Kyoto Tower, Kyoto Station (京都駅)
The days were shorter in the winter.
Most of Kyoto’s tourist spots had already closed.
Feeling a bit reluctant to just head back to Osaka, I decided to explore various parts of Kyoto a little more.
Kyoto Tower
I took a bus from Higashiyama-ku to reach Kyoto Tower.
Kyoto Tower stands atop the Kyoto Hotel building and is the tallest building in Kyoto, offering a great view of the city.
However, I only admired the tower from below and didn’t go up to the observation deck.
JR Kyoto Station (京都駅)
Behind Kyoto Tower is JR Kyoto Station.
I could also see Kyoto Tower from Kyoto Station.
It was a beautiful sight from a distance.
Kyoto Station’s History
Kyoto Station turned out to be larger than I expected.
It was not only spacious but also incredibly tall, like a 15-story building.
The first floor served as JR Kyoto Station, and from the second floor onwards, there were Isetan Department Store, Granvia Hotel, and various restaurants.
Escalators on both sides of the station’s center made it easy to move around.
The escalators at Kyoto Station were very steep and fast.
Kyoto Station Sky Way
Kyoto Station has a free observation deck, although not as high as Kyoto Tower.
So, instead of going up Kyoto Tower, I went to Kyoto Station.
There was an outdoor garden called “Sky Garden”(大空庭園),
and on the way to the garden, there was a pathway called “Sky Way,” which felt like walking in the sky.
I had a panoramic view of Kyoto city at a glance (the photo is a bit shaky).
I couldn’t capture it all in photos, so I enjoyed the view with my eyes.
Sky Way Entrance
I continued walking in the sky at Kyoto Station.
My plan was to cross over to the other side and then descend to the first floor.
Kyoto Station Christmas Tree
About a week before Christmas, there was a huge Christmas tree in the central hall of Kyoto Station.
Watching the towering Christmas tree reaching the heights of Kyoto Station’s ceiling, I decided to take a break from my tiring journey.
Many people, like me, climbed the high stairs to view the tree or passed the time waiting for trains.
A Melody from the Christmas Tree
At that moment, the melody that played from the Christmas tree seemed to comfort my weary traveler’s soul.
After being away from Korea for over a year, I was now heading home.
It had given me strength.
I had many thoughts, but while listening to the melody, I managed to sort them out and plan for the future.
By the way, I’m really curious about the title of the song that played from that tree.
If anyone knows the title of the melody, I would appreciate it if you could let me know!
Dec. 14, 2009.
During Christmas in 2009,
That music box I heard at Kyoto Station,
I was only able to find that melody in September 2023.
And for a while, I kept listening to that song only on my phone.
While doing so, I recalled myself back then,
when I was at Kyoto Station in Japan.
[Kiroro – 長い間 (A Long Time) /English Lyrics]