About the day (5th Mar)
Today after checking out of my hotel in Osaka, I proceed to take the Kintetsu local train from Osaka-Namba to Nara Station. There is a limited express, also operated by Kintetsu. However, they are all sold out for the day. So, I was left with the local and rapid trains.
Nara Sightseeing Map (PDF)
Kintetsu Rail Map:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N23lqBuaMVllG6F4Zg6i0vs7Itp6Aqfc/view?usp=drive_link
A Kintetsu local train 1020 series.
Kintetsu Nara Line services Map
https://q.hatena.ne.jp/1282029755
https://www.kintetsu.co.jp/nara/naramachi/kitamachilist.html
https://www.arukunara.info/
Ramen Lunch
Upon reaching Kintetsu Nara Station, I went to the nearby Tenri Stamina Ramen for lunch. The Ramen place is right in front of Exit 4 of Kintetsu Nara Station. Tenri Stamina Ramen is a ramen chain in Japan. The word Stamina in Japanese context means hearty.
To view Menu, click on this link or PDF file (Japanese only).
Kintetsu Nara Station Layout Map
Platform Advertising at Kintetsu Nara Station
Advertisements at the FamilyMart at Kintetsu Nara Station
SumikkoGurashi Gashapon
Ramen Lunch with my fam
Exploring Nara
After lunch, I went to explore the area between Kintetsu Nara station and Nara Park. Along the way, I have spotted some deers and tried to feed them crackers I bought from a street vendor for 220 yen. Deer spotting is popular among visitors to Nara. While at the Nara Park, I went to Todaiji Temple. As the weather was rainy and chilly, I did not manage to take much pictures because of shivering hands.
Deers spotted while on the way to Nara Park.
Todaiji Temple
Afterwards, I went back to explore the area around Kintetsu Nara Station. There is a shopping arcade called Higashimuki and a well-known mochi shop called Nakatanidou, where people can see the mochi pounding. However, it is disappointing to have found out that they're closed for the day due to something. There is a notice pasted on the metal shutters stating the reason for clousure.
Nakatanidou is closed for an event today
Back at Kintetsu Nara Station, I proceeded to take the local train to Kyoto. While waiting at the Kintetsu Nara Station, I saw a Kintetsu Limited Express Vista Car, a four-car long train whose two middle cars are double deckers.
The front view of a Kyoto-bound Kintetsu 30000 series Vista Car Limited Express
The doors of the double-decker cars are placed in the middle
Advertising poster for Kintetsu's Limited Express Shimakaze themed Seiko watch
Information on 2nd anniversary fair events for a Michi no Eki
More advertising from Kintetsu Railway @ Kintetsu Nara Station
To get to Kyoto Station, I can take a Kintetsu local train from Nara. I can take any train (with the exeception of Limited Express, due to extra surcharge) that terminates at Kintetsu-Kyoto station or Kyoto-Kokusaikan station (with Through service via Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line). With an Icoca IC card, I can ride on any type of trains execpt Limited Express without extra charges.
Inside the Kintetsu 3200 Series local train to Kyoto
Upon arriving at Kyoto Station, I saw a lot of promotional posters being put up to prepare for the upcoming Hokuriku Shinkansen extension to Tsuruga, which opened on 16th March, after I left Japan.
Source: https://www.japan-guide.com/news/hokuriku-shinkansen.html
Promotional Video for Opening:
The Hokuriku Shinkansen uses the E7/W7 Series and is operated by JR East/JR West
Advertising posters in Kyoto Station being put up to promote tourism to Hokuriku Region in part of preparing for the Shinkansen extension to Tsuruga and Noto Earthquake recovery efforts.
The first thing that I did is to go up to 9th floor of the Isetan Department store at the Kyoto station for the Kato model railroad shop. Kato is a very big manufacturer of N scale (and to some extent HO scale) model railroads for the Japanese market. N scale is more popular in Japan because of small living spaces for the average person, as HO scale is too large.
To get to Kato Kyoto, I need to look for the facade, which is the huge display of model trains that are sold. Not just Japanese trains, Kato also manufactured quite a number of Western European trains like the TGV and Glacier Express.
Facade of Kato Kyoto
Entrance to Kato Kyoto
N Scale 521 Series Local trains @ Kato Kyoto
After exploring for awhile, I decided to takeaway bento and desserts from the basement of the Isetan Kyoto department store back to my hotel and call it a day.
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