kyoto: temples, vending machines, etc...

and more temples in Kyoto, this pix and other show the temples we saw walking through the kyoto downtown and vicinity. There were a lot birds on the ground here and the weather was mostly cloudy. Later, it rained and we had to get some umbrellas from the convenience store for 400 to 500 yen each. The temples shown in the picture where massive, and there wasn't many people around, but the scene was very traditional japan.
Also, the many many vending machines within Kyoto and all of Japan. I was so amazed by these machines, and the drinks were so good out of these machines. Cool drinks on a warm summer day, I also hear that during the cold months, wintertime, they have warm/hot drinks that are available. But during late May, cold drinks that i have seen before are available such as Pocarti Sweat, Aquarius, Lemon Water, and many other kinds. They also have cigarette, beer, and other kinds of vending machines all throughout Japan. Prices for the drinks are anyway from 120 yen to 150 yen, for small or larger size drinks. They come in all kinds, tea, milk coffee, milk tea, coffee, fruit flavors, soda, vitamin drinks, and other kinds of drinks, which range in different prices. The other pictures are more of the downtown area near the ryokan we stayed at. We were fascinated by all the narrow streets and architecture buildings.

Kyoto sightseeing

While strolling in downtown Kyoto. This is not too far from the station and from the budget ryokan. My friend and i were commenting on the narrow streets in Kyoto. It was like in a movie or something. Everything was so clean and peaceful in the downtown area of Kyoto. The weather was a bit cloudy and actually rained part of the day while we were walking in the downtown area near some of the temples. We had to go into a Family mart convenience store and buy a generic umbrella for roughly 500 yen. Kyoto seem smaller than the huge Tokyo yet, it had its own style and it was nice. Too bad we didn't get time to fit in a Bamboo garden visit, perhaps next time. But we did see a lot, first day, Yasaka Shrine, Gion District and walking around the nearby area of the Kyoto Station. The station area was so huge with my levels.

Japan trip, Narita and Kyoto

Ok, this is the second post. I am finally adding to this travel/journal blog from my japan trip from a few months ago.
This is when me and my friend Joe arrived in Narita again on my second trip to Japan. We left LAX on May 21, Sat. and arrived the next day in the late afternoon around 5pm May 22, Sun. On the morning of May 23rd, Monday we were ready for Kyoto.
Here is a photo of the Excel Narita Hotel in Narita. And a small garden outside the Excel Hotel. After a few pictures in the garden, we headed out to take the JR-X train from Narita airport on route to Shinagawa Station, then from there onto Kyoto by Shinkasen train. The Kyoto Station was so large and i took some pix when we arrived after a 2 1/2 train ride on the Shinkasen bullet train. I remember seeing hundreds of Japanese school children sitting down while their sensei(teacher) looked over the groups. There were so many and they were all sitting organized in many groups, both boys and girls. I was amazed at how well behaved they all were in their school uniforms. Also, a picture of the kiosk and other stores in the well lighted, new, and modern Kyoto Station. I was very excited about discovering more about Kyoto, Japan.

Shinjuku and japan trip pix

This is my first post on here. Finally a place where i can upload my japan trip pictures, from a few months ago.
This pix was taken at night in Shijuku, gotta love all those lights at night, so much to do, so little time. I am going to post the Japan pix and add my daily exciting advertures.
There is so much to do in Tokyo, it is endless. People were out and this was a Wednesday evening around 10pm. People were getting a little tipsy in the streets, couples were getting close and people everywhere seem to be laughing, very unlike their typical reserved behavior. I guess this is how they unwind after a hard days work, they work hard, play hard.
Ok, going to add more pix and add whatever text comes to my interesting mind. I am learning more and more how to use this Blog, so it may look a bit organized in the beginning, but this first picture is the highlight of the start of this blog since this picture is so "Japan" and the nightlight is so amazing, you all just have to experience it for yourself, this is a small glipse of what Japan is like. I took this picture with my digital camera sony cybershot. The next post(above) will be the start of the actual japan journal/pix blog. Enjoy! and please, feel free to post your comments, much appreciated. btw: i took over five hundred plus pix on this trip, but will not be able to post them all due to space and time on this blog. I will try to post what i can and i feel are the best pix i like to be on here.