The hotel owners took the lead on our dinner tonight and booked us into a restaurant close to the Pagoda in Gion. We told her that we wanted to experience something very traditional and she recommended a restaurant called Karyo.
She checked that we were ok with raw fish, and had a big appetite, and booked us the 10 course taster menu for 8pm. She said that we would love the place and it was one of her favourites, and she wasn't wrong! She also booked us a table facing the chefs, so we could see everything going on in the kitchen.
The restaurant was in a very traditional part of town, and I doubt we would have dared entered without a booking. It almost looked like somebody's house. But as soon as we walked in, they knew who we were and greeted us very warmly. We had to take our shoes off at the door and were then shown to our seats. This place had a great buzz and 5 chefs were hard at work in the kitchen, in full view from our seats.
We started off with a free drink, courtesy of our hotel which was a really nice touch. And then the food came. 1, 2, 3 all the way to 10 courses. And each of the courses had up to 3 bits to them, and were all different. It was amazing and by far the best meal we have had in Japan so far.
We had raw octopus, whole baby squids (heads and all), sea bream, mackerel, crab dumplings, raw beef, scallops, salmon roe eggs and so many other things that we don't even know the names off! And the puddings, well... Sesame Seed ice cream, cherry blossom cake and a strawberry creme mousse. A true experience.
And in terms of attention to detail, each of the dishes had a live cherry blossom branch as decoration - but with each course, the buds were opened more each time. Something so unique.
We also had some amazing Sake with the meal, but didn't feel the need to drink too much as the taste buds were flowing...
Our first night in Kyoto, and one to remember forever.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
The Lantern Walk
This evening we set out around 6pm to do the Lantern Walk around the temples and shrines of Gion. The sun was setting and the lanterns had just been turned on, and lined each side of the street. They guided you through temples, shrines and beautiful gardens. There was a real mystical feel to the whole place and you could feel traditional Japan all around you.
It was by far the most romantic place we have ever been, and Andy said that he wished he could have proposed here. It would have taken a lot to top Rome, but I could feel what he meant. This place was so charged with love and romance, and felt really mystical, like being in an old Japanese Geisha movie.
With every turn of the road there was something else to look at, a lantern lit pathway crossed with a little boutique selling lanterns and Japanese paper. There were a lot of people milling around but that only added to the buzz of the place. When we walked through the park, we passed a flower exhibition and a stream filled with bamboo with tea lights inside to light up the whole river - it was extraordinarily beautiful.
At one stage we were just walking along when we saw a couple peering through a bamboo gate and being the curious beings that we are, we stopped to see what they were looking at. On the other side was what can only be described as a secret garden with a stream filled with golden koi carp. Surely this had to be make believe?! It was fairytale-like.
Andy was really proud of the photo he took on his iPhone. To be fair, it looks like something off a poster and it's much better than the photo I took with the SLR!! I promise it's real though!
It was by far the most romantic place we have ever been, and Andy said that he wished he could have proposed here. It would have taken a lot to top Rome, but I could feel what he meant. This place was so charged with love and romance, and felt really mystical, like being in an old Japanese Geisha movie.
At one stage we were just walking along when we saw a couple peering through a bamboo gate and being the curious beings that we are, we stopped to see what they were looking at. On the other side was what can only be described as a secret garden with a stream filled with golden koi carp. Surely this had to be make believe?! It was fairytale-like.
Andy was really proud of the photo he took on his iPhone. To be fair, it looks like something off a poster and it's much better than the photo I took with the SLR!! I promise it's real though!
Happy Hour
This hotel was already amazing, but it has just gone up a notch. We have just been told that they have a happy hour (well 2 hours) from 5 to 7 every evening, where the drinks are complementary. And the bar area is gorgeous too. Its backs onto the river with the cherry blossom trees.
Leanne just had 2 glasses of champagne and I had a couple of gin and tonics. Were feeling spoilt now and could have stayed there for the full 2 hours. However, we wanted to get out whist it as still light and do the lantern walk around the temples and shrines whilst the sun is setting. This has been recommended to us by the hotel owners as something very romantic.
They were so excited when they found out it was our homeymoon.
Leanne just had 2 glasses of champagne and I had a couple of gin and tonics. Were feeling spoilt now and could have stayed there for the full 2 hours. However, we wanted to get out whist it as still light and do the lantern walk around the temples and shrines whilst the sun is setting. This has been recommended to us by the hotel owners as something very romantic.
They were so excited when they found out it was our homeymoon.
Hotel Mume
We have just arrived at Hotel Mume in Kyoto, and we are literally blown away by the place. It was described as 'possibly the best boutique hotel in the world' by the Lonely Planet guide, which is why we booked it, but we were still overwhelmed when we arrived.
It feels like a true honeymoon destination, so different from the buzzing streets of Tokyo.
Its the attention to detail that makes this place so special. No big entrance, just a bright red door down a little side street. There wasn't even a doorbell. We just stood there and someone came to greet us. And they knew exactly who we were!
