Kyoto cont.

Up bright and early as wanted to get to Arashiyama to walk through the bamboo forest and visit the monkey's in Monkey Park. It was a very nice day weather wise and the walk in the bamboo forest was interesting but very busy. The place has lots of gardens and shrines to visit and we saw another geisha girl but yet again no photos to be taken. The river Hozu runs right through the city and we enjoyed a lovely walk along its banks watching the boats glide pass. After our walk we tried the local soya ice cream and very nice it was too, maybe not as fattening as our ice cream due to being made from soya.

Finding the monkey park I realised it was another climb up to the top of Mt.Iwatayama at 133 meters but the route is lined with the monkeys. At the top they have a feeding station and amazing views over the city below. The monkeys roam freely and it was lovely to watch them in their natural habitat as these monkeys are only found in Japan.

Bamboo Forest

Bamboo Forest

Bamboo Forest

Gardens at Arashiyama

Japanese Macaque or Snow Monkey

I`m watching you

That`s nice

Overlooking the city

Nara

Todaiji Temple

We took an local train from Kyoto station and headed for the city of Nara. After an hour we were there in this vast park full of deer eager to be fed. The center piece of the park is the Todaiji Temple which is home to The Big Buddha. the temple is the largest wooden structure in the world today. The seated Buddha is 15 meters tall and is flanked by 2 Bodhisattvas. This was a great day out and well worth the slow journey to get there, and to get away from the hustle of Kyoto.

Nara Park deer

The Big Buddha

The Big Buddha

For Molly and Matt

Kyoto

Arrived to yet another hectic station with too many exits and off course we choose the wrong one to get to the bus terminal. Finally on a hot and over packed bus we made it to the hostel and dumped our bags as we were too early to check in.
We decided to follow the hundreds of people heading up a slight hill as we guessed that meant another temple or shrine. After walking through the usual shops and food stalls we came to the Kiyomizu-dera temple. This is one of the most popular in Japan as if you go to the top you get great views of the blossom and of the city below. Many ladies are dressed in their kimono`s which seems to be the norm when visiting these places. After visiting this area we went back and checked into our hostel where another bunk bed in a 12 bed dorm awaited us. That evening we went to the Gion area where old city meets new, interesting place.

Kiyomizu-dera at the bottom

Kiyomiza-dera at the top

Ladies in their kimono`s

Fushimo-Inari Shrine

After a heavy day of walking and my ankles killing me we thought we would take it easy after our visit to Nara. So as it was raining when we got up we stayed local and went for a walk to the Imperial Palace not realising its not open to the public but the gardens were lovely to visit. It had stopped raining so we jumped on a train and went looking for the Fushimo-Inari Shrine. 

Made it to the top of Mt.Inari

Fushimo-Inari Shrine

Imperial Palace

Little did I realise that you had to walk to the top of Mt.Inari, the route is lined with Torii which are the red arches. The summit is 233 meters and is covered with 32,000 sub shrines and I think we saw 31,000 of them. It was a great climb and very pretty even with the low cloud and damp drizzle.

Geisha Girl

Hiroshima

Arrived at Hiroshima station at 2pm and headed for Hana's Hostel where we are spending 2 nights. We dumped our bags and headed for the Peace Park to explore the area where the first atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. We discovered that our JR pass covered us for the loop bus so that's what we jumped on and it took us straight there. Once you get off the bus your hit with the Atomic Bomb Dome which is a horrific site to see in modern day. This building was a local council building when the A-bomb exploded directly above it and amazingly it stood and now the Japanese have built the Peace Park around it. All around the park are monuments to the victims of the bomb such as the POW's and the Korens that were here at that time. All the monuments have origami storks hanging from or around them. This is due to a young girl while suffering from the affects and later dying from the A-bomb used to lie in bed and make paper storks. A monument to her was erected called the Children's Peace Monument. There is a Cenotaph with a Flame of Peace which will only go out when all nuclear weapons have been destroyed. There is a Memorial Hall to the Victims where you can go and search for victims of the A-bomb.

This was a very moving place but a must for people to witness so we can have world peace.

