Day 5 was my planned day to travel to Kyoto, but besides all of that business and exchanging my rail pass, I had a little time in each city.

 

I didn't wake up early enough for the Tuna sales at the Tsukiji Market, but I definitely wanted to hit it before leaving and for one last sushi breakfast.  Honestly, I think I had enough of the fishy smell and was good skipping the sales, plus I needed to be there by 5.00.  That wasn't happening with all my walking that I had been doing. 

 

Random memorial building to fallen soldiers.  One of the things I like the most about new cities is walking up on the unexpected.

 

 

The market itself was already moving at 8.00 that morning.  Just a normal day for them.

 

A little much for someone that doesn't eat breakfast, so I stuck with just a couple pieces of sushi and a grilled chicken skewer. 

 

Here was one of the better examples of a sushi menu at the Market.  I really didn't' see that many rolls anywhere in Japan, especially to the level that we go to with our rolls.  

 

Street side of the market area.  The commercial side was the equivalent of walking on a freeway.  I could only imagine it a few hours earlier.

 

The first capsule hotel was close by.  It is closed and there have been several proposals about what to do with it from tearing it down to renovating it.  I think they should keep it just for its uniqueness. 

 

Back to riding the bullet trains.  They did seem faster than their counterparts in Europe. 

 

Typical scene from Tokyo to Kyoto.  I was amazed that the majority of the coastline was built up.

 

Typical rural scene.  Rice fields everywhere.

 

I made it to Kyoto with no problem.  I just barely saw the base of Mt Fuji in all the rain and fog.  That was a disappointing point of the trip because I had hoped to climb it, but it was already snowing on the top of it.  I was surprised that I never really saw it also, but it was gray about everyday. 

 

And a typical display of plastic food outside of a restaurant in the Kyoto train station.   I had the 3rd from right on the bottom row for lunch that day.  I even saw advertisements for where you could get the plastic food in Tokyo. 

 

More fisheys outside the Higashi Honganji Shrine in Kyoto. 

 

I made it to my apartment a little before the sun set.  It was a 10 min walk from the main train station.  It was easily twice the size of the first one and it had a TV.  I did have to check that out for a bit, but like here, there wasn't anything on. 

 

After a couple hours in Kyoto, I could tell this city was more my speed.  Yes, there was a lot of people, but no where as many as Tokyo.  The buildings were smaller also and I didn't feel so small. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Tokyo, but I know a city like Kyoto is more my speed.