The typhoon weather started that day. Everyone went to Arashiyama anyway and did the bamboo forest and the monkey park in the rain.
The monkey park hike said it would take 20 minutes, but the group did it in under 10. It was a full downpour, and Sarah mentioned the rainy monkey park more than once when listing her highlights. Apparently suffering improves retention.
The weather was tied to Typhoon No. 7, Mekkhala, which was southwest of Kyoto near the Okinawa / Ryukyu side of Japan and feeding rain into the rainy-season front.
After Kyoto, the group took the train to Osaka and checked into the Waldorf Astoria. It was exactly as nice as expected, which still means the nicest hotel the group has stayed in.
The luggage forwarding worked perfectly. Bags shipped from Kyoto to Osaka showed up at the rooms about five minutes after check-in.
Concierge Marcus arranged room upgrades, $100 to spend at the hotel, and free breakfast. The hotel also had welcome gifts waiting: happy anniversary for Zach and Caitlin and happy birthday for Sarah.
Zach's socks and shoes were completely drenched from the rain. The room's Dyson blow dryer got the shoes completely dry. Epic.
Everyone took robes down to the pool, then went to Peacock Lounge for drinks. The views were beautiful.
After Peacock Lounge, the night continued with another drink at the hotel speakeasy-style bar, Canes and Tales. Really fun.
Dinner was a 15-course sushi place: a plated meal, mostly fish on top of rice rather than sushi rolls, and really good.
