Day 8: Friday, 27th of April

Today is the final day of our 7 Day Japan Rail Pass. Check out of the Shiba Park Hotel 151 and from Tokyo Station we will board a bullet train to Kyoto Station. During this journey we will travel through an area called Shizuoka. Should the weather be fine, for a 10 minute period we should be able to see a clear view of Mount Fuji in the distance.

Our accommodation is at the Kyoto Tower Hotel which is brilliantly located across the road from Kyoto Station. As the name of the hotel suggests, a large observation tower is attached to our hotel.

After check in we will board a subway two stops for Shijo Station. Commence exploring the sights of Shijo, the busiest shopping district in Kyoto. Here we will find a number of cafes, restaurants and shops to explore. We will walk down to the Nishiki Food Markets (10 min) where we can try various Japanese foods from traditional sweets to fresh seafood.

In the late afternoon we will visit Gion, Kyoto's famous entertainment district which is open until late at night. Gion is the one place in Japan where you may see Maiko or Geisha scampering between appointments. As darkness falls, watch the traditional lanterns gradually come to life as we wander down tiny alleys housing a variety of restaurants offering tempting cuisine. Gion is also famous as a haven for Japanese textiles and crafts.