Day 10 A visit to Himeji Castle en route to Kyoto

 This morning we went to breakfast early, to try and avoid the queues for both the lift and the restaurant. This hotel hasn't been our most favourite!

As we were ready ahead of schedule we walked to Hijiyama Park, just a slight detour from our intended route to the railway station. Apparently there is an escalator up to the park, we only found steps!

A plaque giving information about the A bomb and the devastating view in 1945

 

and the view  today

We then walked alongside the river, past cherry trees just beginning to bloom

Everywhere seems to be setting up lights ready for the blossom

A last look at the river

followed by a photo

and we headed underground to find our train, in the busy as usual station, with long queues for tickets. So pleased that we have pre booked ours!

In just under an hour we arrived at Himiji, left one of our rucksacks in a locker and headed to the castle, which you could see as soon as you exited the station

 

The wide road was lined with statues

some more bizarre than others

Along the way we bought a bento box lunch and ate it just before entering the castle

Shoes had to be removed before entering the keep, the wooden floors were highly polished by all the socks!

The crowds grew ever bigger the higher we climbed until it got very claustrophobic 

Views from the top

Back on terra firm a everyone was clambering to get a photo of themselves under one of the few cherry trees in bloom, 

so we felt that we should join in!

We walked 200m to the castle gardens

 

Quite literally tended by men weeding with tweezers

The gardens are so well kept, the koi carp were numerous and massive

We wandered back to the station, stopping for a drink and then an ice cream. I went for matcha and vanilla, can't say that I'd have wanted just matcha!

 

We found the locker containing our rucksack quite easily. Then went up to the platform, they are seemingly endless

When a bullet train goes straight through the whole platform vibrates as we were on the second floor.

Around a 50 minute journey brought us to Kyoto, followed by a short metro ride and walk to our hotel where we are staying for the next 6 nights. Our suitcases had arrived and were already in our room so that was great!

This evening we walked a few hundred metres to a barbeque restaurant where you cook your own meat. Another restaurant where you had to scan a QR code and order on your phone.

It was all very tasty but the Wagyu beef wasn't as tender as we thought it should be. There are no shortage of good looking restaurants close by so I'm sure that we'll eat well during our stay in Kyoto.