Nagominoyado La Foret Fukiya Takahashi

... famous Itsukushima shrine behind it, I found those sights somewhat overrated, especially as the shrine was a bit empty of iconography or statuary etc, but packed with tons of tourists. And the surrounding town is basically a bonanza of souvenir shops overpriced snack stands. Fun to browse around, but since I can't really buy anything as I have to lug it around with me for the next month, a few minutes per shop was all I needed.

Aside from Itsukushima shrine, there ...

... veramente da buttare via , non ho idea al momento di quanti km sono ma so molto bene che ho solo guidato nel traffico di quelli da esodo tutte queste citta` e o paesi che ho nominato sono coesi fra loro non c`e` un pezzo di terra libero che ti fa capire che stai lasciando un posto per un`altro.

... not so much to our tastes. Neither of us really took to the pickles and fish with rice for brekky! Overall it was a really enjoyable - but expensive stay in a ryokan. The welcoming was first class as was the service throughout, the place in general just had a lovely peaceful ambience, very civilised, we would defintely recommend it as a must-do to any visitor to Japan. We headed back to the station and caught the shinkansen to Hiroshima.

... vase will will give to Yoku tonight when we go to Hiroshima. The Omiyagai bag is filling up with gifts given to us--good thing we brought the bags! Well, I will have to sign off as the group is waiting for me. (Oh we went to the factory that makes this dried bean --sweet and tastes a bit like dates) alk to you soon amelia

... of the day with the family, Went to the coin laundry and while the clothes did their thing, went to the park nearby and played with a frisbee and baseball. We had a smaller dinner (thankfully), checked out Hiroko's fathers Harley Davidson and played with the children.

... for dinner with hiroko and her sister Rikako (who also came to stay with us), and her husband. It was great to see them again and meet her husband. The yakitori was fantastic and everyone was very friendly. Photos of most of the above are in this album with a concious effort to include food shots! Speaking of food...check out the "australian meet pie" we found at an australian import shop! Another brief entry due to the time!

... with her sister and her child and Hiroko's two children. We had sushi (raw fish kind) and pizza for lunch. Both were quite tasty. Hiroko also made us dinner (curry) and it was very tasty. We then returned to our hotel via the coin laundy to do some washing and turned in for the night.

... I hadn't and he said I shouldn't worry. He pressed a button and the hairdressing chair swivelled round, and I sat down on the contraption. Soon I was reclining with towels and water jackets in the right places and jets of water were spraying over my head in lots of directions with some force. With a few "oohs" and "ahhs" it was eventually over. Very nice and I'm sure my scalp has never been cleaner.

... efficient at their work, the food is scrumptious, the streets are meticulously clean and the TOILET SEATS ARE HEATED! There are some things that I will have to grow to like (the $88 bunches of grapes and the $198 mangoes?! I am pretty sure I did that conversion right) and the unfamiliar language of course that is unbelievably confusing ( 3 different ways of writing!). Well that is all for now...stay tuned...

... pointed way off the map to where we were and in broken english said you cant walk there, too far which then the girls started laughing even harder. We left and decided to walk to the next major interestion and try and catch a bus we stumbled upon a train station found out where we were and needed to go found out where we were and needed to go and finally go into our ryokan maybe an hour or so later. we dropped off our things and head out to grab a bite to eat...another stop ...