Week9/10- Travelling around Japan with Harry!

Nagano to see the snow monkeys in the onsen baths. We could take a nudey dip and see if the monkeys joined us but thought against it. Although we went to an onsen the other day, relaxing and a tad bit odd!

Nara- Feeding tame deer and getting snapped by Japanese school children practicing their english on us.

Nagano Temple- we got up really early to be experience enlightenment from a bashing of rosary beads on our heads by a monk and monkess.

Tokyo- First stop the manic Akihabara; the electric city where market stalls are selling anything electrical that you can imagine. Then at night we checked out the area near Shinjuku station to see what it had to offer; seedy clubs and ladies bars! The lights were pretty though!

Tokyo- Had to check out the Harajuku district incase I saw any girls dressed like the groupies to Qwen Stefani's solo album. Ha! Lots of kids buying trendy stuff. Then the traditional toyko shopping stalls at Asakusa.  

Yokohama- a newly developed port, very snazy and of course we had to visit every pokemon centre we were near.

Yokohama- Charles Wirgman East Meets West Exhibition.  It was exciting to see the illustrations, prints and paintings of Harrys great great uncle. He reported for The Illustrated London News and created a satirical magazine called 'The Japan Punch.'  http://ch.kanagawa-museum.jp/tenji/toku/toku.html

Bamboo paths, Moss gardens and Japanese gardens in the middle of Tokyo

Nara- Feeding tame deer and getting snapped by Japanese school children practicing their english on us.

Iga Eno- We went to a traditional Ninja's house and saw their secret hideouts and various cool ninja stylee things like these throwing stars. I wish we had seen a real Ninja.

Kyoto again- We explored some different parts and found out that there is a competition for the best geisha. I wonder if one of these girls is the sister of Millies friend on her Printmaking course...

Mt. fuji- it is so hard to navigate yourself around this area. We checked out 3 of the 5 lakes and went into an ice cave. It was soooo nice and cold once you descended. Pretty stuff.

Japan is a tricky place for a vegetarian. We tried the Japanese way, sober(cold) noodles but found an indian. mmmm

Theres some really interesting things around. Plants that don't need pots and are growing out of a mossy thing, hanging fabric monkeys, paper crafts and woven shoes around the temples.

Id love to see a musical here!