Japan 2009

Japan travelog website

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:02:04 +0000

I've started uploading my many, many photos to Flickr, have a look - full trip diary (and video) also coming soon

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:08:17 +0000

I've started uploading my many, many photos to Flickr, have a look - full trip diary (and video) also coming soon

We left Kyoto at 5am, and 24 hours later we’re home. The...

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:50:28 +0000

We left Kyoto at 5am, and 24 hours later we’re home. The train ride back to Tokyo was nice and peaceful with lovely sunrise and views of Mount Fuji. After that I’d rather forget - suffice to say the incredibly efficient Japanese rail service FAILED us when we needed them most; made our flight with literally minutes to spare and spent the following 14 hours recovering from the stress.

Mikoan restaurant - words can’t adequately describe how...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:23:00 +0000

Mikoan restaurant - words can’t adequately describe how much I loved this place. The amazing vegetarian Buddhist food, all cooked by one lady on a tiny stove behind the bar? The packed-to-the-rafters decor? The live-in family of tabby cats with TINY KITTEN?? I wanted to cry when we had to leave. Perfect meal for our final night in Japan.

Costume Museum - mini diorama of an emperor’s palace with...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:14:08 +0000

Costume Museum - mini diorama of an emperor’s palace with dolls in costume

OMG, bumped into Leo, Josh’s buddy from London! W E I R D.

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:09:43 +0000

OMG, bumped into Leo, Josh’s buddy from London! W E I R D.

Just had perhaps the most special meal of my life, on our last night in Japan. No time to blog...

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:29:35 +0000

Just had perhaps the most special meal of my life, on our last night in Japan. No time to blog photos, need to pack ready to leave at 5am tomorrow :(

Reflection-view from dinner at Salvatore Cuomo Italian...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:19:11 +0000

Reflection-view from dinner at Salvatore Cuomo Italian restaurant on the 10th floor of Isetan

Nara also has some of the most stunning temples so far; The...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:17:48 +0000

Nara also has some of the most stunning temples so far; The Todaji with Japan’s biggest Buddha sculpture (it’s epically huge and not done justice by photos) and the Kasuga Shrine which had a lovely serene feeling and a gorgeous view.

Got the train out to Nara today, which has a park containing...

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:11:55 +0000

Got the train out to Nara today, which has a park containing 1,200 deer! They’re so cute and tame enough that you can feed them. They wander all over the roads and up to the temples.

Downtown Kyoto by night

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:02:43 +0000

Downtown Kyoto by night

The startling array of buttons found on a Japanese toilet

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:55:30 +0000

The startling array of buttons found on a Japanese toilet

Bamboo grove in Arashiyama

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:53:27 +0000

Bamboo grove in Arashiyama

Arashiyama and the Tenryu-ji Temple

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:47:54 +0000

Arashiyama and the Tenryu-ji Temple

Finally tried a Boss coffee, to warm up while doing the...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:55:00 +0000

Finally tried a Boss coffee, to warm up while doing the Philosopher’s Path (a hot can of coffee from a vending machine = technology WIN). It was - as expected - completely disgusting.

The Philosopher’s Path walk was stunningly beautiful...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:22:35 +0000

The Philosopher’s Path walk was stunningly beautiful (I’m running out of adjectives to describe Kyoto countryside). We saw the two cats near the beginning, one just a tiny kitten, and they were all damp from the rain - I hope they lived in one of the houses nearby :( Also saw some genuine geishas (probably maiko - apprentice geishas - actually because they looked young and seemed to be running an errand) for the first time.

Postcard view or what? Start of the Philosopher’s Path...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:10:14 +0000

Postcard view or what? Start of the Philosopher’s Path walk

Nanzen-ji temple

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:08:02 +0000

Nanzen-ji temple

Fantastic lunch at the vegan Kaira’s cafe, a darling...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:06:04 +0000

Fantastic lunch at the vegan Kaira’s cafe, a darling little place with low tables and floor cushions, hand-illustrated menus and sweets made by the owner’s grandmother. Amazingly, stopping here seemed to heal my poorly foot, temporarily at least - the power of a good meal.

Did a little woodblock printing workshop at the Handicraft...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:02:31 +0000

Did a little woodblock printing workshop at the Handicraft Centre; fun!