Date: 24th March, 2015
After half a day spent at charming Arashiyama , I took the train back to Kyoto Station. Instead of rushing back to Shiori-an Guesthouse to collect my bags, I decided to explore the station.
Because Kyoto Station looks pretty cool
Built at a cost of $1.25 billion, the station building complex houses a shopping mall, hotel, movie theater, Isetan department store, and several local government facilities
Kyoto Station is a tourist attraction by itself
This is the Skywalk
Kyoto tower, right opposite Kyoto station
The train tracks below
The Skywalk is simply one long path taking people from one end of Kyoto station to another
You have restaurants and other stores on this side
There is a rooftop garden and viewing deck at this end as well
And a helipad
It was time to go back down
I wouldn’t call Kyoto Station’s architecture beautiful or anything
But it is definitely unique
The bus station outside. You can board buses going straight to Kiyomizu Dera from here.
I went back to Shiori-an Guesthouse , collected my bags and checked out. It was time to say goodbye to Kyoto and head to Himeji. I really wished I could spend at least a day or two more in Kyoto, or use it as my base and go to Nara and Osaka, which aren’t too far away. But I had to stick to my schedule. Continue reading “Japan: Kyoto Station, and arriving at Himeji by shinkansen” »