M was keen to try out the Zen Garden train (AKA Kyo Train Garaku which means “Gorgeous Kyoto Train”) that shuttles between Osaka and Kyoto on weekends. We couldn’t make the dates work for using it as our actual travel between these two cities, so it ended up being an activity for its own sake. It’s the same cost as the regular train (410 yen => AUD$4.50 each way, kids half price), and only a 45 minute journey but so beautiful. Each carriage is themed with different seasons plus a couple of imitation Japanese gardens.

Unfortunately, on our way out to Kyoto it was very packed (standing room only and lots of people with luggage) and we could barely move, let alone see the decorations 😭

At Kyoto, the train stopped for about 20 mins, so we had plenty to time to race out and grab the return ticket (Z in the lead of anything time critical of course – it’s where she thrives!) and come back to explore the much-less-crowded train before it left. There was even a wedding party having pictures taken in one of the carriages!

We got great seats, facing the window, and there was no one standing at all, so we could feel the peaceful zen 🕉️, see the cherry blossoms 🌸 and the Yamazaki distillery 🥃