Before heading to Kyoto, we had some time to kill and went to the aquarium. I expected it to be a lot smaller than it was, and I really enjoyed getting to see manta rays, seals, and otters!

After the aquarium, we boarded the bullet train! The train ride was about 2-3 hours long and I listened to music and watched the beautiful countryside and mountains as we traveled.

Once in Kyoto, we met up with some professors from KCG and had a wonderful welcome dinner. Dinner consisted of 10 courses where we were able to sample traditional Japanese foods. I’m not a huge seafood fan, but I did give the raw squid and sashimi a try.

That night I was tired after a long day of traveling, and definitely was happy to relax at the hotel. The hotel aesthetic was a nice fusion of modern minimalist with some traditional Japanese style and bathroom. I especially enjoyed the complimentary night robes we were given, they were so comfy!