Japan Visit 2010

Well the snow cleared overnight and we got sun today, albeit cold. So much so that we both have a bit of sunburn!! My nose currently looks like Rudolph's!!

Today we did most of the Lonely Planet's Southern Higashiyama walking tour - it says to get a bus to the start but we decided to walk to it as it was only a couple of kilometers from hotel. First up was the Otani Mausoleum which is on the hill up to Kiyomizu-dera. There we met a nice man called Howie who was also planning on doing the same walk as us. We gave him the blog address so if you're reading this "konnichiwa"!!

Next was the steep climb up to Kiyomizu-dera past a huge cemetry. We finally arrived at the temple but decided not to go in. We're a bit templed out plus it would seem that every tourist in Kyoto was here. We couldn't believe our eyes when we saw someone with a Celtic top on! I mean, you expect that in the Costa del Sol but not at a temple in Kyoto!! Just goes to show you!

I lost my title as chief navigator as I took as the wrong way in our tour which meant walking back up a rather steep hill. Still it was worth it because as we headed down Sannen-kaza, which is wee street lined with wood houses and traditional shops, we saw a Geisha, then another 2 then another one!! If I'd not taken us on the detour we would have probably missed them.

Next up was Maruyama-koen which is a bit park with lots of cherry trees, including Kyoto's most famous one. I thought it would only be the foreign tourists that get excited by the blossoms but the Japanese do too. We stopped for some sushi in the park and took in the atmosphere.

We wandered through the park and came to the Gion district. The walking tour suggesting another wee bit but by this time our legs were a bit tried and Neil's shins were sore. We took a wander through Gion and took the subway back to the hotel.

I left Neil and headed to Shosei-en which is the garden we were going to go to yesterday. I'm so glad I went as it was so beautiful especially with all the blossoms. And to top it off I saw another Geisha. That took the total for the day to 5. I was just hoping to see one!

Dinner tonight was in a Nepalese restaurant called Yak & Yeti. It was recommended by Lonely Planet and it was the best curry we've had in a long long time. We both ordered set meals and each came with a naan bread the size of your head. Needless to say the gutsy Logan's finished everything!! We met a lovely couple there who are also touring round and stayed in the same hotel as us in Tokyo and here in Kyoto!

Tomorrow we are on the bullet train back up to Tokyo. We have changed out hotel and are now staying in the Hilton in Shinjuku.

Right I'm off to moisturise my nose in the hope that it doesn't start peeling!!!