Kyoto Station and Kyoto Tower

Actually this whole week quite busy to plan the upcoming Lombok trip. I hope the tour agencies won't fed up with me as I try to squeeze all the tourist spots in 5 days. Let's see how... Ok, let me settle this long overdue Japan trip posting first while waiting for the reply.   

Nothing much about this posting. It's just random photos taken when we touring around the hotel to kill time at night and  while waiting for others in the morning...  

 

          

Ready for night strolling?  

Please wear thicker cloths as it's a bit chilly in the evening. 

 

There are two sides of Kyoto Station: 

Karasuma (North) and Hachijo (South).

Kyoto Station served by Japan Railways including the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train), Haruka airport express train, Kintetsu Railways and the Karasuma Subway Line.

The main bus terminal for city and intercity buses is located on the busier side of Kyoto Station.  It faces downtown where many hotels, shopping areas and Kyoto Tower. 

Lobby of Hotel Granvia is on the second floor of the transportation hub JR Kyoto Station. 

For shopping, you can go to Isetan Department Store, Porta Underground Shopping Mall, and The Cube Shopping Mall inside this station. There are wide range of restaurants inside this 15 floors buildings.

Other basic facilities such as Luggage storage and Takuhaibin (or Yamato Ta-Q-Bin in Singapore) counters are available in the basement of the station. Coin lockers are scattered all over the building.

  

      

The Kyoto Station (京都駅) was constructed on the 1200th anniversary 

of the capital's foundation in Kyoto and opened to the public in 1997.

  

Modern futuristic design with Matrix steel beamed roof

twisted tourists' image of Kyoto as the capital of ancient Japan. 

 

Kyoto Tower (京都タワー) Observation Deck.

     

This tallest building is the iconic landmark in Kyoto.

  

It's standing 131 meters tall just opposite

Kyoto Station (view from Granvia Hotel).

  

A viewing platform is located 100 meters above ground,

 and offers a 360 degree view of Kyoto to as far as Osaka on clear days.      

Kyoto tower was completed in 1964, the same year as 

the opening of the Shinkansen  and Tokyo Olympics. 

Kyoto Tower stands on top of a typical commercial building.
You can find hotel, restaurants, souvenir shops, as well as a public bath here.

Busy selecting Totoro for my kiddos, 

and Japanese girl keychains for souvenirs.

Curious Hubby went in to see popular Japanase arcade 

'Pachinko'. 

It resembles a vertical Pinball machine, but has no flippers and uses a large number of small balls. But, before crossing that orange color floor mat, he quickly detour because of super noisy and the unbearable cigarette smell! 

Next to Kyoto Tower is Kyoto Yodobashi. 

 

This  IT megastore selling electronics, cameras, 

computers, gadgets and others accessories.

I need to buy Memory card, because I left another camera at home.

Best... all the memory cards were inside that camera pouch!

So literally, we couldn't use our Samsung NX100 camera the whole day! So, need memory card urgently for the next 4 days!

Target found! Memory cards with different types, sizes, capacity and brands

all displayed in the cashier counter.

Toshiba SDHC memory card 32GB.

Heol~! Hubby asked me to take his photos here!

But seriously, there are 3 long rows of these toy ball vending machines

with maybe thousands of different types of toys!

There are other shops upstairs. Afraid that it might be raining again for the next few days, we bought umbrellas. Then bought snacks for kiddos, and Japanese fabrics before going back to hotel.

Taxis with cute top lights (clover, moon, heart-shape,...).

Another Pachinko arcade opposite Granvia Hotel.

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.