro – Platform 1 to Hatchōbori Station (H12)
WALK: 4m follow signs for Sakuragawa Park District Gate
TRAIN: 14m, 5 stops from Hatchōbori Station on JE Keiyō Line – Kaihimmakuhari – Platform 1 to Maihama Station Exit via South exit
WALK: 4m from Maihama Station to Resort Gateway Station
TRAIN: 9m, 3 stops from Disney Resort Station on Disney Resort Line to Disneysea Station
WALK: 1m from Disneysea Station to Tokyo DisneySea
1h 10m / 708¥
Riding four trains and transferring to multiple stations is daunting. I spotted four Filipinos women with rabbit ears and you know where they are going. Instead of stalking them, I asked to join them in getting to DisneySea. Ten eyes are better than eight eyes. Lovely ladies who were enthusiastic over seeing Mt. Fugi the day before. (Can I work Mt. Fugi into mt final days?)
OVERVIEW
WALK: 5m from Kyoto INN Gion the Second to Higashioji Street bus stop
BUS: 25m from bus stop on Higashioji Street on Bus 206 to Kyoto Train Station
TRAIN: 2h 30m @ 9:08 on Shinkansen Train / HIKARI 500 car 12 seat 13-E to Tokyo Train Station @ 11:42
WALK: 1/2 mi from Tokyo Train Station to Nihombashi Station enter via B7
TRAIN: from Nihombashi Station on G Ginza line for Asakusa / Platform 2 local / 7 stops, 11m to Tawaramachi Station / exit via 3
WALK: 8m / .3mi from Tawaramachi Station to Plat Hostel Keikyu Asakusa Station
Arriving at the Imperial Grounds and Garden only to find them closed, I salvage the afternoon by strolling through Hibiya Park.
Gion is Kyoto’s ideal district to stay. It’s the old section with most buildings only 2 or 3 stories high and is best associated with geishas. If you want to see geishas, don’t go where the tourist are swarming. I’ve had many chance encounters on deserted side streets.
With a week left, it’s now or never. A good meal is in order. Trip Advisor’s restaurant map lead me to a promising restaurant. Not surprisingly reservations were completely full. However, charming me was promised a seat at the bar shortly. The food, drink, and ambience was all I had hoped.
Bunraku National Theater is famous for its puppetry productions. Months before coming to Japan, Eddie and I surfed the web with great interest. I actually know someone majoring in puppetry at college. With last minute encouragement from Namiyo, I went! This morning I snagged a ticket on line, traveled 1 1/2 hours on multiple trains to Osaka, and saw a four hour production. I gasped when a nursemaid tries suicide by knife! It takes three persons to operate puppet. Sesame Street was never like this.
Having walked through natural bamboo forests on Shikoku, the cultivated Bamboo Garden was too orderly. Gone were all the small plants that thrive in a bamboo habitat.
The Gion District of Kyoto is one of the oldest and is associated with Geishas. Just blocks from my inn are the two streets most attached to Geishas. They slip along these streets with eyes cast straightforward looking at no one and seeking no attention.
Using an electric wheel to make a bowl also made a beautiful memory. The truly talented person was my instructor who continuously refined my bowl. Transferring fingertip muscle memory used to shape pastry dough gave me a bit of an edge.
Keep walking and you loose the gaggle of tourists. The brilliant chartreuse green maple leaves rival the cherry blossom trees.
Linda Scandore 