Japan Bullet Train Proposed Extension from Kanazawa to Kyoto and Osaka

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The governor of Kyoto Prefecture held meetings with JR West and Ministry of Transportation official to discuss the route of the planned extension of the bullet train line that currently runs from Tokyo to Kanazawa, which is on the west coast of the country.

The proposed route will bring trains down from Kanazawa and pass through Kyoto en route to the terminus in Osaka. The three possible routes are:

1) Maibara Route: use the existing Tokaido Line (the main bullet train line to Tokyo) to head through Shiga Prefecture, and then build from there to Kanazawa.

2) Obama Route: build a new line through Kyoto Prefecture up to Obama, a provincial city in Fukui, and then head up to Kanazawa.

3) Maizuru Route: build a new line through Kyoto Prefecture to the coastal city of Maizuru and then head through Obama up to Kanazawa.

The shortest route is the Maibara Route. It would cost 5.9 billion US dollars to complete. The train from Kyoto to Kanazawa would take one hour and 41 minutes and cost an estimated 11,190 yen for a one-way ticket. The downside of this route is in the event of an emergency the Tokaido Line could not be used - as was the case in the 1995 Kobe earthquake - and trains would not be able to get to Tokyo.

Odds were then placed on the Obama Route, which is more direct than going via Maizuru. Moreover, one-way would take just one hour 19 minutes and cost 8,740 yen. The Maizuru Route, which is more roundabout, would take one hour 31 minutes and cost 11,140 yen. Construction costs are slightly higher for the Obama Route, and are estimated to be 23 billion US dollars.

The issue may come down to bang for your buck. While the Maibara Route is the leader in this category - its economic impact to cost ratio is 2.2 to 1 - news reports hint that Maizuru may be chosen. This is because this route would revitalize whole swaths of the Japan Sea region that is experiencing depopulation and economic decline.

An announcement is expected by the end of the year and trains to begin service in 2022.

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Kyocera Headquarters Illumination & Concert 2016

Kyocera Corporation will hold its annual illumination event from December 1 to December 25 at its headquarters in Kyoto.

Kyocera has been presenting festive lighting in the public space in front of its building and a giant Christmas tree display to help invigorate the local community ever since the company's headquarters were relocated here in 1998.

Since 2006, the area in the public garden in front of the building have been illuminated by LEDs to produce an ethereal and fantastic nighttime scene with roughly 190,000 LEDs of various colors and a festive 86-meter giant Christmas tree that is created on the east and west sides of the building by utilizing office window lights and decorations.

For details and to see more photos, please visit:
www.kyocera.co.jp/illumination (Japanese only)

There will also be a classical concert performed by Kyoto Seibo Gakuin Junior High School / Senior High School hand-bell and chorus clubs.

Come to enjoy the heart-warming voices and harmonious sound of the hand-bells while viewing the beautiful night illumination.

Date: December 20 (Tue) 6:00 p.m. � 7:00 p.m. (tentative)
Location: Kyocera headquarters lobby on the 1st floor

Kyocera Headquarters Illumination 2016
LED Illumination: Dec. 1 (Thu) � Dec. 25 (Sun) Giant Christmas Tree: Dec. 12 (Mon) - 25 (Sun) Hours: 5:30 p.m. � 10:00 p.m.
Location; Kyocera headquarters building, the garden area in front of the main entrance

Head Office
6 Takeda Tobadono-cho
Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi
612-8501
global.kyocera.com/company

Access
From Kyoto Station Hachijyoguchi exit, take REX bus (????????????(R'EX) to Pulse Plaza/Kyocera-mae stop (15 min.) From Takeda Station (Kintetsu Line / Kyoto Subway Karasuma Line), exit the north-west exit and take a city bus to Pulse Plaza-mae stop (5 min.)
From Kintetsu Line Fushimi Station 10 minute walk
From Keihan Line Chushojima Station, take a city bus to Pulse Plaza-mae stop (10 min.)

Parking for about 100 cars is available at Pulse Plaza on the north side of the Kyocera building during the illumination event. (Gates closes at 9:45 p.m.)

Kyoto Heian Hotel

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The Kyoto Heian Hotel is located on the west side of the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Gosho). The highlight of a stay here is the lovely Edo Period garden on the premises. The 1,650m� garden was created by Jihei Ogawa in the 1920's over what was once the garden of a court noble. The strolling garden contains a pond, a waterfall, a stone bridge and various stone lanterns.

The Kyoto Heian Hotel has both Japanese-style tatami rooms as well as Western-style rooms. There are two restaurants at the hotel: the Japanese-style Hofune facing the garden and the French-style Cafe Arbois.

The Kyoto Heian Hotel is a short walk south from Exit 6 of Imadegawa Station on the Kyoto subway and a short walk north from the Kyoto Garden Palace Hotel.

Kyoto Heian Hotel
Karasumadori Kamichojamachi-agaru
Kamigyo-ku
Kyoto, 602-0912
Tel: 075 432 6181
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Pig & Whistle Kyoto

The Pig & Whistle pub on Sanjo is something of a Kyoto institution among foreigners in the city and will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this December.

The Pig hasn't changed that much in its 30 years of service, the dart boards are still there, as is the fish and chips and draft Guinness; an extra bar and table football are later additions. The interior decor is descibed on Japanese review stes as "retro" which I suppose it is, as it celebrates 30.

Now part of a small chain of British style bars which include the Man in the Moon pubs near Kyoto Station and others in Shijo Karasuma, Gion and Rokkaku.

Pig & Whistle
Shobi Building 2F, 115 Ohashicho
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 605-0009
Tel: 075 761 6022
Hours: Monday-Thursday & Sunday 5pm-2am; Friday & Saturday 5pm-5am

The Pig & Whistle is very close to the north east exit of Sanjo Station on the Kyoto subway.

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Bungalow & Beer House Craftman Kyoto

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Craft beer bars are increasing in Japan's major cities and have become something of a fashionable trend as more and more young people turn away from the standard fare served up by Japan's big four brewers.

Two such craft beer bars in Kyoto are Bungalow on Shijo Horikawa and Beer House Craftman just south of Shijo Karasuma close to the Starbucks and the Karasuma Kyoto Hotel - both are rather different in style.

Bungalow is a fairly informal, reasonably friendly, low key joint with plastic sheeting for walls whereas Beer House Craftman is a rather snooty, upmarket affair complete with stiff wait staff and that familiar unwelcoming Kyoto welcome. Both serve excellent craft beer, however, which is should be your main purpose for visiting.

The two establishments serve decent food as well. Bungalow is heavy on the meat - the carved beef looked delicious - and it was the first time I had seen tripe on a Kyoto menu. Vegetarians would be limited to the French fries. The potato salad comes with ham and egg.

Beer House Craftman offers a set of three beers - all good - for 1500 yen or larger glasses on tap. The food is Italianesque and small in portion delivered by waiters in white coats with all the charm and refinement of trainee lab technicians.

Both places have two floors with the more informal drinking taking place on the first (ground) floor and the serious eating on the second floor. Bungalow has a few standing tables as well for that Kansai tachinomiya feel.

Bungalow
15 Kashiwayacho
Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel: 075 256 8205
Hours: 3pm-2am (weekdays and Saturday); 12pm-11pm (Sunday)

Beer House Craftman
643-1 Nijo Hanjikicho
Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8412
Tel: 075 371 7676
Hours: 5pm-2am

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