FYvoyaging

Final night kyoto food tour with Dennis Park (4pm to 10 pm ish 1) Nishiki Market - Fresh seafood store 2) Sit down sushi restaurant 3) Dorayaki (red bean pancake) from department store 4) Youkain (thick, jellied dessert made of red bean paste, agar, and sugar) from department store 5) Taiyaki x2 (one red bean, one sweet potato) 6) Pork cutlet 7) Parfait and Tea And other general hanging out pictures

When I found out that the Meijin and Queen matches of the Karuta competition in Japan was happening during my stay, I knew I had to honor my love for the show Chihayafuru. I was lost.. and it didn't help that this did not seem like a popular (foreigner) tourist spot because all signs were only in Japanese. Luckily I figured things out and somehow was able to watch match 1 and 2 in the commentator room and match 3 in the actual room. I thought the Queen (women) match was more interesting and the players better than the Meijin (men). I know the basic rules and ideas yes... but it was just more interesting watching the current Queen and contestant play. The competition (neither Meijin nor Queen) did not end with the third match ... but I did not stay for the rest. I needed to stumble my way home through the Shiga and Kyoto prefecture train/subway system (only made one mistake this time!) One really amazing thing is that the Queen (women) title's youngest holder was a Kusonok

Not shabby for using one free night certificate, IHG points, and some cash for extra points for 3 night stay. 1) Room is nice 2) Coupons for being platinum member (just from having the chase credit card) - 3 1000Y dinner coupons - 3 500Y breakfast coupons - free pass to spa (~1100Y to 1650Y price per day usually) (it was small, but nice with a hot bath, cold bath, showers, sauna...) - a variety of pillows and aroma (lavendar for tonight) 3) They have a bunch of restaurants - Japanese, French, "American", Chinese... reminds me of Shokugeki no soma - Tonight - Chinese - Appetizer sampler and Mapo Tofu