Kyoto!

Seaweed anyone?

We have reached our last stop on this amazing adventure. We are already glad that we stuck it out and made it here, how beautiful Kyoto is! Though just a short distance from Tokyo by bullet train (2 hours), it was a surprisingly exhausting trip getting here. Everyone is just incredibly tired at this stage. But, we made it and Kyoto is lovely and it looks like the weather is turning for the better. We're all set for a fantastic last week.

The bullet train was very cool, incredibly fast (200 mph) yet so smooth that you don't feel it much at all. Hiroko, our host, met us at the station to bring us to our last home. It's a typical Japanese style home in the NE part of Kyoto. We had to park a short distance away and walk the final bit as it's tucked away down a small lane next to a creek bringing water down from the mountains. There is not a tourist in sight.

The house is called "Apple House" and the apple theme is carried throughout --not really sure I understand it, but Elle loves finding all the apples. It is tiny by Western standards, but so adorable and completely authentically Japanese. Our living room is just tatami mats with a low table, we sit on the floor. Our bedroom is one large area upstairs, with a divider to create 2 spaces if necessary. The beds are also just tatami mats, 4 of them on the floor with heavy duvets on top. The smell of the tatami is nice and the beds were surprisingly comfortable.

There is a small entry way with an area to remove your coat and shoes. This is one custom I wouldn't mind borrowing from Japan. You ALWAYS remove your shoes before entering any home and many restaurants. The Japanese could not imagine bringing the dirt from outside into their homes. The house does stay a lot cleaner this way and with a small baby on the floor, I much prefer it. There are always slippers at the front door to place on your feet to keep them warm.

Another custom that is different from ours is bathing. Japanese style baths are very short but deep. Elle can stand in ours and the water is up to her neck. The shower is outside the bathtub and it is customary to wash and rinse yourself before you get into the bath, then you are not bathing in dirty water. Typically, a whole family will use the same bath water each night. On this matter, I think I will stick to the Western way of separate bathing water.

We are a good distance from any restaurants, shopping or transportation, but it is a lovely walk along the creek, through the neighborhood. All the flowers are coming into bloom and it's cool to see the locals just going about their days. We stocked up on some groceries last night and had dinner at home. After easily putting both Liam and Elle to bed (both were dead tired), Justin and I watched Lost in Translation (in Japanese with English subtitles). I forgot what a great movie that is-- Sofia Coppola really got Japan right in that movie. We laughed again and again at the little nuances that she captured.

Tokyo was bringing us down a bit, but I think Kyoto will restore us and allow us to end our trip on a high note!