Hotel Granvia Kyoto

Returned back to Hotel Granvia Kyoto around 7pm.

After checked-in, we found that instead of double bed, we're allocated to twin-bed room. I called and checked, but apparently double bed rooms were all occupied by our big tour group.

According to our guide, this hotel room is considered very big. Some of the houses in Japan has smaller size compare to this hotel room. Property is extremely expensive especially in the city areas.  Normally their house is just a small all purpose room for dining, which convertible to living and sleeping room.

 

This luxury 5 star hotel has spacious room with modern decor.

Wireless internet access is complimentary in the rooms and lobby.

 

Complimentary mineral water. 

Wines, other bottled and canned drinks are chargeable.

Complete toiletries set of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, lotion in big bottles.

 

Small bottle of shampoo only enough washing my long hair once. Therefore, I've to bring my own toiletries including toothbrush and toothpaste. In Korea, most of the hotel not providing toothbrush. Here in Japan, both hotels we stayed have them in the toiletries.

 

Shower and bath tub.

Shocked me when I opened my eyes and it's this bright at 5.50am!

Busy Shinkansen bullet train railway view from our room large window.

 

We'd our breakfast in the conference room instead of hotel restaurant.

Maybe it's catered separately for our big group. 

 

International buffet breakfast with some locals dishes.

This was my hubby's plate, and the above was mine. 

 

Wanted to go to this plaza after breakfat, but hotel staff 
told us that it's only open from 9am (if I remember correctly).

 

 

 The hotel features over 1000 artworks.
Do you think my dress match with this art installation?

This is another artwork at the open space. 

 

Hotel Granvia boasts a strategic location at the prime area of the city.

 

JR Kyoto Station & Hotel Granvia. 

The hotel is suitable both travelers and business, as guests can conveniently access to and from Kansai International Airport and major metropolitan destinations across Japan including Osaka, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.

Ganko Kyoto Sanjo Honten (三条本店)

Chottomatte... I heard my tummy grumbling to protest for fair treatment because our eyes were so much pampered with scenic spots.

Reading from our face expressions, the guide announced that we're going to indulge ourselves with Japanese food after group photos.

 

 We need to walk to the designated restaurant, 

as the coach had to park around Reisen-dori Street.

 

Despite of my grumbling tummy, I didn't complain because 

walking along this calm river with nice surroundings 

was totally therapeutic.

 

Chilly wind and cherry blossom hindered my walk,

so I'd to stop and say cheese to camera~! ^^

Ganko Kyoto Sanjo Honten (和食・三条本店)

Add: 〒604-8004 京都府京都市中京区三条通河原町東入ル中島町101

（がんこ三条本店地階）

Phone: 075-255-0955

This restaurant was booked by our group tour. Some of them dine at the ground floor and our team at the second floor. 

On second floor, because of Tatami floor, we need to take off our shoes and put them in the shoe locker and lock it. Quite troublesome to find the empty lockers as about hundred of us went in around the same time. 

You know that our eyes were scanning for the food and ready to attack it. But we'd to look for few rows of lockers. Some just put their shoes and didn't even lock and take the keys with them. This made me had to opened few lockers thought that they're empty as the keys were hanging there.

 

Grilled fish fillets, Chicken tempura with salad, soft silky tofu, 

Cod Kaminabe (Cod Fish Paper Steamboat), Onigari and Nori (Seaweed strips).

Some of them was so amazed with Kaminabe, as it's their first time seeing this paper steamboat. Kami (紙) actually means paper, while Nabe (鍋) means pot. We encountered this few years ago either at Kuishin Bo or Momiji. We often go for Japanese buffet restaurants because kids like to eat sushi and sashimi.

This Kamisuki Nabe charmed us, kids were stunned like watching small magic performance while dining. They're so interested why the paper can withstand fire and water not leak. 

Of course this is not normal paper. This is traditional heavy duty washi paper has extremely dense texture, that able to hold liquids for over thirty minutes, and it can withstand temperature lower than 160 degree Celsius. So, it's ideal to put on top of wire mesh basket using to serve soups and broths over a konro grill. 

Similar to Japanese Washi or Chinese Shuan paper, Korean has Hanji paper which boasts its durability of  thousand years. The Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were recorded on Hanji paper. It's also used to make clothing, window paper, books, painting canvases, lanterns, artworks  and handicrafts.

Fake food (サンプル = sampuru = sample) displayed 

in front of the restaurant.

Let's not see these tempting food miniature, we had ordinary meal here. Quite disappointed for not having my favorite sashimi on our first day meals.

 Kamo River (鴨川 = wild duck) is the main river and

one of the treasures of Kyoto. 

It's a pleasant evening walk although there were so many people. According to the guide, this area is popular walking spots for locals residents and tourists.

When the day turns into night, you can see these illuminated 

and set aglow lights from bridges and buildings. 

 Walking and enjoying sakura blossoms.

Ehmm, actually kinda envy seeing those people dining 

and chit chatting in front of the stream with perfect views.