We’re relocating to Kyoto by Shinkansen bullet train.

The train stations in Tokyo are huge and confusing. The metro stations are bad enough, but the train stations are even worse. It took us half an hour to navigate through the station to the Shinkansen platform. Apparently there are parts that are considered the same station but aren’t even fully connected – when we asked the staff for directions, we were told to exit the station, walk to the other side of the block, enter the station there, and then continue. We thought we had left plenty of time for getting to the train but still only made it to the platform with 10 minutes to spare.

Passing Mount Fuji on the way. It is huge and absolutely towers over the surrounding countryside.

Kyoto immediately feels different from Tokyo. Smaller, greener, hillier streets. More houses in the traditional style.