On Friday we enjoyed our 180 mph train ride to Kyoto.  These bullet trains (ours was not the fastest) are smooth and very comfortable.  Near our hotel is Pontocho Alley, a narrow passage way with innumerable bars, clubs & restaurants.  Many of these are pretty forbidding for foreign visitors as everything is in Japanese.  During a brief thunderstorm, we ducked into a very small bar playing Motown music.  The owner had a collection of albums (Stylistics, Supremes, etc.) that is probably unusual in Japan.  On this street, we couldn’t find the 2 sushi restaurants recommended by our hotel (no English signs) until we brought back pictures of what we thought might be restaurants.  The sushi was good but not outstanding that we found in Tokyo.