When we checked in we’d received a voucher that could be used in the hotel coffee shop, and after the walk across to the temple a coffee and cake-type treat definitely seemed like a good idea. The coffee shop turned out to be a rather swish affair, and the delicacies served up were quite adequate for people who’d skipped lunch and needed something to keep them going until dinner.
Given the weather conditions we weren't inclined to venture very far in search of dinner, but with a hotel located conveniently beside Kyoto Station there was no need to.
Like most similar operations in Japan's major cities, the station complex encompasses a dizzying array of retail options, with an abundant array of eateries covering most of the likely options of interest. If you're after Peruvian-Californian fusion food you're probably out of luck, but if you're looking to any of the major variations on Japanese, along with Chinese! Korean, American, French, English or Italian you'll probably find something that offers a Japanese take on your fancy.
As it turned out Madam had done the usual research and pointed us towards a niche section of the restaurant options where, along with the French, Italian, Chinese and Japanese operations, there was a Spanish eatery that delivered a quite tasty tortilla (the Spanish omelette rather than the Mexican corn bread wrap), a creamy seafood stew and a seafood paella that went rather well with a bottle of Spanish White.
There was still enough room for half a litre of Kirin from the vending machine when we got back! but definitely no room for the second.
That, I reasoned, would do to celebrate reclaiming the Ashes the following afternoon.