What a day. Clear blue sunny and 75º. Walked over 10 miles again!

Before I left on this trip, I purchased my Shinkansen (bullet train) ticket online for tomorrow morning’s Kyoto to Tokyo bullet train. I was issued a QR code to redeem for my paper ticket at the station. I decided I wanted to familiarize myself with the Kyoto Station and get my paper ticket, so I started the morning off with a walk to the Kyoto Station. And boy oh boy am I ever glad I did. Had I waited until tomorrow, I would have been über stressed navigating the station and getting my ticket – I would likely have missed my train!

But first some sights/sites along the way.

First, the station is MASSIVE and is flowing with a sea of people. Second, I thought I was in the correct line to get my ticket from the Japan Rail (JR) self-serve ticket kiosks but the friendly agent helping people out, directed me to the set of kiosks next to the ones I initially tried. No problem. The first line was short so I really didn’t waste much time there. Third, the line she directed me to took 30 minutes to get to the kiosk. Turns out my QR code was invalid at those JR self-serve ticket kiosks 😩. I went back and read the fine print with the QR code and it said for tickets from Kyoto to Tokyo on the JR line, I had to go to the JR ticket office near the Central entrance.

Found the ticket office with help from the agent at the JR information booth. Waited about 25 minutes and the agent at the ticket office told me I had to use the kiosks next to the ticket office. Got in the 10 minute queue and HOORAY it worked! So now I know what to do and where to go for next time even though there won’t be a next time. I am just relieved it worked, I have paper ticket in hand, and that I went the day before my departure so I had plenty of time to mess up by getting in the wrong lines and to figure out where to go to catch the train. (I will still get stressed but not so much now. Once I am in my seat on the train I will relax. However, I do have to purchase a ticket to get from Tokyo to Haneda (HND) airport. Am allowing lots of time.)

Walked from the Kyoto Station to Whoo Bicycles, a bike shop owned by Takuya, a friend of Ross. It’s a small “one-man” bicycle shop that has been operating since 2006 along Nijo Dori, south of the Kyoto Imperial Palace.

Before I got to the bike shop, I put on one of the cycling caps Ross gave me as a way of catching Takuya’s attention and introducing myself as a friend of Ross. (In addition to being a Butterfield and Robinson guide, Ross owns and operates Noru, a Kyoto bike tours company (noru 乗る, means “to ride). One day on our tour, Ross wore a Noru cycling cap. I liked it and asked if I could purchase a black one. Ross ended up generously giving me THREE Noru cycling caps of different patterns AND brought them to my hotel!)

Anyway, I met Takuya – a lovely man – talked a bit and ended up buying a Whoo Bicycles cycling Jersey and cycling cap! Takuya asked if he could take my picture wearing the jersey and cap and use it to promote his shop. Of course…

Walked back to Sowaka to chill and pack.

Surprise! Gonna have sushi again for dinner 🍣