Japanese Bullet Train

The Japanese bullet train.  Conjures up thoughts of impressive timekeeping, and modern technology at it`s zenith. The Best train in the world.      Or so they say.
But what they do not say is that it has 16 carriages.  13 for first class and pre-reserved seats...and 3 cattle trucks.

I arrived in Shimonseki this morning and was given the choice of a 12 hours journey to Kyoto and 5 changes on local trains for 7000K or 3 hours with no changes on the Shinkasen for 13980Y.
I bit for the bullet.
It looked magnificent.  Like Concorde on rails. On the outside. But nothing special on the inside where I was. The first 13 carriages were two thirds full.
Unreserved were carriages 1,2,3  at the back and they were packed.  I had to stand all the way.

I need a good nights sleep.
Last night on the Pukwan ferry was uncomfortable. There was no entertainment like the Helsinki ferry, no bars, no shops. The boat was a lot smaller.  On deck was very, very dark and eerie, like the darkness was trying to suck you overboard.  I was in a large berth with no furniture and 16 guys very formally sleeping on mats (Japanese style) on the floor and the boat swaying, yawing, and dipping.  Awful.  I listened to my mp3 for 3 hours lying down trying to sleep.

The night before at City House in noisy Busan a group of 10 of us played drinking games with the local firewater til 230am.  Was such fun.  Lovely people.  But, oh my head the next morning. Did I say never again before??

And now in Kyoto.  So colourful and exciting.  Have seen young ladies walking down the street in kimonos.  Have had my first delicious suchi.  Nothing like the Tesco version, this was good!  Have seen a Zen monastery already, beautiful. 
But it got dark here before 7pm... good job I chose the Shinkasen this morning... arriving in Kyoto in the dark would have been so hard.