Kyoto

Yesterday we rode the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto. The ride only took 2.5 hours as the country sped by. Note I said country, not countryside, since the latter would imply farms and fields and the train corridor was not that -- it was built up the entire way. If I had to sum up Japan in one sentence so far, it would be this: there are SO MANY PEOPLE, which should make you feel crowded and cramped, yet they are all so polite and considerate that everything just flows. Trains are always on time. Trains are silent -- no one uses their cell phone onboard! We've had people walk us to our destination multiple times. Everyone welcomes us and thanks us profusely at restaurants. And the cities and country itself are beautiful.

After 4 nights in a western hotel, we're now staying in a ryokan -- a traditional Japanese inn. They range from super fancy to bare bones; the one we're in is like a hostel with a very Japanese flair. The beds are futons on the floor, and the floors are tatami mats.

Gotta run off to explore!