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Kyoto: Bullet Train, Golden Pavilion, Buddhist Temples
In 1964, Japan was the first country in the world to build bullet train with maglev principle. Magnetic Levitation
South San Francisco author shares photo and travel experience:
Our group tour said goodbye to our Tokyo Washington Hotel to transfer to Kyoto hotel via the Bullet Train aka Shinkansen.
In 1964, Japan was the first to build the Bullet Speed train in the world, top speed of miles 210 km/per hour or 130 miles per hour. Currently the fastest bullet train is Japan‘s L0 Series Maglev, achieving a top speed of 603 km/h (375 mph).
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According to Japan’s information bureau:
“The Shinkansen network connects major cities on Honshu, Kyushu, and Hokkaido islands, including routes like Tokaido (Tokyo to Osaka), Sanyo (Shin-Osaka to Hakata), and Hokuriku (Tokyo to Kanazawa). “
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Our tour guide bought tickets, so our group were in one car Box 15; My seat was 15A, Felice 15B, Martina from Ireland 15C, Sharon and Kim from Ventura County 15D, 15E. The train started with a speed similar to BART, but as it progressed, it became speedier. The people who came out of the bullet train walked fast, like an army full of fierce energy ready to go work; I felt they had the power to trample me.
The train has a toilet with sensor, you touch the cover and it will flush. The Shinkansen roars to life—a modern marvel threading through the soul of Japan.
Like a swift arrow released from a bow, it glides across the land, its form a silver cascade of fluid motion, a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of progress.
Yet, the Shinkansen is more than just a technological marvel; the bullet train teaches us to appreciate the journey as much as the destination.
Our next stop is the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, or Kinkaku-ji is a shimmering testament to the harmonious blend of art, architecture, and nature.
The pavilion is adorned with gold leaf, which glimmers majestically under the sunlight, creating a luminous reflection in the tranquil pond that surrounds it.
Built during the Muromachi period by The Golden Pavilion, or Kinkaku-ji, stands as a shimmering testament to the harmonious blend of art, architecture, and nature in Japan.
Built during the Muromachi period by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the Golden Pavilion was originally constructed as a retirement villa before its transformation into a temple.
Designed in the chisen-kaiyu style, the gardens offer a stroll through lush greenery, carefully placed rocks, and scenic viewpoints.
We stopped by Zen Meditation temple. The big board stated:
“The Heian Shrine was founded in 1895 to mark 1,100 years since Kyoto was made the ancient capital (Heiankyo), in 794, and enshrines the Emperor Kanmu. In 1940, or the year 2600 in the traditional count since the enthronement of first emperor, Jinmu, the last emperor to rule from Kyoto, Komei, was also enshrined here.”
Our last stop was the Handcrafted Store where you can see and buy artistic works such as paintings, calligraphy, pearl jewelry, masks, books, pottery, vases, kimonos.
In the evening we dined on a multicourse menu of raw fish appetizers, salad, beef steak, sushi, rice, sherbet. We’ve to take our shoes off before we enter the restaurant, and I was surprised to see a wooden key to lock the locker for our shoes.