They took us through to a traditional dining area, which looked out to a small river lined with cherry blossom trees. They prepared us Japanese green tea, whist they took us through a map of the local area, and recommended where to visit over the next couple of days.
The hotel owners are so welcoming here, and genuine too. They were so excited that Leanne had researched the area, and praised the itinerary she had pulled together.
And we are now in our room. The Butterfly Room. It's so traditional and the attention to detail really stands out here.
Leanne is all smiles and very excited...
It feels like a true honeymoon destination, so different from the buzzing streets of Tokyo.
Its the attention to detail that makes this place so special. No big entrance, just a bright red door down a little side street. There wasn't even a doorbell. We just stood there and someone came to greet us. And they knew exactly who we were!
They took us through to a traditional dining area, which looked out to a small river lined with cherry blossom trees. They prepared us Japanese green tea, whist they took us through a map of the local area, and recommended where to visit over the next couple of days.
The hotel owners are so welcoming here, and genuine too. They were so excited that Leanne had researched the area, and praised the itinerary she had pulled together.
And we are now in our room. The Butterfly Room. It's so traditional and the attention to detail really stands out here.
Leanne is all smiles and very excited...
Bento Box
We just had our first Bento Box whilst on the bullet train. We've been hearing them mentioned since we arrived and wondered what they were about.
You get a long wooden box with 4 compartments in it. Each compartment contained about 4 or 5 different pieces of food, including rice, fish, pickles and sweets. There must have been about 15 different things in the box, and to be honest we could only identify 5 of them. And one of those was the rice! The rest were completely unknown to us. I mean, we didn't have a clue what we were eating. We also didn't know what was for mains and what was dessert, so we just tried them all randomly.
It was all really nice, it's just really strange putting something in your mouth and you haven't a clue what it is... and we were daring each other to try particular ones first!
Needless to say, the complementary beers helped us try each and every one. All that we left was what can only be describes as a prune dumpling.... tasted very strange!
You get a long wooden box with 4 compartments in it. Each compartment contained about 4 or 5 different pieces of food, including rice, fish, pickles and sweets. There must have been about 15 different things in the box, and to be honest we could only identify 5 of them. And one of those was the rice! The rest were completely unknown to us. I mean, we didn't have a clue what we were eating. We also didn't know what was for mains and what was dessert, so we just tried them all randomly.
It was all really nice, it's just really strange putting something in your mouth and you haven't a clue what it is... and we were daring each other to try particular ones first!
Needless to say, the complementary beers helped us try each and every one. All that we left was what can only be describes as a prune dumpling.... tasted very strange!
Total Excitement for Kyoto
We are sitting here on the bullet train, racing through the mountains south of Fuji, in what can only be described as business class on an aeroplane. There's enough leg room to completely stretch out, our seats recline right back, a young lady walks the aisles serving drinks and bento boxes, and it just feels rather plush.
There's even a carriage with telephones and vending machines!
Leanne is sat to my left, with a number of books, guides and maps out, excitedly planning the next 6 days in Kyoto. Every time I try to nod off, or play a game on the iPad, she's found a new place that we have to visit and can't wait to tell me about it! This is going to be a cool part of the trip, and very different to the buzzing pace of Tokyo.
Our hotel could not be in a better location and we are literally at the heart of the city.
Both very excited for Kyoto...
There's even a carriage with telephones and vending machines!
Leanne is sat to my left, with a number of books, guides and maps out, excitedly planning the next 6 days in Kyoto. Every time I try to nod off, or play a game on the iPad, she's found a new place that we have to visit and can't wait to tell me about it! This is going to be a cool part of the trip, and very different to the buzzing pace of Tokyo.
Our hotel could not be in a better location and we are literally at the heart of the city.
Both very excited for Kyoto...
Finally seen Mt Fuji
We took a day trip to the mountain, we went to the highest observatory point in Tokyo Tower, but still we didn't get to see Mt Fuji. Both times the weather has prevented us from seeing it, either severe snow or thick fog.
But today we got to see it, up close and personal, from the comfort of our bullet train seats. It's a perfect day outside with clear blue skies, and the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto literally seemed to do a lap of the mountain. We approached it on one side and went right around to the other, with some spectacular views. We were less than 3 or 4 miles away.
It must have been snowing very heavily over the last few days as the usual white peak seemed to take up half of the mountain. It looked amazingly cold, and you can understand why our tour bus wasn't allow up...
But today we got to see it, up close and personal, from the comfort of our bullet train seats. It's a perfect day outside with clear blue skies, and the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto literally seemed to do a lap of the mountain. We approached it on one side and went right around to the other, with some spectacular views. We were less than 3 or 4 miles away.
It must have been snowing very heavily over the last few days as the usual white peak seemed to take up half of the mountain. It looked amazingly cold, and you can understand why our tour bus wasn't allow up...
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