Decided to head to Japan after what feels like forever. Plus, Osaka and Kyoto are new adventures for me. I tend to have a terrible sense of direction, so even familiar places can feel like the first time. I’m not one for detailed itineraries, so I rarely have interesting stories to tell after a trip. I usually wander wherever my feet take me, limiting my experiences, and even if I find a cool spot, I often can’t remember where it was to share it with others. I guess most people are like that, right? Or am I the odd one out?
During the endless COVID days, I often wondered, ‘Will the world ever let us travel again?’ It felt like an eternity. That’s probably why I felt so strange on the plane. Nostalgia hit hard, but suddenly the cabin was bustling. Who decided to serve meals on a two-hour flight? The flight attendants were more synchronized than I’d ever seen. If I were them, I’d avoid Japan flights at all costs. They rushed to serve meals and drinks, only to swiftly clean up again. Neither they nor we, the passengers, had a moment of peace. And then, the captain announced landing preparations in three languages. It was pure chaos! ✈️
First stop: Kyoto. I had to catch the Haruka train from the airport. It’s a special express train connecting Kansai International Airport with Osaka and Kyoto, run by JR. With Japan’s diverse public transport, you need some know-how to get it right. But since I dislike studying such things, I opted for the method I found in a top search result, which involved a wrestling match with the ticket machine to get my reserved ticket. I already wanted to go home. I had to scan my reservation barcode to get my ticket, then feed that into the machine to reserve a seat. Quite the mind-bender. After all that, I ended up with three tickets (one was a receipt). Navigating the ticket gates was a zen exercise in itself before finally reaching my accommodation. 🏨
Just outside the station, it was clear that Japan’s population is more than double ours. Whether it’s crosswalks, overpasses, or escalators, people move like an endless stream of ants or lemmings. Despite talk of a ‘lost 30 years,’ this country has a robust domestic market. Amidst the bustling foot traffic, it seemed like the mindset of the Japanese citizens was something like this:
I’d love to let you go first, but I really want to hurry too!
It seemed like they were trying to make way, but the path was too narrow. Eyes appeared to yield, but shoulders pushed me along. Saying ‘Douzo’ and then shoving, seriously?
How should I explore Kyoto? I love walking, but on short trips like this, you don’t see much. At the travel info center near the hotel, they strongly recommended the bus + subway day pass. It allows unlimited rides for a day, and you can reach almost anywhere by combining them. Though I planned to wander less and wasn’t interested in complex transport combos, I bought the recommended pass because I’m easily swayed. But honestly, just a bus pass would’ve been enough for me. (Didn’t wander much anyway.) 🚌🚇
(End of Kyoto Arrival.)
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