Sunroute Kyoto

... visit the temple first and then give in these temptations.The temple area is very expansive it simply cannot be experienced even in an hour.<br>So there ends our day trip to Kyoto. The bus took us back to the hotel at New Miyako. We still had a lot of time to kill till the last train for Tokyo arrives at Kyoto. We ask around for things to do and the ...

... Tori rouges-orangees tout au long d'un sentier de 4 km serpentant dans la montagne. Et bien sur il y a les Geishas et les Maikos (apprentis Geishas) du celebre quartier de Gion, avec leurs sublimes Kimono multi-couleurs et leur coiffures travaillees ! Ceux qui disent que Kyoto est une etape incontournable lors d'un voyage au Japon n'ont pas tord. Et 5 jours passes dans cette ville etaient a peine suffisant.

... extremely lucky to see two! One was running down a small alleyway, whilst another was being escorted from a taxi, so although breif glimpses, we both left feeling very priviliged! Although we had both already eaten, we discoivered an interesting sushi restaurant on the way back to the hostel, and determined as I am to always try new culinary treats, we popped in for a sampler! Interestingly ...

... railway followed by a practically vertical cable car ride up the mountain to the town itself! Koya san was beautiful (if a little too touristy from my liking) and I got to visit the stupa / pagoda that is meant to be the epicentre or centre of the lotus flower between 8 holy mountain peaks surrounding the town. I also got to visit the beautiful and huge graveyard (which was the reason I went there in the first place - and no I:m not turning into a goth). It was strangely ...

... about $1,000 to $8,000 for a performance. I think I'll pass. So instead, we stalked Geisha, literally. Ana was the worst one. They were the celebrities, and Ana was the paparazzi. We'd see one and Ana would run to catch up to them and keep taking pictures until they dissappeared into the tea house. It was shameful, yet satisfying at the same time. I'm sure the Geisha just thought it was annoying. Regardless, we got the picture. Kyoto ...

... there isn't much to say except for that is is definitely the place to be. We've seen some traditional Zen Gardens, which really are quite tranquil, and its all to easy to just sit there with your green tea and get lost in your thoughts. Today we saw Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Pavilion; another one of Japan's most iconic destinations. We also went to a temple, whose gardens feature in the movie Lost in Translation; the bit where Scarlett Johanson's character goes to Kyoto. I ...

... emperor penguin h*bit*t w*s the best I've seen with *ctu*l snow surrounding the c*ge. Heck, some of the penguins themselves were ro*ming *bout out front under guid*nce of the loc*l *qu*rium offici*ls in order to dr*w visitors to the *qu*rium.<br><br>After such * spect*cul*r visit to some of Os*k*'s other *ttr*ctions, including the very *ttr*ctive Os*k* C*stle, nightf*ll brought with it the nightlife - *nd let me just s*y, th*t while *ll we did w*s h*ve ourselves * nice dinner, Dotonbori ...

The southern isl*nd of J*p*n, Kyushu, is often neglected in its visits by foreigners *nd tr*velers of the world. Fukuok* (or H*k*t*), its c*pit*l city, doesn't offer much in the w*y of sight seeing *nd *dventure. But its the tiny little towns th*t br*nch off from the m*in c*pit*l th*t m*ke Kyushu * pl*ce I wish we spent more time in. Unfortun*tely, we only got to visit one of these tiny towns - tiny in J*p*n is *bout the size of s*y, Perth? - *s we only st*yed in ...

... and yatai food stalls open till all hours of the early morning, is said to hold untold wonders in its shopping, entertainment and nightlife. I tend to agree. The department store known as 'Canal City' was where we spent the majority of the day, and is named as such due to the enormous man made canal which runs throughout the center of the shopping complex, which five stories of amazing architecture surround. Given that it had everything from restaurants to bars and movies ...

... ayant finalement décidé de tourner à la bruine, nous sommes retournées dans le quartier Gion, commencer la chasse aux souvenirs - et au dîner du soir dans le marché couvert. Le soir tombe assez vite au Japon à cette période de l'année, ce qui limite un peu le temps du jour disponible pour les visites, surtout lorsque le ciel commence à se couvrir vers 16h30