Japan Day 3: 20 Meals at 270 Km/H, Japanese Baths and Shabu Shabu!
Today it all started with a not-so-good morning that followed a very good evening. We ate breakfast quickly, got ready quickly, tried to sleep on the bus...
We saw an interesting hotel. Kyoto Hotel Okura is an old five and didn't bode well. The rooms are specific, but small, everything is neat, but everywhere you can see that it is very shabby. But the Japanese know that you can't just operate a hotel, you need to invest something. And they did it in their own graceful way. Okura surprised with huge, superb fragrant bouquets of fresh flowers in the lobby and restaurant. They are not only huge, taller than human growth, but each bouquet is a work of art. He draws his gaze to himself and plunges into a contemplative mood. We couldn't believe they were real flowers. You don't have to stay at the hotel, but be sure to stop by Okura to see these bouquets.
They cost at least $1.000 each, but at the same time, they are a separate free attraction in Kyoto. I didn't get good photos because of the darkness (see photo), but whoever has a little imagination can easily imagine what impression these flowers make.
The Kyoto Tower is nothing to see (see photo). If you have been to at least one skyscraper or TV tower, the same thing will happen here.
Shinkansen is a comfortable train that flies at a speed of 240-300 km/h. . The windows and driving dynamics are really very reminiscent of an airplane taking off (the airplane takes off at lower speeds). The train is huge - in one of the photos it is "full-length" - but it moves very gracefully and quietly. For lunch, we ordered the delivery of obento, traditional Japanese food boxes. They delivered them directly to the platform and even brought them into the car. I counted 20 different dishes in this one box (see photo)!
We started eating almost immediately, but when we took our eyes off the colored boxes...it turned out that we were in winter (see photo) - everything around was covered with snow. Half an hour later it was summer again.
The cost of cigarettes in Japan is $5 per pack. Petrol - ok. $1.5 per litre. Smoking and driving is cheaper with us.
In the afternoon we visited traditional Japanese baths - Oedo onsen monogotari springs. Unfortunately, separate, apparently, the Japanese do not like the European excitement of joint baths. In fact, it is very similar to our large bath complex (for example, the same Sanduny in Moscow). But on the territory of the complex, under the roof, there are entire streets and restaurants for relaxation. In addition to the steam room, there are several thermal pools with different water temperatures, and a small outdoor pool.
A Kyiv friend advised me to try shabu-shaba. These are slices of raw meat that need to be boiled in a boiling cauldron, standing right on the table.
They raised the guide, the receptionist, the receptionist raised the manager, but they did not achieve anything - no one knows that this happened near the hotel. Out of grief, we hung out at the traditional Japanese restaurant Takitsunada right across the street from the hotel (Traditional Sumo Stew was written on the restaurant). And here it is - Pork Shabu-Shabu at the end of the menu! And now the boiling broth is on the table and we dip pork, grass, radish, seaweed in turn, saying "Shabu-Shabuuuu". After half a minute, we take out the boiled overeating. See the process in detail in the photos (not for the hungry! ) The dish is awesome, a great occasion for any company and I would advise you to write it down as a mandatory program. And nothing prevents us from making it at home.
The owner of the restaurant turned out to be a retired sumo wrestler, his portraits are hung throughout the restaurant, and a painted portrait is on the signboard. Only he more or less understood English, so we called him.
After that, with incomprehensible points in the final score, we decided not to argue; -)
And now a question-picture.
http://my. turpravda. com/xeops/gallery/25328/185199.html
What do you think this Japanese service is doing with such a cute emblem on the doors?
