First Hours in Kyoto

We took our first shinkansen (bullet train) today.  We left Villa Fontaine Roppongi about 11am, bought lunch and the train station (to eat on the train), and boarded the 1.03pm shinkansen.  The train was amazingly fast and smooth. We were in Kyoto in about 2 1/2 hours.

We didn't arrive in Kyoto until around 4pm (and since it gets dark here around 5, we didn't have much time to explore or sight see).  In fact, we only managed to take in one temple before it was too dark to see much.

Higashihonganji Temple with Kyoto Tower in the Background

Many places are closed for the New Year holiday until January 3rd or 4th, including the Higashihonganji Temple, so we were unable to go inside.  

Higashihonganji Temple with Kyoto Tower in the Background 

The sun set and it was soon dark.  We spent some time wandering around small streets near our hotel (which was very near both the train station and the Kyoto Tower). We got hungry and headed back toward the hotel to find some food near the train station.

Nighttime view of the Kyoto Tower.  Our  hotel
was just around the block from the tower.

Greg checking out a wall of toy vending machines.

We spent the rest of the evening hanging out at the hotel watching Japanese television.  Although today wasn't very productive, we needed a rest after such an active New Year's Eve.  

We are using Kyoto as a base from which we will travel to Nara and Osaka.  Tomorrow, we will visit Nara.