On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Captain C
We continue in Kyoto with a walk down the Philosopher’s Path, a nice walk next to a canal, with lots of trees and other sights, and which passes near a number of temples. It was named for Nishida Kitaro, a philosophy professor said to have used the path for his daily meditation, and is a lovely walk but is popular enough that it isn’t always a good place for quiet contemplation.
The following day, I went to the Kyoto Railway Museum, a wonderful place in which I spent over four hours and which will continue over into the next set of photos…
Along the Philosopher’s Path could be found people of all ages, a few musicians, and even a few cats (faithfully attended by their devoted humans), including this lovely chonk.
March is graduation time in Japan, and many classes in Kyoto choose to take their photos on the Philosopher’s Path, with its lovely foliage, blossoming cherry trees, and mountainous backdrop.
The next day, on the way to the Kyoto Railway Museum, my walk took me through Umekoji Park, where I took this close-up of a lovely cherry blossom.
Just outside the main building of the Railway Museum are a few examples of passenger trains, including this first-generation Shinkansen (bullet train). You could, for 1100 Yen (about 10 or 11 bucks) sit for a picture in the engineer’s seat, complete with hat. (Yes, I did; no I don’t have a scan, I don’t think.)
When I entered the main museum building, there was a Taiko drum band playing.
Okay, you ask. Why, Captain, with a limited number of photo shots do you show this rather ordinary picture of a metal squat toilet? Well, because it was the scene of one of the funnier moments of the trip. This is from an exhibit of the amenities that were offered on commuter and other passenger trains over time. As you can see, there is a sign, in both Japanese and English, saying “No Entry.” So of course, my brain went right to: “Wait…there’s a sign? Why is there a sign? What happened that they needed to put up a sign?!” and I started to giggle. I looked up, and a Japanese woman about my age was looking at me quizzically, like she was wondering why this person was laughing over a toilet. So I pointed to the sign, and you could see the same thought progression unfold in her head: “There’s a sign? Why? What happened?!” and she started to giggle too. It was a nice moment of interaction with a stranger that required no common language except for good, old-fashioned, universal toilet humor.
As you might expect, the Railway Museum has a wonderful and enormous model train setup, complete with bleachers for the hourly (or so) show. Stations and features from all over Japan’s rail system are included, including a Shinkansen line.
eclare
Some things are universal, like toilet humor! Thanks for sharing.
EmbraceYourInnerCrone
Thank you for the beautiful photos and for the giggle, what a nice way to wake up.
Mary G
I love trains and wish America prioritized them more. The museum is going on my bucket list.
stinger
Hello, Kitty! Thanks for the great pics of a land I may never see in person.
randy khan
When I was in Kyoto, it was November, and the Philosopher’s Path was largely empty except for our group. It was really lovely, even in the fall.
dm
Toward the south end of the Philosopher’s Path there is a cat park. It has the feeling of spontaneity — neighbors getting together and putting up a sign, though I also remember it being noted on my map.
Perhaps it was a pun on the nearby Nyakouji Shrine (“Nya” being Japanese for “Meow”).
NetheadJay
If you can fall in love from a picture, I love that cat. Kyoto was already high up my personal future Japan trip agenda and the Philosopher’s Path and Railway Museum just got added as subdestinations.
JanieM
@Mary G: Ditto on loving trains….I would be overjoyed if we could bring back a more robust passenger rail system in the US. I doubt it’s going to happen in my lifetime, if ever.
And another wanderlust-inducing set of pictures. Very lovely.
Mike Mundy
Wonder if this is the same cat . . . ?
J R in WV
Wonderful trip, made me jealous!
Thanks for sharing the photos with everyone…
Pharniel
The railway museum is *really* good, and though the signage in English is limited each exhibit had a QR code with multi language articles.
I wonder if we remembered to take pictures on the Philosopher’s trail? It looks completely different in Autmn. We may not have, because there were a lot of people getting cosplay/formal pictures taken along it.
Captain C
@Mary G: It’s a fantastic museum and I agree with you about trains. Japan is about the best there is when it comes to good train transport. I’m lucky enough to live in the Northeast where there as at least some halfway decent train service, but it could definitely be better.
Captain C
@randy khan: I suspect that cherry blossom season and graduation month are probably not the quietest times on the Philosopher’s Path.
Captain C
Thanks for the compliments! More coming…
UncleEbeneezer
We absolutely adore Fall Color and try to make a trip somewhere every year to enjoy them. New England (where I grew up) has been the best we’ve ever seen, but we’ve been more and more watching videos of Japan and DAMN, they get some absolutely spectacular colors that are just as impressive. It’s definitely on our wishlist for a future, Covid-free Autumn.