There’s a reason they’re called bullet trains. The Nozomi Express Shinkansen train we took from bustling Tokyo station left precisely on time and tore down the track at something over 150 mph. We’ve never had a train ride quite as smooth. It certainly is a great way to travel.
We were fortunate to have gotten seats on the side of the train allowing views of Mount Fuji. It looms out of the landscape all by itself. Hard to miss.
We think of Kyoto as a quaint small town. In reality, it is a very large and modern city and the main train station reflects that.
According to plan, we spent some time at Higashi Hongan-ji Temple (a short walk from the station). It’s the “Eastern Temple of the True Vow.” Much of it was undergoing renovation, but it was a nice introduction to Kyoto.
