Kyoto, Japan - Bike tour with Jack Fee

We arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday, June 12th and spent one night before taking the bullet train to Kyoto on Thursday, June 13th. Exactly as billed, the Japan rail system is far superior to anything we have in the states. Trains and stations are so clean and efficient. 

Upon arrival in Kyoto we connected with Per and Janette Hanssen's good friend, Jack Fee and his wife Rumi. Our good fortune. To learn all about Kyoto, visit this site, which belongs to Jack's good friend. The great thing about hanging with Jack and Rumi was going off of the regular tourist tracks to visit temples, shrines, gardens, neighborhoods, and shopping districts that most people would never find without a local resource. Jack and Rumi have been so fun and kind with their time and energy to show us around this amazing city. 

Had our first meal at a 550-year-old soba noodle restaurant (Honke Owariya) and then an amazing bike tour from Jack. Everyone should put Kyoto on their list of 'must see' places in the world.

 

Until you see it, you don't really appreciate how clean and well-kept everything is in Japan. Not a spec of trash can be found anywhere. Good luck even finding a trash can! Cars are meticulously clean. Taxi are efficient and unlike anything we have in the states in terms of service. You rarely hear a horn honking, and people move at a slower more relaxed pace, even though there are 1.3 billion people living on this island that is basically the same size as the state of California.