We rose early this morning as we wanted to catch a train and then the ferry to Miyajima to see the Itsukushima Shrine. This shrine is made from Cedar wood and has been replaced 7 times now due to the fact that it is in the water at high tide and at low tide you can walk out to it. It was a spectacular site to see this shrine but I felt it needed a fresh coat of paint.

The island has a population of wild deer that freely wander around they seem harmless and quite friendly when you have food.

There is also another cable car that takes you to the top of Mt Misen for some amazing views. We decided to walk and OMG I was knacked by the time I got to the top at 535m What we should of done was cable car up and walk down but when have we ever taken the easy route. The day was another warm day and we chilled with the deer and a drink while we waited for the sun to set. The best thing about today it was all done with our JR pass. Back on the ferry for a nice rest, chicken and rice for dinner and a early night I think as tomorrow we are back on the train for Kyoto.

Peace Dome

Cenotaph

Children`s Peace Monument

Dome of the victims of the A-Bomb

Our room for two nights

Itsukushima Shine

Mt. Misen

Miyajima Island

Wild deer

Park

Nagasaki

What a day of train travel, we started the day on a bullet train for just over an hour then had to change for another. Two and half hours later we change for our last local train that seemed to tug along for 2 hours so slow compared to the other trains we had been on. Finally arrived just after 5 and headed for the tram line for a two stop ride to the hostel.

The hostel isn't as nice as the reviews make out but it has everything you could need and a washing machine as we are down to our last pair of pants now.

Headed off by tram to the Peace Park where we saw the Fountain of Peace, Peace Statue, Atomic Bomb Hypocenter and the Atomic Bomb Museum. All were very moving and peaceful. All around the park are monuments given by different countries but didn't see one from Britain or America. People were bringing flowers to lay as a mark of respect to all those who lost their lives that day.

From here we headed to the Nagasaki Ropeway which is a cable car up to Mt Inasa at 333m which is one of the top 3 best night views in the world. Amazing views across the bay and all the little islands beyond. Very warm day and the sun was shinning which always help when high up.

Walking back we came across Spectacles Bridge which if you get the reflection right looks like a pair of glasses. I was amazed at all the carp in the water.

Just behind the river is Temple Street which as the name states is a street lined with temples.

Spectacle Bridge

Absolutely knacked now so we head back to the hostel for a cuppa and some dinner and later a walk to China Town.

Statue of Peace

Bullet Train

View from cable car

View from cable car

A-Bomb Hypocenter

Nagoya

Surprise, surprise the train left on time down to the second. What an amazing train, the front looks like the front of a plane, when it pulled into the station an army of cleaners in pink uniforms were waiting to clean and turn the sits around so everybody is fronting forward. Once we boarded the train the sits are huge and recline, you have power the charge up, a table and coat hooks. We had window sits but the train goes so fast you can't really see anything, we glided into Nagoya station dead on time.

Headed for the metro to find our hostel Ohsu Plaza which turned out to be a hotel at hostel prices. We were only booked in for one night but they found us a room for two extra nights as we had changed our plans. Our hostel was right next door to the Osu Kannon Buddhist Temple so we wandered around for a couple of hours only stopping for pizza and a beer like you do in Japan...... 

We woke to it pouring down so out came the waterproofs and we headed to the station to book our train tickets for Monday to Nagasaki and then to Hiroshima on Wednesday. Absolutely mayhem in the station but we quened up and managed to explain where and when we wanted to head to. While at the station we went to look at the sky scrappers that were around us but as it was raining so hard visibility was very bad so thought we would try tomorrow to go up them. Tickets in hand we jumped onto the metro and headed for the Nagoya castle. Expects at the metro sysyem, not much difference from the London underground, all colours and numbers.
Nagoya Castle was orginally destroyed in the last war but is now in the process of being rebuilt by hand using all hand tools. The workers on the project are trained for years and the build will take another 6 years to complete. The structure is all made from cypress trees that are over 200 years old. We had an english speaking guild to show us around which was helpful. Met an old Japanese lady that I song "Love me tender" too as she didn't know who Elvis was. Viewed a displayed of Bonsai Trees which were lovely and huge flowers.

Headed back to hostel to sort the next few days accommodation and chill before we head out to eat. We found a little Japanese place where you ordered tour meal by a machine and 5 minutes later it arrives with  sticks. I did manage my meal as well as a runny egg with my chop sticks.

