4:50pm JST
I catch the next number 17 bus from Nishi Honganji-mae and head home to Kawamachi Matsubara.
17:00pm JST
Yikes! Overshot my stop and have to bail at Shijo-Omeya, and now the story gets really strange…
I’m staring at my bus map when (and I am no making this up) a boy who couldn’t be more than ten years old, volunteers to give me directions. Not only did “The Prince of the Streets” take me to the nearest public bus map and try to explain the system to me, but he then led me across the street to the station where I could get a connecting bus back to Kawamachi Matsubara station. This child is like something straight out of 1960’s anime, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a watch that could summon a giant robot.
I love these people, always so ready to help a pathetic, wet kitty in a cardboard box.
17:30pm JST
Per the instructions of “The Prince of the Streets,” I am now riding the number 3 bus to Shijo Kawamachi. I give up my seat to two elderly women who are surprised and overly grateful in Japanese polite language. Scored karma points for that one but Buddah probably wasn’t watching.
[ First-Time Travelers Tip: Learn the difference between casual and polite language, the situation might depend on it! ]At Shijo Kawamachi, I successfully catch the number 17 bus… but in the wrong direction… and ride straight through Sanjo Kawamachi, Kyoto’s vibrant shopping district. Not a problem, I just get off the bus, run across the street and catch the number 17 bus in the opposite direction. This works and I find my way back to Kawamachi Matsubara.
Hey, I’m actually getting good at this.
[ First-Time Travelers Tip: Purchase a one day pass, they save you money if you ride the bus more than a couple times! ]6:30pm JST
I spent way too much time riding the bus tonight, however I did gain a greater understanding of the bus system and neighborhoods, and now I know how to get to Sanjo Kawaramachi.
7:00pm JST
Hustling up the street to the 7-Eleven for chocolate cream filled eclairs, chips, drinks and recycling bags to carry my dirty clothes to the coin laundry. I love 7-Eleven although this one doesn’t seem to carry “Match.” It’s clear that not all stores in the same conbini chain carry the same products.
Picking up dinner from the carry-out place down the street, what will it be tonight?
8:00pm JST
Kicking back on the couch with Japanese TV and tonight’s dinner of pork tonkatsu and tamago on rice… hey NHK is showing “Today’s Closeup” a program I watch back home. And now they’re airing an Enka program! Here’s a female singer playing Shamisen. This is good!
http://www.nhk.or.jp/program/utacon/