1st Japan Road Trip...Well...Track Trip

This weekend I headed out on an adventure; destination: Unknown. Hopped on a train and headed northwest. After switching trains a couple of times we were on our way to somewhere great!

The Japanese countryside was much different than the concrete jungle that I know in Osaka, Kobe, and even the suburb of Tarumi, where I currently live. This is a whole different Japan. You can see people working out in their farmland and vegetables flourishing. There is not a Starbucks or a McDonald's in sight (despite the weekend release of the Quarter Pounder with Cheese and Double Quarter Pounder), which makes me very happy. Our ultimate goal was the reach the other coast, the Sea of Japan. After not very long the landscape went from mountains in distance and the train riding in the valley to the train tracks becoming one with the mountains. We went through an endless amount of tunnels and climbed and dropped elevations. The scenery was breathtaking. 

This is one of the views from the train. 

We finally reached the Sea of Japan and WOW was it worth the trip. It was absolutely unreal. The waves were large, and I wished the weather was warmer so I could jump right in. We wrapped around the coastline on the train with the mountains on our right and the Sea on our left. There were mountains all the way up to the water in the distance which provided us with the most exotic ocean view I think I have seen to date. Beautiful, simply amazing. 

We realized that the sun was starting to set and we did not have a place to stay for the night as of yet. We decided to get off at the next stop, which, without plan or real want, was Obama, Japan. 

Once getting off the train we realized that there was not a ton to do here but that it would do for the night. It was plastered with flags and posters with the likeness of a man from the US who bears the same name. They just LOVE Obama here. While walking to the coast to catch the end of the sunset we noticed that there was a small statue of Obama outside of a hotel. It was then we decided we would have to return in the morning to take a photo next to him. (there is said photo above)

The sunset photo is from Obama, Japan.

After nearly freezing and being tired of walking around on feet we could not feel, we decided to find a place to stay. We found the most charming traditional Japanese Inn. Our room had tatami mat floors and sliding doors, just as you would expect...and there was even a closed in porch with a table and chairs that overlooked a small garden courtyard!  

We went to get a bite to eat in the restaurant downstairs because Sushi seemed like a delicious meal at this point, and it was so cold we did not want to leave the inn! We had some delicious sushi and a fish (Unfortunately, I don't know what kind) that was halved and cooked, served whole. :) It was so good and very satisfying. 

After settling in we headed downstairs where they had a men's and a women's public bath. We were dressed in our yukata, which are Japanese robes. This was a new experience to me, but I really enjoyed it and after a long day of travel it was very VERY relaxing. It also provided a small view of the garden, which is really serene after a tiring day. After this, we went to the room and made some tea and decided to rest up for the second day of adventures. 

Upon waking the next day, we went around the town of Obama and took our last pictures. Unlike Osaka and Kobe, in Obama, the train comes only once every couple of HOURS. So we were in for a bit of a wait. We decided to go to Kyoto for the rest of the day and then head back home to rest up for a day of work.

We purchased our train tickets and found out that we would be switching to a train on our way to Kyoto. This train had reserved seats and it was called the THUNDERBIRD. (here is a picture of the THUNDERBIRD coming into the station!)

This ride was only about an hour and a half but was different from other trains; A little more cozy. :)

After arriving in Kyoto we decided to explore until we found one of the many temples/castles/ or shrines. We ended up finding Nijo Castle. This castle was build in 1603 and was the official Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu. It was absolutely beautiful. I have some pictures from here as well, but you can't take photos inside of the beautiful wall painting and large rooms. My uncle Kim told me about the "nightingale floor" in some of the castles here and this one had it, which tickled me to death>  I wonder if this is somewhere that he once laid his feet as well? The way these floors work is that when you step on the floorboard, there is a gap between the board and the plank below it. When the two pieces of wood rub into each other they produce a squeaking noise, much like a bird. This was an ancient security system that let the Shogun know when someone was in the Castle. Really REALLY remarkable if you think about it. :)

After this, we walked around Kyoto, grabbed a bite to eat and a delicious European desert and were on our way home. 

WHAT AN ADVENTURE!