We woke quite late at 10 but who cares we're on holiday, wanted to walk to the TV Tower but ended up walking 2 miles in the wrong direction but we turned round and eventually got there. It was an ok tower but decided not to go up to the top as we wanted to go up a higher one. In the park there was an international food fest which was nice to walk around but no British stall, but we did eat some foot long chips. Walked through the park and saw the science museum which was interesting with all the kids dancing in the park. From there we walked to Midland Square and went up the tower that has the highest open air observation platform in Japan, by now it was raining.... I've decided I don't do heights as my legs went to jelly and I felt sick looking over the edge of this 247 meters tower.

Decided on a sit down with a coffee then headed for the shops to find the Apple Store as needed to buy an adapter to load up photos to our iPads as I forgot to bring it with us.

Nagoya Castle

Bonsai Tree display at the castle

Fried egg with chop sticks???????

Twin Towers

Spiral Tower

Bedtime Japanese style

Sugar syrup

Tokyo

After a long flight we arrived at Narita Airport, must be the cleanest and quitest airport I have ever flown into. We found the shuttle bus to Tokyo Station ok and after an hour we were in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. I was amazed how warm it was and again how clean the place was. We decided to walk to the hostel as we had been sitting for so long, it was a bit further than we thought. We got a bit lost but we got there in the end, dumped our bags and grabbed a coffee.
Now off to explore the city, our first stop was the Imperial Palace, this place is in the centre of Tokyo and is surrounded by skyscrapper, reminds me of Central Park in New York. There is none of the palace left just the outer walls and lovely grounds, where we laid down and had a power nap......
We ventured into the station which is like a town in itself, its massive and mad with thousands of travellers heading for their trains. What we noticed was that you have to walk on the left everywhere, no mobile phones are to be used anywhere, no smoking, no eating or drinking except in designated areas. All the guys are in black suits and white shirts heading off to work in their conformist ways.
Now back in our hostel where I really liked, very clean and organised. Our room was small but we only sleep there so its fine for us. Went to bed at 8pm as now we had been up nearly 48hrs, was asleep right away but I woke at midnight so played games and chatted with my Mum online.
Finally woke at 2pm Wednesday afternoon and now I'm hungry so a nice bowl of porridge and a cuppa was the answer. Headed out into the city about 3pm so we went to Electric Town where you guessed it, full of gadgets. Some of the stuff wasn't even sure what it was but I still enjoyed dragging Sally around them all. The Japanese are game playing mad and loads of places where they can go and play the games and buy the characters. They walk around in the outfits as if its their normal attire.
We mastered the JR trains and made it to Shibuya Crossing where we watched the scramble, this is where lots of lights go red at once and thousands of people cross the road at once, amazing to watch.
McDonald's for a coffee and they have liquid form sugar in a little tub, ended up with a cold coffee with ice by mistake, lesson learnt. Headed for bed at midnight but still not tired or very hungry, this jetlag is a real nightmare.
Thusday morning up early to go to the Tsukiji fish market, what an amazing place, its the largest fish market in the world. The sights of all the fish alive and dead was something I have never witnessed before. It was a very hot day so we headed for the bay area for a sit down and drink. On the way back to the station we found the Tsukiji Hongwanji Buddhist Temple which we looked at, which is really all you can do.
Back on the metro for the Senso-Ji Buddhist Temple which is the most visited in Japan, it was huge and very crowded. Alot of stalls selling food and tacky tourist gifts so we settled for a McDonald's ice-cream. From here we walked to the Tokyo Sky Tree which is the highest tower in Japan but the cloud had come down so visability wasn't good and as we wanted to see Mt Fuji found there we thought we would go up there when we return to Tokyo later in the trip.
Back to the hostel for scrammbled eggs and toast for dinner, we are leaving Tokyo tomorrow so have to pack up ready for an early start in the morning.
At Tokyo station we activated our JR rail passes and booked our sits on our first bullet train journey for Nagoya.

Imperial Palace grounds

Tokyo Bay 

Senso-Ji Buddist Temple

Senso-Ji

First Bullet train journey

Public toilet

Tsukiji Fish Market