Hello Kyoto!

Left the hostel in Tokyo for the Airport for our tiny 1 hour flight to Osaka　Kansai airport．Had a bit of a nightmare on the train on the way as we thought it would terminate at the airport, but instead it turned right round and headed back to Tokyo.. with us on it! Got there just in time though luckily, and Jon slept the duration of the flight.

Arrived in Osaka Airport and had a bit of a heart attack when our cards were declined at the cash point! Luckily it was just the cash point playing tricks on us though and we sorted it out, or we:d have been on the first flight back to England! After a 1 hour train ride to Kyoto we arrived at the main station and our Ryokan which was a 5 minute walk away... very convinient location! We booked a traditional Japanese Ryokan to stay in, and once we saw our room we were really excited.. it:s the cutest thing with Tatami mats (bamboo) floring and a little floor table and cushions in the day, which we convert into a bedroom at night by laying out futon type mats and bedding.

Since arriving here weve been exploring non stop.. lots and LOTS of walking til i cant feel my feet anymore! Yesterday we visited lots of temples and parks, most notably the Nishi-Hoganji Temple which was huge and really cool. Also, we found a really cool shopping street called Pontocho which was full of very traditional old buildings, restaurants and shops, and we visited Kyoto station and climbed right to the top (it:s a massive station, really architectural) to look over the city from the roof garden.

Today we went to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine first thing which was a trail of red gates leading into the mountains, then took a train ride to a suburb of Kyoto - Sagano Torokko Ressha - which was a little traditional village type place with an amazing Bamboo path that led to several Temples and rock gardens. We nearly got killed several times on the way back on a crazy Tram ride which diced death with cars/bikes/motorvbikes whenever it felt like it!

Tonight we walked through Gion which is the Geisha and theatre district and probably what Kyoto is most famous for. We waited ages in the main street to see a Geisha.. but apparently they come out when they feel like it - not on demand! Gave up after half an hour and headed home, but bumped into one on the way and she was very friendly and let both me and Jon have our pic taken with her :)

Went to a local noodlebar for tea and Jon ordered Pork & Vegetable Noodles.. which consisted of Quails Egss, Prawns, Mussels, Squid, a little bit of PORK, VEGETABLES... and no noodles! Work that one out! However, luckily he really enjoyed it.. would NOT have been impressed if that had happened to my dinner!