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Up at 8, though I had been rudely awakened at 6 by people in the dorm! The aim today was to get the 8.48 bus to Mishima, then a train to Kyoto. So left the hostel at 8.30 for my apparent 5min walk. It takes me 20mins, I miss my bus. Next one is at 10.08 though this is just what I gather as the girl couldn't be any less helpful! There is nothing to eat at this station and I'm starving! Just have to wait till I get to Mishima. Of course this later bus involves a change somewhere, so I have to scramble about trying to find my connection. Bus travel was ok, you get on the door at the back of the bus, take a ticket or scan your pass, then you pay when you get off. Seems to work quite well.
Managed to grab two baps when I got to Mishima, thank god, I think I was going to pass out! Switching from train to train all day today. Quite tiring, can't properly relax as most of the trains are like the city trains with seats up the side. On top of that, it is too hot and I keep falling asleep then waking up in a panic, flicking through papers and checking my watch, not pleasant. At Mishima the guy in the office prints me out the times for all my transfers. It's a slick operation with 10min max in between trains. Problem is that because I don't have a map of all the train lines it is somewhat confusing to get on the right train, and I don't have a lot of time to get it right. At Toyohashi I was standing around perplexed when a random guy came over and started speaking in Japanese to me. I said I was going to Kyoto via Ogaki then he was like 5 and lead me up the steps and down to the platform, then when we got on the train he sorted me a seat. Some of the seats appear to be reversible, you can just pull the back across. So this boy gets in and turns my seat around and ushers me in, then goes and gets his own seat. Outstanding! Saved me a lot of hassle. Now, obviously one is wary, as sometimes the advice doesn't check out, but as we are walking and I'm frantically checking my scraps of paper, it all looks good.
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After I was just about to say how efficient the Japanese train system was, and then there is a delay. Ended up missing my last train to Kyoto, got the next one but I got in an hour later than expected. Tried to follow the directions to the hostel. Got lost. Asked a postman, he hadn't a clue. Got a taxi after 40min of walking, ¥640, rippin, but had little choice. Arrived at the hostel, busted. Few cups of coffee and chat with some folks in the common room, then to bed.
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