New Hankyu Kyoto

... amazing weather.<br><br>Afterwards, we headed to Kyoto Station and did a bit of exploring there (since the place is freaking HUGE), looking for somewhere to eat for dinner later, and looking for some omiyage (gifts) to bring back to our co-workers (japanese custom). We ended up stumbling upon some sort of college concert performance, which was pretty cool, considering they were playing music from Lupin III and stuff ...

... you are on a bike. Waving at school kids and noding at old people. Everyone nods in Japan. I love a good nod. You let someone pass, you get a nod. You give a nod just for nod's sake, and you get a nod in return. Especially fun when you are smashed.<br><br>Biking around<br><br>Kyoto is pretty flat except where the temples are, as they are usually up hills. From day 1, I was out riding. There is bikes everywhere and everything comes second to bikes. Cars ...

... to spot some cherry blossoms in Kyoto and knock off couple of temples (though they were mostly under construction). Picked up Japano-French pastries for dinner (ham and egg salad sandwich and red bean paste doughnut), ate like a madman on the train because I was so, so starving, and schlepped back to Osaka. Just another night and I can blow this popsicle stand (meant in a fond way...I think). <br><br>Tomorrow...bullet train to Fukuoka, Kyushu<br><br>-mike

... parking section' although the 400 yen was more then the cost of renting the bikes for the day. We were then told that we could ride them around the area. Which seemed like a way better option. We then rode through the downtown area, before we were stopped by the Japanese police. Must have missed those signs in Japanese! Great fun being stopped and told where we could and could not go. Attempted to go to the Nijojo Castle, but ...

... cada nova temporada das sakuras, onde todos relembram a delicadeza e a arte tão presentes na cultura japonesa . Adoramos Kyoto e é estremamente recomendável passar pelo menos uma semana por lá . Na verdade, se for só pra conhecer, 4 ou 5 dias serão suficientes, dependendo da curiosidade do viajante . Mas o fato é que não é apenas nos templos e ...

... stepped on the stepping stones SHE stepped on. Total geek out.<br><br>Whats the ONLY bad thing about Japan?<br>The fact that everyone you meet is Australian. You see, there are backpackers and there are backpackers. I hate Australian backpackers. They all seem to assume you want to party, get drunk and ignore the fact that you are in a place rich with culture and personality. But you know what? I like not being hungover and spending my day in the hostel.<br><br>Rachael Out.

... lly but th*nkfully timed our visit to N*r* with. If the very ide* of drums pounding *nd Shintoist's ch*nting in the dist*nce *s you work your w*y up * n*rrow, wooded tr*il - deers frolicking by your side - illumin*ted only by th*t of three thous*nd gi*nt, moss encrusted, stone l*nterns doesn't conjure up * most mystic*l im*ge in your mind, then I don't know wh*t does.<br><br>As for the l*st few d*ys, we spent them in the surrounding *re*s of Kyoto, which is * truly be*utiful city *nd ...

... for two d*ys *nd spent the first d*y exploring Fukuok*: Which *ctu*lly only re*lly involved going to C*n*l City, * huge complex th*t h*s been n*med * 'city within * city'. It h*d ret*il stores from Gucci to Hello Kitty, Pokemon Centers, Hundreds of b*rs, * The*tre (Which w*s showing the Lion King music*l) *nd even Hotels. We ended up wondering *round *nd getting lost *nd eventu*lly found * Movie The*tre, *nd decided to go see Sweeney Todd. Lets just s*y, I ...

... A few monkeys even brushed right by my leg. We were that close to all the action. After some great side-stall food, we went to discover the eight 'hells' or jigoku of Beppu; naturally occuring, boiling hot volcanic springs which have a certain aesthetic appeal to them. Besides the great amount of steam produced, among the eight hells were giant mud springs, which bubbled as sulfuric air attempted to escape them, waters of brilliant cobalt blue and blood red and even one ...

... to find affordable local cuisine. In true tourist fashion we ended up spending an hour finding something that should have taken 10 minutes. When we first saw the sign for tome tome, we went into the wrong building and ended up coming upon two Canadians preparing their club and bar for the night to come. They were very nice and fielded some questions. After our encounter with the maple leaves, we turned around and finally found tome tome. After walking up the narrow staircase the ...