Kyoto

Shinkansen

After the program ended I embarked on a 7 day rail pass exploration of Japan. First stop was Kyoto, an ancient capital of Japan filled with enough temples and shrines to keep one busy for months. I also took the opportunity of rail travel to try out CouchSurfing for the first time. My first host was Patrick, a transplanted Austrian who took me on an hour and a half bike ride to Biwako, Japan's largest inland sea. 

We swam to the buoy.

After a memorable swim in the sea, we stopped for sushi at a conveyor belt restaurant. Here you pick up sushi dishes off a rotating belt. If they don't have something you want, you order it from the screen and it is brought to you atop a mini shinkansen train. 

sushi shinkansen

Kinkoji

The Golden Temple was one of the most impressive sights in Kyoto, which we saw in addition to the silver temple and the philosopher's path.

I'm still puzzled by this racoon with yes, a huge sac. 

Kyoto station is also impressive.