I am so in awe of the Japanese train system. We caught 4 interconnecting trains yesterday, and all of them were on time ( the suburban ones required us to wait 2 minutes between trains). All the staff were pleasant and helpful and offered help when we looked perplexed. Why are the Australian systems so awful. Can't they just copy the technology and methods of the systems that work overseas? Isn't it easier to be pleasant to people and take pride in your work than be unpleasant? The only complaint I have is that my cheap suitcase I bought in Vietnam several years ago decided to break its handle mid journey which made it jolly hard to navigate with. Then, getting to our apartment, we chose the exit with stairs rather than the one with a lift and I had to haul the horrible thing up several flights. I was so exhausted from the experience of getting from Tokyo to Kyoto that I forced my fellow traveller to stay home and we only went out to get dinner.
We made up for the lack of activity today, when we decided to visit Takashimaya department store to investigate the floors dedicated to Kimonos and handcrafts and arts. Again, I am in awe. Would that Australian department stores valued artisans enough to dedicate whole floors to displaying their work. The kimono section was completely mind- blowing with its vast range of fabrics and accessories necessary for wearing a traditional or not so traditional Japanese outfit. From obis, to hair adornments, from hair combs to slippers, scented clothes fresheners to brooches, they had it all. The craftsmanship, designs, colours and styles were stunning. We also fell in love with the floor focusssing on Japanese arts and crafts. Wonderful ceramics, glowing lacquerware, hand painted greeting cards, ikebana, hand printed wrapping cloths, netsuke, scarves, cords and slippers and more. There is even an art gallery there! The exhibition hall floor had the most incredible collection of gold ornaments, including a huge phoenix. There were more kimonos, wrapping cloths, etc up there and beautiful wedding dolls. Even the food in the basement is artistic. The cakes and chocolates rival those in France and are beautifully displayed and packaged. We amused the locals with our bad manners as we sat in the resting area and had our divine take-away lunch. I know you are not supposed to, but we didn't know where else to go and no-one told us off.
Our next stop was the Teramachi Shopping Arcade and the Shinkyogoku Shopping Arcade which is full of a huge range of shops, including stamp shops where you can get traditional motifs, local craft shops, a wonderful fabric/ craft supply shop called Nomura-tailor, incense shops, and a crazy wonderful sticker shop. As well as shops, there are the occasional temples which presumably remain from yesteryear - lovely havens of peace amongst all the commerce and bustle. We finally made it to the Nishiki Market as many of the traders were packing up. Their shutters are gorgeous rendtions of past art. The displays of food are so tempting: delectable seafood, beautifully bright sugar candies, fat little dumplings and buns, a myriad of pickled vegetables and seafood, marinated vegetables. All so photogenic. Another exhausting, inspiring, amazing day.
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